Blue Largo review…October 13, 2018….

BLUE LARGO

BEFORE THE DEVIL STEALS YOUR SOUL

COFFEEGRINDS RECORDS

WASH AWAY–IF I CAN MAKE IT TO AUGUSTA–MONROVIA–SAME RACE–BEFORE THE DEVIL STEALS YOUR SOUL–BODAS DE ORO (GOLDEN WEDDING)–I’M ALIVE–THE LONG GOODBYE–WHAT BECOMES OF THE BROKEN-HEARTED–FEELING GOOD–GRINDER’S GROOVE–FIVE TILL EIGHT–EVERY TIME YOU CALL MY NAME–WORK SONG–HIDDEN BONUS TRACK

Guitarist Eric Leiberman and vocalist Alicia Aragon form the backbone of the blues band Blue Largo, and their latest album, “Before The Devil Steals Your Soul,” has been a labor of love that literally took years to come to fruition.  Eric was a guitar fixture on the SoCal scene since 1981, but in 2006, he developed a rare condition diagnosed as Focal Dystonia, rendering him unable to play guitar.  For eleven years, he underwent extensive therapy and re-training, and just recently believed himself ready to play.  Blues fans are the winners here, as Eric shows no signs of his difficulties over the past eleven years.

Alicia got her desire to sing as a child, after hearing “Mavis on the radio,” and her supple voice is the perfect complement to this material.  It deals with the divisiveness in today’s society, and also love, loss, hope, despair, letting go, and eventual redemption, and the horn section on several cuts adds a soulful touch.  That feeling of “heartache and misery” leads off, with the gospel-infused “Wash Away,” where “the poor ain’t got no voice at all.”  That gospel feel carries on thru the joyous title cut, where redemption is free, and we can “jump before it’s too late!”  “Five Till Eight” uses that good ol’ round-the-clock-blues theme as our heroine sings a jazzy tale of “lyin’ in my new baby’s arms,” and jettisoning the ex!

There are several excellent instrumentals that show off Eric’s versatility as well as the extent to which he has regained his chops.  “Bodas De Oro” is a sweet Latin-tinged shout-out to Manuel Galban, while “Grinder’s Groove” is a cool reminder of the great instrumentals that permeated the airwaves of our youth.

We had two favorites, too.   A biting commentary on today’s society and the Black Lives Matter movement is also a call for peace and unity, “Same Race.”  And, the difficulties in letting go of a love one ravaged by Alzheimer’s Disease are spelled out in the poignant, bittersweet, “Long Goodbye.”

Blue Largo has faced some daunting obstacles over the last decade-and-a-half or so, but Eric and Alicia have persevered.  Enjoy this collection, and be sure to jump and rejoice while you can, “Before The Devil Steals Your Soul!”  Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues Society.