Album review : CROSS COUNTRY DRIVER – The New Truth

Frontiers [Release date: 17.03.23]

Rob (Riverdogs) Lamothe’s new bluesy, country, earthy rock music band is called Cross Country Driver. It consists of only him, his son Zander on drums, and old friend James Harper on guitar.

An impressive guest list, Mike (Dream Theater) Mangini, Greg (Badlands) Chaisson, Jimmy (Wallflowers) Wallace and Dug (Kings X) Pinnick help the trio stoke up the fires, guaranteeing that the music of The New Truth just crackles and sizzles, occasionally lighting up the sky, as on the most engaging songs in the front half of the album, ‘Wild Child’ and ‘Traces Of The Truth’.

The fact that Lamothe is still going strong is in itself cause for celebration. Thankfully, he is not attempting to reinvent his didn’t-quite -make-it AOR past, instead we find him reconnecting with the foundation that underpinned his music over the years.

A classy confection that shows off the mature grain of Lamothe’s voice, a spirited, spiritual, soulful sound that can be powerful provocative (‘I Won’t Look Back’, ‘Risen’) or sometimes just refuses to take prisoners (‘Man With No Direction’, ‘Long Gone’).

These experienced, talented artists are blessed with an electrifying understanding of country / blues / rock dynamics.

The songs seem to develop organically, avoiding the verse, bridge chorus straitjacket that constrains much of today’s popular music.

It’s great to see Lamothe still writing and recording glorious stuff that still packs a considerable punch. *****

Review By Brian McGowan


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.

Josh Taerk Sunday Sessions 2024

Latest session: Sunday 14 April

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



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 7 April 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 2 April 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

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


Power Plays w/c 15 April 2024

ENMY The Ledge (FiXT)
KAROBELA Get Hard (indie)
KATH & THE KICKS Neptune (indie)
THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
LAUREN FREEBIRD Like A Bomb (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 15 April 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)


To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account



Popular (last 10 days)


This entry was posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS and tagged , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply