FOGHAT
Sonic Mojo
Foghat Records
As I get older, the world changes at an increasingly faster pace. One of the bigger changes for me is just how bad album format radio SUCKS! Growing up radio stations would be the first to break new bands. Promoting and sponsoring concerts. Midnight album previews. Alot of the bands I grew up becoming a huge fan of was because I initially heard their music on FM radio. But something happened one day, My music became 'Classic Rock'. No new music would EVER get played on the radio anymore. And the playlist sank to a handful of bands and the same tired ass songs being played over and over and over. Even satellite radio does it. The same few bands. But they will play a different song, but geez, WHY does it have to be like this?? Most of the 'Classic' bands you know and love still put out new music!! Unless you make a point to search it out, how would you know?? HOW would you hear?? WHERE would you hear it?? You know where? NOWHERE. That's where.
So what is my point to all this pissing and moaning? Let me ask you a question: did you know that one of the biggest 'Classic Rock' bands of all-time has a new album out?? I'm speaking of FOGHAT. If you've ever played FM radio for any length of time, you no doubt have heard "Slow Ride", one of the 70's biggest and most recognizable tracks. Still being played today. And some, we'll call them 'Legacy' bands, if they're still alive and kicking, are happy to just play the same songs over and over again. It's what the people want right? Screw new stuff, play what I'm used to hearing for the last 40 odd years. Well some bands aren't wired like that.
So the FOGHAT of today is not going to be the same band you've grown up jamming out to. Unfortunately everyone of us has a finite time on this rock, and sadly the band has had to undergo those life-altering changes. Gone are 'Lonesome' Dave Peverette (guitar and vocals who passed in 2000), Rod 'The Bottle' Price (lead and slide guitar who died in 2005), and Craig MacGregor (bassist who passed in 2018). But still the captain of the ship, alive and kicking, is drummer Roger Earl. Joining Roger is Bryan Bassett on lead & slide guitar, Scott Holt on lead vocals and lead guitar, and Rodney O'Quinn on bass.
There used to be an absolutely amazing July 4th festival in the little podunk town of Freeport, Texas, the Bikes And Blues Fest, which unbelievably saw THE FABULOUS THUNDERBIRDS, WES JEANS, JACKYL, and FOGHAT! And even though I have the luck of Charlie Brown trying to kick the football with Lucy holding the ball, I somehow won a Meet & Greet with the band. At that time Craig was still in the band along with Roger and Bryan. And on guitar back then was Charlie Huhn (ex-TED NUGENT, VICTORY, DEADRINGER). All were beyond gracious as I had decades of Vinyl to get signed. Needless to say I've done my best to keep up with the coming and goings of FOGHAT since that encounter. Which brings us to Sonic Mojo.
One thing that I always loved and admired about FOGHAT was that along with the blues, they could stomp out some badass Hard Rock with the best of them. Songs like "Easy Money", "Stone Blue", "Drivin' Wheel" and my personal fave, "Honey Hush" would be on constant rotation on my turntable, 8-track and cassette players too! As I mentioned above, this version has traded in the Hard Rock stomp for the shuffling Blues of where they first started. And considering the band formed after leaving British blues-rock band SAVOY BROWN, it's a comfort zone all too familiar with the band since its inception. And the one thing that every Blues band I've ever listened to does, is pay tribute by covering some of their lifelong inspirations.
Sonic Mojo sees FOGHAT continue that tradition (and something they've done themselves since their early days including covering Robert Johnson's "Terraplane Blues" off Fool For The City and Elmore James' "It Hurts Me Too" off of Stone Blue just to name a few) with solid interpretations of BB King's "She's Dynamite", Willie Dixon's "Let Me Love You, Baby" and early rocker Chuck Berry's "Promised Land". Add to that FOGHAT went deep cuts on those songs and not just the better known cuts shows a band well versed in their craft. But it's not all just Blues here. "Drivin' On" is 1st cousin to ZZ TOP's "LaGrange", with slide guitar, alot of boogie and that familiar TOP shuffle. A huge surprise is "I Wish I'd Have Been There", an ode to legendary country crooner Hank Williams. And honestly it could easily fit on today's country format, or a BLACKBERRY SMOKE album too. Surprising yes, but well done indeed.
And I mentioned that FOGHAT had gotten together after Lonesome Dave, Roger and OG bassist Tony Stevens had left SAVOY BROWN (another great Hard Rock/Blues band from the UK that you should definitely check out if you're unfamiliar). In a full-circle moment, SAVOY BROWN band leader Kim Simmons co-wrote three songs on Sonic Mojo, showing that there were no hard feelings whatsoever with the guys leaving for greener pastures as it were. "Drivin' On" I've already mentioned. Also album opener "She's A Little Bit Of Everything", which has that 80's smooth rock feel of ZZ TOP's million selling Eliminator album, and finally "Time Slips Away", a more subdued Blues based number. And that song has even more meaning as these songs were the last songs that the terminally-ill Kim ever penned before passing away December 13, of 2022. Delve into those lyrics and look at your own mortality and see if you don't get a lump in your throat.
There's the uptempo rocker "I Don't Appreciate You", which lyrically isn't anything that the title suggests. Please listen closely before dedicating it to your GF, wife, significant other! "Mean Woman Blues" is a belt-buckle rubbing sultry ode that I can see some ladies really getting a little frisky to. "How Many More Years?" is an electric blues soaked toe tapper with some tasty lead work. "Song For The Life" is a mid-tempo honky-tonker with that sweet slide guitar bringing back the old FOGHAT magic. And when "Black Days, Blue Nights" kicks off it reminds me of classic ROLLING STONES, however Scott Holt doesn't sound anything like Mr. Jagger so no worries there.
12 rock 'n' blues tracks to do just the opposite: take your blues away. If you're a long standing FOGHAT fan then you'll already be familiar with the band and the "sonic" path there on these days, so you'll enjoy it immensely. If you only know 2 FOGHAT songs from the only things you'll ever hear on the radio, it will sound different to you, although no less impressive. And if you grew up jamming FOGHAT but haven't checked them out in awhile, give 'em a listen. You'll be pleasantly surprised methinks, although you probably won't be doing the Beavis and Butthead headbang. And considering all of our ages these days, that's probably not a bad thing anyway. 😁 And speaking of aging (grapes that is), the band has their own wine too! FOGHAT Cellars Wine it's called. Look it up and sip while you rock!
And yes indeed, there is a Sweet Purple Vinyl for Sonic Mojo! While Christmas just ended, it will still make a great gift nonetheless to the Old Skool rocker that you know!
3.8 Out Of 5 skulls ☠️☠️☠️
