Jim McCarty - 2 albums: Live! / Live From Callahan's

James William McCarty (born June 1, 1945) is an American blues rock guitarist from Detroit, Michigan. He has performed with Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels, the Buddy Miles Express, Cactus, the popular Detroit rock band The Rockets, the Detroit Blues Band, and more recently, Mystery Train. He also recorded with Jimi Hendrix and Bob Seger. He plays in a heavy blues-rock style that has inspired fledgling guitar players for more than 40 years.

In 2006, he participated in a Cactus reunion, performing in New York City, Sweden, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. It coincided with the release of a new Cactus album, Cactus V. In 2007, Cactus played a Detroit date, a McCarty homecoming, to a sold-out, standing room only house.

In 2005, Les Paul recorded Les Paul and Friends: American Made, World Played, with an all-star band. He covered 69 Freedom Special, an instrumental tune co-written by McCarty and recorded while in the Buddy Miles Express. In February 2006, Les Paul won a Grammy for his cover of the song, thus propelling McCarty into another award-winning arena as songwriter. In 2009, a new band, the Hell Drivers were created. The members are Jim McCarty, Johnny "Bee" Badanjek, Marvin Conrad(bass), and Jim Edwards(vocals). A high-energy band, they play a variety of Detroit rock'n'roll from Iggy, The Rockets, Mitch Ryder, Bob Seger and more to great critical acclaim.

Album: Live!
Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 57:27
Size: 131.5 MB
Styles: Blues rock
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[ 5:35] 1. Treat Me Right
[10:50] 2. Temperature Is Rising
[ 7:45] 3. Killing Floor
[10:21] 4. The Thrill Is Gone
[10:04] 5. Help Me
[ 6:29] 6. Shake Your Money Maker
[ 6:20] 7. Oh Well

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Album: Live At Callahan's
Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 73:36
Size: 168.5 MB
Styles: Blues rock
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[3:44] 1. J&A Jump (Feat. Johnny A)
[7:13] 2. South Boulevard Blues (Feat. Johnny A)
[8:35] 3. Help Me (Feat. Jason Ricci)
[8:20] 4. Hi-Heel Sneakers (Feat. Duke Robillard)
[9:42] 5. West Helena Blues (Feat. Duke Robillard)
[4:52] 6. Tell Me What's the Reason (Feat. The Millionaires)
[5:22] 7. No Fun (Feat. The Millionaires)
[4:06] 8. Strollin' With the Bone (Feat. The Millionaires)
[7:57] 9. Sweet Sixteen (Feat. John Nemeth)
[4:23] 10. There's A Train Coming Down The Track's (Feat. Johnny Bee Badanjek)
[3:43] 11. School Days (Feat. Jimmy Thackery)
[5:33] 12. Cristo Redentor (Feat. Mystery Train)

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Gary Hoey - Deja Blues

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 38:25
Size: 88.0 MB
Styles: Blues rock
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[3:06] 1. Boss You Around
[2:57] 2. Boot Hill Blues (Feat. James Montgomery)
[4:43] 3. Almost Over You (Feat. Jon Butcher)
[3:39] 4. Going Down
[3:24] 5. She's Walking (Feat. Johnny A)
[4:20] 6. Stranger
[3:57] 7. Born Under A Bad Sign
[3:38] 8. Got To Believe (Feat. Frank Hannon)
[4:21] 9. Deja Blues
[4:16] 10. Hold Your Head Up High

Deja Blues is an interesting collection of blues tunes that features the blues skills of the talented rock and surf style guitarist Gary Hoey. Most people know him as an instrumental guitar player along the lines of a Steve Vai or Joe Satriani because of his billboard hit “Hocus Pocus,” or possibly know him from his Ho Ho Hoey Christmas albums, or have seen trading licks on tour with Jeff Beck, Ted Nugent, Peter Frampton, and Dick Dale. Let’s set the record straight – Gary is not a one trick rock guitar shredder.

The album has many Gary Hoey originals, some of which feature great guest appearances, including James Montgomery on “Boot Hill Blues,” Jon Butcher on the Texas Shuffle “Almost Over You,” Johnny A on “She’s Walking,” and finally, Frank Hannon on the southern rocking “Got to Believe.” There are a couple of covers of traditional blues songs where Gary makes the blues rock. “Going Down” is a down, dirty rockin’ take on the Don Nix penned classic recorded by everyone from the late great Freddie King to Led Zeppelin and Pearl Jam. Along with that is the lightly distorted Albert King classic “Born Under A Bad Sign.” An interesting track at the end is “Hold Your Head Up High” which features some slide guitar playing. If you close your eyes and forget who you’re listening to you might confuse this with an outtake form a Derek Trucks Band release.

There are two stand out tracks on this album though. “Stranger” is an atmospheric mysterious blues where the tones clearly set the mood for one of the lyrics when Gary sings about being “like a stranger in my own town.” The best work on here though is when Gary lets his guitar do all the work on the instrumental slow blues title track – “Deja Blues.” The tension builds and reaches what you think is the peak at each chorus only to be taken to another level with another solo and then finally releases you back to the original slow blues jam.

If you’re looking for an album that straddles that fine line of blues and rock without turning into nothing but a guitar shredders excuse to solo than this fits the bill. It’s always interesting to see how artists who are mostly known for a different style of playing interpret the blues. Deja Blues does the blues justice with his pyrotechnic fretboard fluidity and ability to blend them with his rock background without losing the feeling and intent.

Deja Blues

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