Gwyn Ashton: Grease Bucket Review

He has been called “a true bluesman” by Johnny Winter, “King of feel” by Robert Plant, and David Crosby said he was “a real player.” He has moved in circles with some of the best in the business, including B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Ray Charles, Peter Green, Van Morrison, Rory Gallagher, Mick Taylor, Junior Wells, Steve Morse, and Albert Lee. Mick Fleetwood even suggested he replace Rick Vito before Buckingham and Nicks came along. His name is Gwyn Ashton, and his new album Grease Bucket drops on September 12.

Ashton, a Welsh transplant who grew up in Adelaide, South Australia, started playing guitar at 12 and was appearing on stages by 16. He moved around Australia in the ’80s, playing in bands and forming his own power trio, steadily building a presence in the land down under. His debut as a solo artist, Feel the Heat, came out in 1993. Over the years, his records have featured noteworthy contributors including Kim Wilson (Fabulous Thunderbirds), Don Airey (Deep Purple), Neil Murray (Whitesnake), and Robbie Blunt (Robert Plant). His 2006 album Prohibition won the 2007 Guitar & Bass Magazine (UK) Album of the Year award. He has also released projects as a one-man band with Solo Elektro (2017) and his most recent effort, the predominantly acoustic Mojosoul (2022), which celebrated his 50 years of playing guitar.

Grease Bucket marks a return to full band production with Screaming Believers bassist Chris Lambden and Icehouse drummer Paul Wheeler. Adelaide singer Andrea Dawson contributes backing vocals, and Jesse Deane-Freeman adds organ on the track “Evil Child,” which closes with a signature Ashton solo. The album opens with the first single, “Something That the Cat Dragged In,” featuring fuzzy guitar and plenty of slide, a sound pervasive throughout the record. Slow rhythmic beats and edgy solos punctuate “Howlin’ at the Moon,” “Blues for the Tortured Soul,” and “Evil Child.” “Somebody” follows a similar pacing but with an even fuzzier tone. “Down and Dirty” lives up to its name with a classic early ’70s soul-rock jam that evokes smoky clubs and graffiti-stained walls. “Self-Isolation Blues” is a slide-driven rockabilly pandemic anthem that feels like it belongs on a fictional K-Tel Best of COVID compilation. “Green Light Blues” stands out with its vintage early ’70s jam vibe. “A Little Bit of Crazy” offers a humorous tale of frustrations with a complicated woman, closing with a smooth fade-out jam. “When the Well Runs Dry” is a grab bag of flavors, blending rap inflections with plenty of soul and rock ’n’ roll, highlighted by Andrea Dawson’s backing vocals.

The album lives up to its name, with each track carrying a dusty, muggy grit that blends classic Delta blues, late ’60s and early ’70s rock, fuzzy bass lines, and hints of soul. While Rory Gallagher’s influence seeps through, Ashton’s stamp is undeniable. He has crafted a classic blues-rock album for modern times, one that sounds so authentic listeners might mistake it for a long-lost gem from the smoky back alleys of the early ’70s.

The Review: 8/10

Can’t Miss Tracks

– Somebody
– Green Light Blues
– When The Well Runs Dry
– Down and Dirty
– Something That The Cat Dragged In

The Big Hit

– When The Well Runs Dry