Midnite Johnny Band - Lyin’ Eyes
Blues, Rock
Florida, United States
Overall Impression: The Midnite Johnny Band brings a soulful and sophisticated brand of blues with their release of "Lyin' Eyes", from their upcoming album Cohorts & Accomplices. Exceptional guitar virtuosity highlights this mid tempo, minor keyed twelve bar blues number that features Midnite Johnny Morana in fine form, both in his exquisite playing technique and passionate, weathered vocal performance. A rock solid rhythm section is further bolstered by classic Hammond organ and excellent call-and-response backing vocal harmonies, providing Midnite Johnny with the perfect backdrop to do what he does best; deliver an expertly seasoned, technically proficient and tastefully restrained blues guitar clinic. Blues aficionados will find a lot to like about The Midnite Johnny Band's "Lyin' Eyes", thanks to its timeless, authentic sound and masterful musicianship.
Strongest Point(s): Outstanding production, excellent mix. Great groove here, there's a nice little shuffle behind an otherwise straight-ahead feel. Rhythm section sits right in the pocket. Fantastic bass tone, and great movement with the line. Drum mix is on point. The Hammond provides a ton of soul character, and provides a nice underlying harmonic reinforcement. Phenomenal tone on the lead guitar, and impeccable playing and technique. Solid vocal performance, nice phrasing and clarity there. The backing vocals bring another level of full band engagement with the call-and-response, always a great blues device. The stop times add some compelling variation to the arrangement, as do the fantastic turn arounds. Overall, it's a great blues track with a classic sound that will definitely resonate with audiences. Wonderful job, by all involved. It was a tremendous pleasure to review.
Target Audience Appeal: Fans of Blues, Blues Rock, Soul Blues, Classic Rock
Artist target suggestions: Eric Clapton, John Mayall, Jeff Beck, Elvin Bishop, Peter Green, J.J. Cale, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jimmie Vaughn, Walter Trout, Johnny Winter, Warren Haynes, Marcus King, Robert Cray, Joe Bonamassa, Eric Lindell, Tab Benoit, Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, B.B. King, Albert Collins
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About the Reviewer:
Steven Azami is a multi-instrumentalist with over 25 years of experience in the music industry. Both as a touring/session player and as a producer, his career has spanned nearly every genre, from bluegrass to jazz, from rock to reggae. In addition, his work as a music educator has allowed him to cultivate and foster talent among the next generation of musical explorers