The Magic Lightnin’ Boys New Album Stealin’ Thunder Reviewed
Swamp rock. It’s musty, it’s nasty, it’s so funky, you can almost taste it. And most of the time, it tastes just fine. The Magic Lightnin’ Boys offer up a mixture of old time blues and hard rock, but bring it down to its essence, down to where it gets dirty and dank. Not too bad for four guys from Ohio.
Stealin’ Thunder, the second album from the Magic Lightnin’ Boys is real, it’s genuine and it’s good.
“And the night shall be filled with music.”
“Nan’s Poem” is a 40 second intro of what lies ahead: a night (or day if you’re so inclined) of some sweet, soulful and sometimes rowdy songs… and a whole bunch of blues harp to pull them together.
When going bluesy, going back to basics is never a bad idea. “Bones” gets all muddy right from the start but soon takes you to a little revival meeting where the harmonica replaces the halleluiah. Casey Gomez on the vocals and harp, along with Brian Tarter on guitar, work the melody together like spices thrown into a stew.
“April Rain” starts out like southern rock with a story of how they tell you “good love is hard to find, but the one thing they never tell you is it’s always better with a cheap-ass bottle of wine.” That’s truth in music right there. Throw in a nice hook, a sweet little jam at the end, and you’ve got some good driving music.
“Fear & Freedom” brings out the heavier side of the band. More emphasis on the rhythm, with an interesting bass line from Richie Lee and a no frills drum interpretation care of Kurt Lipphardt, all leading up to a fiery guitar lick from Tarter.
Calling in a little funk, “The Roll” represents real nice. When all the elements work the way they’re supposed to, this is what you get.
After listening to the first half of Stealin’ Thunder, once you see the next song title “The Ride,” you almost know what it will sound like. That’s not because of predictability, but more because they have created a song that fits its title right down to the building speed and the hills and valleys.
Going full blues harp, “Rubber Side Down” is gritty and bluesy and sweet. The sound is old but with a modern undercurrent.
Sprinkled throughout the album are short instrumentals which have a totally different feel from the rest of the music. They showcase the band stretching out a bit, but more importantly they offer space for the other songs to breathe on their own. It’s a device that works really well. Sometimes blues songs can mesh together and lose their individuality. By using the instrumentals as a pause, each song generates its own spotlight.
Stealin’ Thunder was self-produced by the band and it feels of thick air, fuzzy instruments and thirsty vocals. A good sound to settle in on, a good band to follow.
Review by Kath Galasso
The Magic Lightnin’ Boys Website
Track List:
Nan’s Poem
Bones
Before The Storm
April Rain
Fear & Freedom
Roll
The Cleansing
The Ride
Spaceship Blues
Mojo
Rubber Side Down
Bondo’s Ballad
N2U
Related Posts
Latest News
-
Prog Acoustic Guitarist Mark Vickness, with his musical collective MVI releases instrumental LP ‘In The Rain Shadow’
Progressive Acoustic Guitar Virtuoso Mark Vickness recently announced his dynamic new instrumental...
- Posted December 6, 2023
- 0
-
Canadian Indie Rock Trio The Dark Fruits release new LP “Warm Weather Starter Pack”
Award-winning Canadian Indie Rock Trio The Dark Fruits have announced the release...
- Posted December 5, 2023
- 0
-
Night Wilds continue single releases ahead of 2024 ‘All That Should Have Been’ album drop
Night Wilds are a new band, led by Seattle native...
- Posted December 4, 2023
- 0
-
The James McGowan Ensemble release 16-track inner journey, ‘Reaching In’
The James McGowan Ensemble is a 13-piece group consisting of...
- Posted November 29, 2023
- 0
-
Brooklyn-Austria-based power indie rockers superWAV release aTypical, a heady, bluesy EP
Brooklyn-and-Austria-based power indie rock band superWAV are back with aTypical, a heady,...
- Posted November 28, 2023
- 0
-
California Independent songwriter Patrick Ames releases two new powerful singles
At age 69, Songwriter Patrick Ames Grows Ever More Determined...
- Posted November 27, 2023
- 0
-
Ava Della Pietra’s Latest Single ‘talk it out’ – A Heartfelt Exploration of Emotional Connections
Ava Della Pietra, a name swiftly gaining traction in the...
- Posted November 10, 2023
- 0
Like us on Facebook
Latest Backstories
-
The Real Story behind the song, “Mr. Bojangles”
In our continuing weekly series, we examine the backstory...
- September 6, 2023
- 0
-
RIP Robbie Robertson.
Canadian, Robbie Robertson, legendary lead guitarist of “The Band”...
- August 9, 2023
- 0
-
Celebrate Good Times: The Story Behind Kool and the Gang’s Hit Song
If you have ever been to a wedding, a...
- July 12, 2023
- 0
-
Gold Dust Woman: The Story Behind Stevie Nicks’ Signature Song
The song was written earlier in her life in...
- July 6, 2023
- 0
-
Stevie Nicks Honors Tom Petty at Emotional Louisville Show
Stevie Nicks, the High Priestess of Rock and Roll...
- June 28, 2023
- 0
Latest Photo Galleries
-
The Zombies in Nashville, Indiana 10.19.23
The Zombies are one of the most enduring and...
- October 20, 2023
- 0
-
Barry Manilow in Louisville, Review and Photos
If you are a fan of pop music, you...
- August 24, 2023
- 0
-
Post Malone delivers in Indianapolis
Ruoff Music Center was electric as Post Malone brought...
- July 10, 2023
- 0
-
Peter Frampton Rocks the House at the PNC Pavilion in Cincinnati
Peter Frampton is a living legend, and he proved...
- June 29, 2023
- 0
-
The Doobie Brothers Celebrate 50 Years of Rocking Down the Highway
The Doobie Brothers have been on the road for...
- June 29, 2023
- 0
0 comments