{"id":35723,"date":"2018-09-06T08:17:30","date_gmt":"2018-09-05T22:17:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/maytherockbewithyou.com\/mtrbwy\/?p=35723"},"modified":"2018-09-06T08:17:30","modified_gmt":"2018-09-05T22:17:30","slug":"solo-album-zz-top-billy-f-gibbons-september-21","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maytherockbewithyou.com\/mtrbwy\/2018\/09\/solo-album-zz-top-billy-f-gibbons-september-21\/","title":{"rendered":"New Solo Album From ZZ TOP Guitarist\/Vocalist, BILLY F GIBBONS Set For Release September 21"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>ZZ Top legend\u00a0Billy F Gibbons<\/strong>\u00a0drops his second-ever solo release,\u00a0The Big Bad Blues<\/em><\/strong>on September 21, 2018. This is the follow-up to his acclaimed 2015 Afro-Cuban-flavored solo album\u00a0Perfectamundo<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Big Bad Blues<\/em><\/strong>, as the title suggests, focuses on Gibbons\u2019 lifelong love of the blues and rock & roll, showcasing the blues-influenced vocals and guitar licks that have together served as the foundation for his numerous hits over the past five decades. The album features 11 tracks balancing some classic covers like \u201cRollin\u2019 and Tumblin\u2019\u201d and \u201cStanding Around Crying,\u201d along with some of Billy\u2019s signature new blues originals.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe successfully made our way through those uncharted waters with the Cubano flavor of\u00a0Perfectamundo<\/em>\u00a0and completed the journey,\u201d says Gibbons in distinguishing\u00a0The Big Bad Blues<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0from its predecessor. \u201cThe shift back to the blues is a natural. It\u2019s something which our followers can enjoy with the satisfaction of experiencing the roots tradition and, at the same time, feeling the richness of stretching the art form.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Gibbons, of course, has long been one of the most important and influential artists to emerge from the blues traditions, carrying it forward in a career honored by his 2004 induction, with ZZ Top, into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. As he notes, he was blues-influenced \u201cright from the beginning\u2014and it\u2019s never let up.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s something very primordial within the art form,\u201d he says. \u201cNobody gets away from the infectious allure of those straight-ahead licks!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He notes it would take many hours just to scratch the surface surrounding this enduring love affair: \u201cI suspect Jimmy Reed did me in early on. The inventiveness of that high and lonesome sound remains solid and stridently strong to this day.\u00a0We could go on to mention the lineup of usual suspects,\u00a0Howlin\u2019 Wolf, Muddy, all three Kings [B.B., Albert and Freddie]. The lengthy list of champions are forever\u00a0carved in stone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

After the success of\u00a0Perfectamundo<\/em>, Concord Records president John Burk expressed his intent on following up with another artistic offering with a more familiar, bluesy kind of content. \u201cBilly has an incredibly deep knowledge of the great blues tradition and has carried that tradition forward in his music throughout his incredible career. Therefore, it seemed natural to do a project that centered on his musical roots, and the music that so inspired him from the very beginning.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Gibbons remarked, \u201cWe were delighted to follow suit: It\u2019s steeped in the tradition of \u2018BFG meets blues giants\u2019 with an adventurous expression to keep it fresh.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

BFG and Burk met in an underground parking garage of a favorite Hollywood bistro from the comforts of JB\u2019s top-down ride, playing some tracks, LOUD, with the music bouncing off the walls beneath a couple floors of raw concrete.\u201d\u2026 Gibbons got the nod.\u00a0 He and his \u201cgreasy\u201d gang of unbridled players were delivering the goods.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFrom deep in the heart of Texas, our Hammond organ specialist, Mr. Mike Flanigin, stepped forward and accepted the invitation to step from the B3 bench to take on the task of pounding the ivory 88\u2019s,\u201d says Gibbons, adding, \u201cGreat piano stuff from Mike \u2018The Drifter\u2019 Flanigin.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMaster of the Fender Bass-guitar, Joe Hardy lent his low-down sound with his fearless funkiness, SO fine!<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAlso, in the mash-up mix, the man-with-the-backbeat-plan, Greg Morrow. G keeps the skins alive and\u00a0kickin\u2019. And while we\u2019re on that backbeat thang\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMatt Sorum steps forward with his super-syncopation, thrashing the skins like no buddies business.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAlabama\u2013come-California soulster Austin Hanks, roughs up the riffs with his left-handed six-string electric.\u00a0 Have mercy!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Gibbons himself shares the harmonica chops with James Harman who has appeared over the years doin\u2019 that Mississippi-sounding thing. \u201cJames is the fastidiously fierce follower of the real deal when it comes to blowing\u2019 the harp.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs for the album content, check it out\u2026 Hey now!<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSomething old,\u00a0something new, something borrowed, something blue,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s no secret there are several favorites from the way-back starting with not one, but two, from the Bo Diddley catalog [\u2018Bring It to Jerome\u2019 and \u2018Crackin\u2019 Up\u2019].\u00a0We dusted off an old Gretsch Duo-Jet guitar which put it squarely with that infamous Bo Diddley sound.\u00a0 Once covered, we made way into another side\u2014a much earlier number from\u00a0Muddy Waters, \u2018Standing Around Crying.\u2019 \u00a0The ragged edges with the meanness of James\u2019 bad self on harp seemed to fit the bill to enter the lineup.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As for favorites, Gibbons notes, \u201c\u2018Missin\u2019 Yo\u2019 Kissin\u2019 is a gift from Miz Gibbons. She knows what girls want and laid it out\u00a0cold<\/em>. \u00a0And \u2018Second Line\u2019 is a definite throwback to many good days and nights down New Orleans way.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOther tracks on\u00a0The Big Bad Blues<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0are easy pickin\u2019, sayin\u2019 it all. \u00a0It\u2019s a street affair.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Big Bad Blues<\/em><\/strong>, released via Concord Records\/UMA on September 21.\u00a0Pre-order\u00a0HERE.<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n