PopSyndicate.com

Blues galore

If you want deep, dark blues then Shot The Devil by Gravelroad is the album for you.  Gravelroad is a group of three men who use more electronics for their sound than I have ever heard on a strictly blues-based album.  They defy categorization but that’s not a bad thing.

Shot The Devil was released in October and Gravelroad has been touring across the US with legendary Mississippi alt-blueman, T-Model Ford, who is in his 80s.  Gravelroad likes to call him “Uncle T” because what it has meant to the band to be the backup music group for the festivals they have been playing.  They will be touring in Europe in 2009.

What makes Gravelroad different is the use of electric guitar, bass and vocals.  I usually associate blues playing with an acoustic guitar and harmonica.  Not this group.  The lyrics are deep and raw and reflect passion of life.  The electric guitar forms the base on which the music is built.

“I Shot The Devil” is a story about shooting the devil only to find out you can’t kill him; he’s still around to wreak havoc.  “Sammy” is a lonely song about how Sammy had to stay while others left and is performed by lead guitarist and singer, Stefan Zillioux.  “Trainwreck” is another sad song about how the lady of the house always comes home late and is drunk again.  “Forty-Four” tells about having a gun to face off with a man’s girlfriend and her secret lover.
There is something for everyone on the album and I’m really surprised how much the guitar set the tone for each of the songs except “Sammy,” which was an acoustic rendition.  Gravelroad is made up of masterful musicians with entertaining and telling a story on their minds.

If you want raw “and” bluesy, then you can’t go wrong with this album.  Check it out.

3