Billy F Gibbons — West Coast Junkie (Single)
It is very hard to try and be ‘Mr Cool’ when you have ZZ Top vocalist and guitarist Billy F Gibbons in the same room. I remember when I was fortunate enough to attend an album signing for his 2018 solo record ‘The Big Bad Blues’ at HMV in London and the capacity crowd was just in sheer awe at his presence.
Mr Gibbons third studio album ‘Hardware’ was recorded in California’s high desert near Palm Springs and he co-produced it with Matt Sorum and Mike Fiorentino, with engineer Chad Shlosser providing additional production.
The first single from ‘Hardware’ was one of eleven original tracks penned by the quartet called ‘West Coast Junkie’ and embraces the desert surroundings including shifting sand and rattlesnakes. Sorum’s punchy drum beat reminds this scribe of rock and roll 1962 Sufaris instrumental hit ‘Wipeout’. Billy F Gibbons includes a meaty guitar solo in this number that will please his fanbase as the band tries to convey the mystery of the desert environment.
In conclusion, ‘West Coast Junkie’ is the perfect taster to ‘Hardware’ that showcases not only the sheer musical talent of those involved but also their strengths in songwriting and music production.
Whether he is playing rock or blues, fronting the project or appearing as a guest, Billy F Gibbons always seems to enthral the listener and have them ask “What’s he going to do next?”
Billy F Gibbons new solo album ‘Hardware’ is released on Friday 4th June 2021 on Concord Records. To preorder the album visit www.billygibbons.com
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