JOHN PAGANO BAND
ONE MORE ROUND
MCP 1003
BOTTOMS UP–LOST IN YOU–TROUBLE ON HEELS–AIN’T MINE–RISE UP AIN’T GONNA LOSE YOU–99 PROBLEMS–O MY MIND–MAKE YOU SHOUT–BAD HABIT–CATCH THAT TRAIN
For Georgia-based indie blues group the John Pagano Band, their latest set is their fifth overall. They were known as the JP Blues Band on earlier efforts, but good blues by any other name would still rock just as hard. “One More Round” does just this, plus it marks the first album under the moniker John Pagano Band, and it is the first set to use John’s Georgia bandmates—Shiloh Bloodworth on drums and Tony Hossri on bass—exclusively.
This power trio has sho’ nuff got the goods, fans. Over these eleven cuts, the band explores their gritty, blues-rock roots, this time with the use of polyrhythmic, different-than-expected patterns, and the always-dynamite guitar from John . He leads off with a stone solid summer party anthem, an ode to gettin’ your drink on, the pulsing, slide-drenched “Bottoms Up!,” and his best friends, “Jack and gin!” “Ain’t Mine” explores the band’s polyrhythmic approach to the set, as this cut follows a quasi-reggae groove. “Rise Up” takes you right down to the Crossroads to either make your Deal or seek your redemption, while “Ain’t Gonna Lose You” is a perfect summer party groover, with a funky backbeat over a Southern-rock vibe.
Want some killer, Hendrix-ian guitar? Then don’t go no further than a cut that pulls no punches about a man who may have “99 Problems,” but “the bitch ain’t one!” This one grooves off into some fine Sixties-era garage-rock psychedelic guitar from John, and serves as one of our favorites. The other? Hey–we all know a girl like the one in this song. Leather skirt, stilettos, tatts, and a ‘tude–Hell, she’s walkin’ “Trouble On Heels,” and ready to “take you all the way!”
With “One More Round,” the John Pagano Band adds to its growing reputation as one f the powerhouse groups out there that can lay down mean blues-rock with the best of ’em! Killer guitars plus cool, clever lyrics make this one a must-hear! Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues Society.
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