TROY GONYEA
CLICK CLICK SPARK
LOTUS EATER RECORDS
A FEW WORDS FROM OUR CHARMING HOST–(DO THE) CURL UP AND DIE–THAT’S WHY I’M CRYING–AS I AM–BRING IT ON HOME–TELL HEAVEN–GEORGIA SLOP–JUMPING AT SHADOWS–I AM FEELING SO GOOD (OWED T’DON)
Troy Gonyea first picked up a guitar at age thirteen, and he’s never looked back. He’s played with Muddy, Booker T., James Harman, Anthony Geraci, and countless others, and did a turn as lead guitarist for The Fabulous Thunderbirds. He’s played on two Grammy-nominated albums, and was nominated for a Blues Music and a Boston Music Award.
His favorite part of performing, tho, is the spontaneity of performing live, and that’s what we are treated to with his latest set, a nine-cut live set entitled “Click Click Spark.” Troy’s dazzling guitar and incredibly soulful vocals resound throughout, and he is backed by Marty Ballou on bass, Marty Richards on drums, and Brooks Milgate on keys. Troy covers several genres’ on this wish-it-was-longer set, opening with the Berry-licious riffing of Troy’s original, “(Do The) Curl Up And Die.” It’s West Side Rules with the guitar-centric, blistering take of Magic Sam’s “That’s Why I’m Crying,” and keeps the good times rolling with a fun take on Little Walter’s (by way of Willie Dixon) “Bring It On Home,” with Troy on the harp. Everybody has a good time on one of our favorites, where they “don’t give a hoot about no police,” on Jimmy McCracklin’s “Georgia Slop.” Brooks offers up some Hell-fire, “Killer” piano here, too!
Two more favorites closed the program. The soul in Troy’s voice literally drips from the grooves in our hero’s look back at his life, and the “coulda, woulda, shouldas” that might’ve been, in the deep, slow-burn of “Jumping At Shadows.” The set closes with a Hill Country-by-way-of-Sun Records stomp entitled, “I Am Feeling So Good,” driven by that “endless boogie” originally done by Junior Parker.
Troy Gonyea is one of the most powerful and versatile artists on the contemporary scene. He loves to play live, and “Click Click Spark” is right in his wheelhouse! Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues And Roots Alliance.
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