Alastair Greene: Standing Out Loud Review

In the UK, we believe a good cup of tea can solve just about anything. It’s about time we added listening to a quality power blues-rock trio to this desolate list. From the long beard rumble of ZZ Top to the groundbreaking sorcery of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, this humble format has allowed bands to create a fuller sound that surpasses far beyond a trio of instruments.

Many of us (myself included) discovered the blues through rock ‘n’ roll by scratching the magic and nostalgic splash that lit up the 1960s and ‘70s. Alastair Greene and his sidekicks are the latest to lean on this era but end up Standing Out Loud and proud after nearly 39 minutes of emotive, enlivening, and explosive, electric blues.

A certain Joe Bonamassa hailed Greene as ‘singing great, writing great, and at the height of his powers,’ but he (in)conveniently forgot to mention the esteemed bluesman’s fiery guitar playing and impeccably rich and soulful tone. Then again, should we expect anything less from the highly respected six-stringer, who was also an integral wheel of the Alan Parsons Project?

For all the high-octane blues arrangements and sporadic Southern Rock undertones on show, it’s the groove that glows and underpins the electrifying guitar work. No more so than on the infectious blaze of “Slow Burn” with Todd Bolden (bass) and Adam Abrashoff (drums and percussion) on flames as a snug, in-the-pocket duo.

Blistering opener “You Can’t Fool Me” rouses the raw energy of the ’70s, while “Am I To Blame?” follows a similar cut and thrust, with Greene’s big dog solo weaving seamlessly into the fabric of the ZZ Top-kinda boogie. The groove keeps on giving in “Only Do” as Abrashoff and Bolden bring the steady (aka another fantastic tight beat) to the party that’s fueled by a delightful guitar hook.

The title track, “Standing Out Loud,” has a stout melody and an intricate down n’ dirty guitar riff under Greene’s full-throated vocal. He concludes this rocking good time by paying tribute to the battle-scarred, hardworking talents of Rory Gallagher on “Bullfrog Blues,” complete with some tasty slide guitar work and no shortage of commitment to that thing we like to call rock ‘n’ roll.

Even though the band’s potent outpour of old-school blues rock dominates this LP, I would hate to blunt the slow, plowing blues of “Rusty Dagger.” Its atmosphere and depth see Greene wrench next-level blues rock from his Gibson Les Paul as thick, luscious tones drenched with tremolo and sustain come to the fore. Think less rusty dagger — more sword in the stone or blade in the rock (and roll).

Laying down eight of the album’s eleven tracks in just four days, the whirlwind recording session at JD Simo’s House of Grease studio has produced a whirlwind of a record. Everybody delivers sterling performances bouncing with soulful grit and solid foundations, with the frontman’s wicked guitar enough to make most feel Greene with envy.

Love live power blues-rock trios.

The Review: 9/10

Can’t Miss Tracks

– You Can’t Fool Me
– Slow Burn
– Rusty Dagger

The Big Hit

– Slow Burn