Sonny Gullage: Go Be Free Review
It’s no secret us blues aficionados start falling to pieces when the genre appears to be dying a slow death, with keepers of the flame vanish without a trace. Whatever did happen to Jonny Lang? Then, out of nowhere, somebody like the youthful, multiple talented Sonny Gullage is thrust into your listening bark, and all is right in the world.
A old soul trapped in a young man’s body with the wisdom of the blues in his bones, you could also argue that Gullage is a childhood prodigy — at just 12 years of age, he penned a song about the devastating environmental and effects of the BP oil spill. Serious stuff (especially for one so young), and his considerable songwriting skills have spilled out into adulthood, enabling him to build a bridge between the genre’s past and future.
Seamlessly stirring traditional blues sensibilities and a polished, contemporary sound (recruiting the deft touch of two-time Grammy award winner Tom Hambridge wasn’t such a bad idea), the New Orleans native maturely and marvelously covers themes of connection, evolution, and freedom on his debut album Go Be Free.
Born into a musical family in New Orleans, LA, Gullage’s bloodline leads you to Lead Belly, his dad, bassist Tony Gullage has played with Dr. John, and his grandmother Sister Alberta Gullage was a gospel singer in the 1960s. He invites you through the arched doors of his Southern family church on the title track with rapid handclaps, rich authentic organ, and the kind of galloping beat and aura that’s impossible to knock back.
When he’s not melding gospel and blues into something truly euphoric, Gullage astounds with his instrumental prowess and impressive songwriting, but it’s his profoundly distilled vocals that first make your eyes (and ears pop) on opener “Just, Kiss Me Baby.” It’s a funky feel-good anthem, pouring color on the musician’s ‘revelation’ when he first discovered he could sing the blues.
From pounding out boogie-woogie piano on “Stop That Stuff” to the chugging guitar and spiteful Chicago-blues notes of “Blues All Over You”, it’s brilliantly accessible throughout, no matter your blues palate. The LP’s (and arguably a genre) torchbearing moment stings the concerns of the current generation as Gullage and his buddy (and fellow blues phenomenon) Christone “Kingfish” Ingram trade fiery and soulful flourishes, licks, and verses on “Worried About The Young.”
What sets Gullage apart is his ability to demonstrate his reverence for blues history, while still pushing boundaries and offering a dazzling, contemporary declaration that this beloved musical form is alive and well. This release doesn’t just mark the revival of the legendary blues and roots Blind Pig record label that was originally in 1977 — it’s a sign that the future of the blues looks remarkably rosy.
I’ll wrap things up with a nonchalant nod to the playful lyrics and bouncy arrangement of “File It Under Blues” Another deliciously inspired number, which sees Sonny draws a somewhat humorous line under a relationship that has run its course — thankfully for us, his blossoming relationship with the blues is only just beginning. May they stay happy and harmonious for a long long time.
