David Gogo "Soul-Bender"

 

 

I will be the first to admit that I really haven't followed David Gogo's music. Sure I knew he was a great guitarist and performer, especially after seeing him play at our local Blues Club a few years back, but basically that was the extent of it. Well that was the extent of it until I had the good fortune of receiving his newest album "Soul-Bender" in the mail for review and then all hell broke loose to the point now that I simply cannot get enough of that amazing release and it has become a absolute must listen to album on my days off. One could now easily say that I have officially become Gogofied.

 

The fact that David Gogo was destined to become a great guitarist was probably already set in stone when he received his first guitar at the young age of only 5, which, by the way, was not his first instrument, that was a ukulele at the age of 4. Constant and consistent dedication to his guitar playing lead David to steady work as a professional musician by the age of 16. David Gogo's love for the Blues also started at a early age and was also set in stone after he got a chance to meet one of his true inspirations, Stevie Ray Vaughan, whom "encouraged Gogo to pursue and commit to become a serious blues artist ".

 

Shortly after David meeting Stevie Ray Vaughan, he formed a band called the Persuaders and quickly made the leap from a high school band to a band that was opening and performing with some truly great artists, among them being Albert Collins. After a European gig tour with the Fabulous Thunderbirds, EMI records came a knocking, to sign him as a solo artist, something that he perhaps was a little saddened to do, having to leave a band he had grown so much with, but sometimes when opportunity knocks, you better take advantage of it, as it doesn't happen often and sometimes not at all.

 

David Gogo's first and last album for EMI was a self titled rock release "David Gogo" in 1994. It was a good album but David's heart was with the Blues and the decision to pursue his heart, simply out weighed a perhaps less then fulfilling career with EMI. Since making that decision David Gogo has put out 10 albums, with "Soul-Bender" being his latest release. Along the way he has garnered numerous accolades and awards including "two-time Maple Blues Guitarist of the Year, WCMA Musician of the Year and Saturday Night Blues' Great Canadian Blues Award for a lifetime contribution to the blues in Canada". With the release of "Soul-Bender", which some are hailing as possibly his best work, David Gogo's legacy as a truly great Canadian Blues Guitarist icon, continues to grow.

 

"Soul-Bender" consists of 10 powerful tracks and has been described as "a sizzling, hard rocking blues album that is filled with heavy grooves, grit and emotion", something that I certainly had no problem agreeing with. The album itself is nicely peppered with 4 originals and 6 covers. Of the 4 originals, David Gogo is credited with the solo writing of 3 ("Time Is Killing Me", "Gettin' Old", "Do You Know How It Feels?") and co-writing 1 ("Slow It Down"). "Time Is Killing Me " was certainly my most favorite track on "Soul Bender", and perhaps is the best example of how skillful of a Singer, Songwriter, and Guitarist, David Gogo really is. In David's words, he describes the song as coming from "just thinking about my journey with the blues so far, through good times and success as well as setbacks and various bummers. You gotta keep on keeping on!" A beautiful song straight from David Gogo's heart to ours.

 

For the covers used on "Soul-Bender", David Gogo chose to use quite a few interesting and at least one surprising song from various artists which interestingly included Elmore James ("Please Find My Baby"), Wyckham Porteous "("Was It Love"), The Doors ("The Changeling), Robin Trower ("Whiskey Train "), and Wilson Pickett ("I Found A Love"), and surprisingly included Michael Jackson ("The Way You Make Me Feel"). All of those covers were certainly wonderful in their original form, but add a dash of David Gogo's interpretations of them, and they simply take on a whole new life of their own, especially Michael Jackson's "The Way You Make Me Feel", a song my wife did not like until she heard David Gogo's version.

 

One thing you can say about David Gogo, is that he is truly a musician and artist with his own style, which he has brilliantly weaved together with the thread of many a legendary artist whom has either crossed his mind or his path and along with masterful musicians, by his side, such as Steve Marriner, whom played Piano and Harmonica on "Soul-Bender", he is more then able the attract the attention of both his peers and his fans, new and old.

 

2011 has already marked an extensive year, so far, with David Gogo touring Canada, the U.S., and Europe, which pretty well guarantees that he has already played in a town near you, or certainly will be in the near future and since "Soul-Bender" was produced in such a way as to best represent the sound of his live shows, one apt not miss an opportunity to see this master Live.

 

For those of you whom know David Gogo's music, you are well aware that his ability to disapoint, just does not exist. His music comes straight from his heart and soul, and he is one for which compromise is a word not in his vocabulary. Always consistently good and and now and then, absolutely great. "Soul-Bender" is a pure example of David Gogo being absolutely great.

 

Before doing this review I had already chosen "Soul-Bender" as one of my Blues Underground Network's Top Picks For July 2011, something I knew I was going to do shortly after hearing this album the first time. After listening to it a few more times the decision to give "Soul-Bender" my highest rating of 5***** was super easy. As far as Blues/Blues Rock albums are concerned, "Soul-Bender" is an absolutely great one. Highly Recommended and Thoroughly Enjoyed.

 

Review by John Vermilyea (Blues Underground Network)

 

Additional Info

 

Tracklist

 

1. Please Find My Baby 3:33
2. Slow It Down 4:00
3. Was It Love 3:23
4. Time Is Killing Me 5:01
5. I Found A Love 4:11
6. The Changeling 4:05
7. Gettin' Old 3:07
8. The Way You Make Me Feel 4:02
9. Do You Know How It Feels? 3:20
10. Whiskey Train  5:36

 

Listen To Samples Here...

 

Websites:

 

http://www.davidgogo.com/

http://www.myspace.com/davidgogo

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