Gales, Eric: The Psychedelic Underground

I first became a fan of The Eric Gales Band back in 1991, when Eric was a 17 year old phenom. He released two records with this outfit, the self titled debut and Picture of a Thousand Faces. Both of these CD's are unbelievable and essential listening. The band was made up of his older brother who handled most of the vocals & bass and a drummer, but the band was built around him. Man, that kid could play. How he didn't become a guitar hero is still unknown to me. Now, this was in the same era that brought us two other wonderkid blues guitar players, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Jonny Lang. No disrespect to either of those guys, but Eric Gales is the real deal! A left handed player that actually plays the guitar left handed, STRUNG for a right handed player! Yes, the strings are upside down! Meaning that the low "E" string. Normally on the top of the guitar, is actually on the bottom of his guitar.

No longer a kid, Eric is now a well seasoned player. And man, can the guy play!! Eric's latest CD, The Psychedelic Underground captures his playing as an adult. Sometimes reserved, sometimes unrestrained, always bluesy and soulful, Eric has always that touch that can invoke goosebumps just by the bending of a note-the man can play. Part Hendrix, part Eric Johnson, part Robin Trower, Eric Gales has always been able to tug the guitar into doing what ever he wants it to, and it is very evident on this CD. Handling all the vocals himself, with the backing band of Thomas Pridgen on drums and Steve Evans on bass, The Psychedelic Underground is 12 tracks of rockin' Blues Strat abuse. The title track just screams with guitar power and a funky back beat, full of twisting and turning leads. "Circling The Drain" is a vampy, "walking the line" type of song, full of bad ass attitude and soaring guitar lines throughout.

The deal here is that Eric Gales delivers the Blues Guitar goods on every track on The Psychedelic Underground. Gales has an incredible guitar tone, almost violin like and very smooth. The Psychedelic Underground, is a CD worth owning, especially if you are guitar enthusiast. Gales manages to cover Blues styles from Hard Rockin' Blues to Blues styled standards steeped in the south and covers them all well.

In my opinion, Eric Gales should have been a household name back in the '90's and has yet to disappoint along his over 15 year career. While I favor the more Hard Rock approach of The Eric Gales Band of the early '90's, this more Bluesy effort is just great. If you are new fan of Eric Gales, enjoy this CD, it is a great one, and also do yourself a favor and track down the early CD's of his career.

The boy could play and the man doesn't disappoint either!! Here's to getting what is deserved!

Track Listing
1. Wake Up Call
2. Rumble
3. Day of Reckoning
4. I've Got Something On You
5. Dark Corners Of My Mind
6. Pretty Lie
7. The Psychedelic Underground
8. Circling The Drain
9. Honey In The Comb
10. Someday
11. Crossing The Line
12. Someone Else's Problem

Added: May 3rd 2007
Reviewer: Butch Jones
Score:
Related Link: Eric Gales MySpace Page
Hits: 5211
Language: english

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