A Blues Farm Records release, Gary Gorence's sophomore CD, Straight Ahead, is available October 05, 2009.
The CD has 12 songs, with two versions of Under Lock & Key, the first release from the album. Once again, Gary has infused his music with blues and southern rock moments. A combination that is somehow too hot and dry to be southern. The more the slide guitar wails, the more the desert and the feeling of the southwest prevail.
Gary Gorence, Southwestern Roots Rock, is the official website, http://garygorence.webs.com. You can sample all of the new songs, and they are available for individual download via Amazon.com and on http://myspace.com/
Mike Montiel, Steve Stoner, and Bobby Glenn of Santa Fe's The Jakes, again helped with tracks. Recorded at Oliver Music Studios in Santa Fe, NM, except for the single version of Under Lock & Key, which was recorded at Johnny Mulhair Studios in Clovis, NM. The album was produced by Gary Gorence.
The CD release by Blues Farm Records, http://bluesfarm.webs.com, is charting new territory for what New Mexico music is today.
Straight Ahead dives right in with Under Lock & Key. The album version has a clean driving, reverb-ladden guitar that is reminiscent of Credence Clearwater Revival. Interestingly, the single version recorded with Johnny Mulhair in Clovis on the Hammond B-3 organ, has a grittier, more dirty Texas style tone: think ZZ Top.
Monica's Mother is a romp through one of those moments young men often run into, when a friends mother stirs up trouble. Gary uses harmonica here, as well as sprinkles throughout the album. It's western, campfire feel blends effortlessly with the blues based guitar riffs.
Slide guitar is featured prominently and to good use. The album's title track, Straight Ahead is one example of the lonely, western call, like a BNSF engine rolling by in the night, it's lonesome call echoing across the plains. It continues on Crosswind, another track about the wide open desert and western plains. 'Some mines contain the diamonds, some rocks they hide the gold”, Gary sings.
The country-rock influence of Gary's west Texas (Midland) upbringing comes through in songs like, The Edge of Night, and A Thousand Dreams.
Amidst the country, blues and rock is Boquillas, a track Gary penned years earlier. It is the perfect distraction with it's southwestern, Spanish texture. If there had been any doubt of the origins of this music, Boquillas makes it clear. This is music from New Mexico, the land of enchantment.
Gary is currently playing regionally throughout New Mexico and Texas. You can find scheduled show dates and times on the official websites above for solo shows as well as Gary's dates with The Jakes.
