Sonny Landreth   Grant Street   Sugar Hill Records - 2005 A Review By Richard Arfin, February 11, 2005

Back at JazzFest 2004, I witnessed an astonishing set by Sonny Landreth and it soon became one of my best memories. Sonny, with Dave Ranson and Ken Blevins, blew a furious wind from that stage. After the set ended and the crowd began to disperse for beer runs, I overheard a fellow say to his friend, "Where were the other guitar players? Were they offstage? Was he playing to a tape?" Well, I really cracked up over that. Still, I understand where the guy was coming from since so many tasty licks drip off Sonny's strings and nobody, I repeat, nobody has those chops. You never see a slide player finger the neck in front of, behind and around the slide. Only Sonny Landreth. I been a long time fan of Sonny Landreth. I especially love Sonny and Michel Doucet duets. As The Goners, Landreth-Ranson and Blevins, back John Hiatt. Considering that Hiatt is one of the best songwriters in this galaxy, it takes a considerable talent to add distinctive and memorable licks to that music. Sonny Landreth is that man. I also always try to catch Sonny when he ventures up this way (and the next time is June 5 at Stephen Talkhouse) because Sonny live is...well, you've got to pick up "Grant Street" because it is primo. This live show was recorded on April 23 and 24, 2004 at The Grant Street Dancehall in Lafayette, one of Sonny's favorite venues. It was recorded just a few days before his superb JazzFest set. This is a trio about as tight as they come - the playing is dead-on perfect, the songs are monsters and the vibe is deep. Signature tracks abound: "Native Stepson", "Gone Pecan", "Blues Attack", "U.S.S. Zydecoldsmobile", "Pedal to Metal" and his calling card, "Congo Square" are among the tracks. My only complaint about the set is that it only runs 60 minutes, which at about 200 mph seems like no time at all. There is a fourth player and that is The Grant Street Dancehouse itself. The sound on this CD booms and rocks around the listening space. It really is like winning the lottery and hiring Sonny Landreth to play in your living room, that is if your living room was a Lafayette honky-tonk. I can only give this CD five peppers because that's about all my constitution can take. Don't even think about it, buy this CD right now and let all the Sonny Landreths blow your mind clear to hell. Buy it at Amazon.com. We greatly appreciate your support and encouragement of The Zydeco Road. Working together, we can enhance the recognition that Zydeco music and its artists so greatly deserve on Long Island and within the Metro New York area. [ Artist of the Month ] [Sounds of The Road ] [This Ain't No Rest Stop ] [ The Road Stops Here ] [Road Shows ] [Home ] [Email ] Click here to visitLIEYE.COM   copyright 2004 Paule Pachter/Richard Arfin. All rights reserved.