Review: Jared James Nichols – Old Glory And The Wild Revival

Listenable Records (2015)

Reviewer: Dan Mann

Well it seems not a week goes by without another scorchin’ hot blues rock album hitting the music racks so to speak.

I’ll stick my neck out and say that blues, blues/rock is becoming almost trendy with more and more artists coming though for recognition by critics and fans alike.

Sticking my neck out even further, I’ll say that Mr. Nichols is by no means an ‘also ran’. Far from it, as you’ll discover, the opening track ‘Playin’ For Keeps‘ (a live version of which closes the album) instantly rewards you with just the right mixture of blues & rock, full of gritty, soaring guitar, solid thumping of the skins and a tight bass line. The guitar break around 3/4 of the way through remind me of Virgil & the Accelerators, excellent stuff.

Second track on the album, ‘Crazy‘, without doubt has in the guitar playing large hints of early ZZ Top, think ‘El Loco’ era but with a touch of nitrous oxide! Things slow down a little with ‘Let You Go‘, a simple, straightforward what I’d call modern blues ballad. ‘Can You Feel It‘ is more the blues end of the album, think Oli Brown / Laurence Jones. The same could be said about ‘Now Or Never‘ It’s a style I’m personally a fan of as it’s brought things up to date without losing the roots of this style of music.

When ‘Haywire‘ first starts it could almost be mistaken initially as a Queen song with a John Deacon style bass line, certainly an enjoyable ‘foot stomper’. ‘All Your Pain‘ is another of what I’d call a ballad. I don’t mean it’s one of those saccharine sweet  songs that ends up on forecourt compilation albums, but a song that meanders in a way that makes you want to just sit back and let the music take you along for the ride. However you are then dragged back onto your feet with ‘Sometimes‘ as the beat speeds back up with more wailing guitars and the solid bass of Erik Sandin & drumming of Dennis Holm. This continues with ‘Blackfoot‘ whose roots are firmly in those wonderful rock and blues rock releases of the 70’s. There’s no mistaking the Southern groove in the intro to ‘Take My Hand‘ with slide guitar and picking.  This track is dripping with those rocking chair on the porch vibes, wonderful stuff. You might as well pour yourself another bourbon as Jared does not move from that chair for ‘Come In My Kitchen‘

And finally the album rounds off with two live tracks. The afore mentioned live version of ‘Playin’ For Keeps‘ & ‘You Won’t Last‘, which was recorded at the famous/infamous Viper Rooms.

Without a doubt Jared is someone who perfectly captures the current wave of blues rock. Highly recommended.