Ryan McGarvey: Live At Swinghouse Review
Live At Swinghouse is the fourth release from Albuquerque blues rocker Ryan McGarvey and a cracker it is from the off. Recorded in Los Angeles in 2016, the power trio of Ryan on guitar/vocals, drummer Logan Miles Nix and Carmine Rojas (late of Joe Bonamassa) on bass combine to make a wonderful sound from the opening “I Wish I Was Your Man,” complete with its Texas strut.
Speaking of which, the instrumental “Texas Special” follows before the predominantly wah-wah slow blues of “Prove Myself” takes over, all twelve and a half minutes of it. Great slide work follows on “Blues Knockin’ At My Door.” What appeals to me are the elongated openings to most of the tracks, which gets the listener attuned into the delights to come. “Little Red Riding Hood” follows and then it’s back to slow blues with the heart-rending “My Heart To You”, featuring great solo work. It’s back to blues/rock for “Memphis” before 17 minutes and 30 seconds of “Mystic Dream. For this listener, it’s a bit reminiscent of Eric Johnson in part, but maybe a bit long, suppose you had to be there, as they say. “Joyride” is the encore and shows the band back to what they do best, rock out.
Live At Swinghouse features a tight feel to the band, very popular this side of the pond, but one tiny criticism would have to be Ryan’s voice at times is a little strained, not in keeping with his wonderful fret work. Still, there’s plenty to dive into with Live At Swinghouse.
The Review: 8/10
Can’t Miss Tracks
– Texas Special
– Prove Myself
– My Heart To You
– Memphis
– Blues Knockin’ At My Door
The Big Hit
– Blues Knockin’ At My Door
Review by Clive Rawlings
