Review: Gwyn Ashton – Grease Bucket
Self-Release – Fab Tone Records (November 11th, 2025)
Reviewer – David Brighouse
I hadn’t heard of Gwyn Ashton before, but found out he’s a blues guitarist who was born in Wales, whose family emigrated to Australia in the 60’s. He’s been playing guitar for over 50 years and has recorded with Rory Gallahger’s backing band on his album ‘Fang It!‘ (2000), with the Sensational Alex Harvey Band members on ‘Prohibition‘ (2004), with Robert Plant’s backing band on ‘Radiogram‘ (2012) and also with musicians from Guns N Roses, Deep Purple and Whitesnake. He’s known for his one-man shows but this his 11th album was recorded in Adelaide with Chris Lambden (Screaming Believers) on bass, Paul Wheeler (Icehouse) on drums and with Andrea Dawson contributing backing vocals.
‘Grease Bucket‘ is aptly named and Ashton’s distorted guitar sound and use of slide can be heard throughout and no more so than on opening track and lead single ‘Something That The Cat Dragged In‘, a typical Rock ‘n’ Roll tale of living it up all night and sleeping all day. ‘Howlin’ At The Moon‘ has a funky rhythm to it, punctured by an excellent guitar solo mid song.
Jesse Deane-Freeman guests on ‘Evil Child‘ his organ adding an extra dimension to a more up-tempo track. ‘Green Light Blues‘ is a real highlight with Ashton working overtime in the slide department and Andrea Dawson’s backing vocals really making the song something special.
It’s all about the lyrics with ‘When The Well Runs Dry‘ with ‘rap’ style vocals over a chunky rhythm. The rockier ‘Little Bit Of Crazy‘ deals with the frustrations and contradictions of the opposite sex with the guitar solo fading out into ‘Somebody‘, another slice of funky fuzzy guitar driven blues.
‘Self-Isolation Blues‘ starts with a traditional twangy guitar riff until the rest of the band kick in and pick up the pace and it’s then driven along with some great slide guitar playing. ‘Down & Dirty‘ is as raw as they come, all sleazy lyrics and grove with the backing vocals really adding to the feel of the song. Final track ‘Blues For The Tortured Soul‘ sounds like Ashton’s whole music career condensed into four minutes of emotional release.
Ten tracks of original unadulterated blues rock – enjoy!
Track Listing:
- Something That The Cat Dragged In
- Howlin’ At The Moon
- Evil Child
- Green Light Blues
- When The Well Runs Dry
- Little Bit Of Crazy
- Somebody
- Self-Isolation Blues
- Down & Dirty
- Blues For The Tortured Soul
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