Review: Kenny Wayne Shepherd – Trouble Is…25

Provogue/Mascot Label Group (December 2nd 2022)

Reviewer: Colm Banville

Some things never get old. This 25th anniversary edition of blues guitarist wizard Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s album ‘Trouble Is…‘ is well rebooted and still holds its magic right up to. . . tomorrow.

The opener, ‘Slow Ride‘, is a perfect start, with a blistering organ piano background to wonderful vocals by Norah Hunt, and whirlwind of static guitar runs all the way through. Just listen to the solo Shepherd provides, which is really outstanding.

Other notable tracks on this release are ‘King’s Highway‘, ‘Somehow, Somewhere, Someway‘, and  the title track, which is most likely a nod to the late, great blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan.

If you were going to buy only one CD as a Christmas gift for someone dear, I’m afraid you’ll have to get not one but two copies of ‘Trouble Is…25‘. You’ll understand why when you get to the massive number, ‘Blue on Black‘, which has a backline of superb musicians such as Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon, both original Stevie Ray band members.

If this is your first listen to this classic album, you certainly won’t be disappointed. In blues we trust!