Ruf [Release date 17.05.14]

Coco Montoya’s ‘Songs From The Road’ stands or falls by his record company’s claim that it transports you to the front of the crowd at his two appearances at The Triple Door in Seattle.

Happily this double live album does precisely that, as Coco has the engaging personality, ringing guitar tone and road drilled band to bring to life the narratives and melodies of his songs, and for the rest he lets his guitar do the talking.

The songs form a crucial a backbone to a set in which the solos and instrumentation supports rather than dominates the material. The former Albert Collins and John Mayall’s Bluesbeaker undoubtedly has blues running though his veins, but he’s also a writer who is perpetually in search of a melody to suit his tone.

And the fact that he’s also branched out to collaborate with the likes of Little Feat’s Paul Barrere, bluesman Doug McLeod and The Hawks’ David Sleen, suggests he’s restless in his desire to nail the perfect blues song.

‘Songs From The Road’ is a fine recording on which producer Jim Gaines probably didn’t have to work too hard on the sequencing as the balance of the album mirrors Coco’s live set.

Coco opens with a homage to his former employer on Albert Collins, on ‘I Got A Mind To Travel’ – as with many of AC’s songs, it was actually written by his wife Gwendolyn – but the tone and sustain are unmistakeably Coco’s take on Albert.

‘Hey Senorita’  employs a similar strident tone, but is framed by a Latino feel, while the soulful ballad ‘Too Much Water’ is the first of two co-writes with Doug McLeod, which much like the later ‘Good Days Bad Days’, finds him unafraid to share his emotions, via a heartfelt vocal and weepy toned solo.

Coco also tells us that the mighty shuffle ‘Love Chair’ is actually written for Albert Collins, and he again indulges in subtly crafted sustain and a ringing tone over a cool band accompaniment.

He swaps tones again on the funky groove of the Montoya/Barrere composition ‘Don’t Go Making Plans’, which slips into jam mode over a metronomic pulse, punctuated with bass accents.

It takes maturity, style and an unbreakable belief in the songs to pull off a gig like this. At various points in the night Coco brings his crowd to a hushed silence, before ultimately stoking the fire and bringing them back to fever pitch, as he puts the emphasis on the harmonies and the hook of ‘I Want It All Back’.

The subsequent 3 song encore starts in a surprisingly laid back style, as Coco unusually plays slide on ‘You’d Think I’d Know Better By Now’. But for all the restraint, polish and feel, he finally heads for a climactic finish with the magnificent ‘My Side Of The Fence’, a mega shuffle with magical guitar work and inspired band interplay.

If you enjoy subtle guitar-led blues and heartfelt vocals that evoke the meaning of his soulful blues then you will enjoy this album. Coco’s ‘Songs From the Road, is one of the best albums in the series so far.  ****

Review by Pete Feenstra

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Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

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David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.

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More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

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Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)

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