Review: Anthony Rosano and the Conqueroos ‘Cheat The Devil’

Review: Anthony Rosano and the Conqueroos ‘Cheat The Devil’

By Mike O’Cull

Anthony Rosano and the Conqueroos show themselves to be a dominating power trio on their new release Cheat The Devil.

Out on July 7th, 2023 via Whiskey Bayou Records, Cheat The Devil and was produced by acclaimed bluesman Tab Benoit. What Benoit captured during these sessions turned out to be a powerhouse set of new music put down live off the floor and overflowing with the kind of energy that powered trio masters Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Anthony Rosano is an absolutely blistering triple-threat performer who can sing, play guitar, and write songs at a world-class level. On Cheat The Devil, he throws down with every molecule he’s got. Rosano rips on his guitar with a heavenly tone, sings his backside off, and delivers original songs full of inventiveness and musicality.

The band is made up of Rosano on guitar and vocals, Kyle McCormick on drums and Jake Fultz on bass. They’re a high-velocity three-piece with a huge sound and a level of tightness and detail that few groups of any size ever attain. Rosano’s songwriting is especially strong and it allows him to walk the line between blues traditions and explosive, Hendrix-inspired explorations. He shifts between swampy slide licks, hard blues, fleet-fingered rock lines, and cool rhythm parts with ease, all without losing focus on each tune. This makes Cheat The Devil an excellent listening experience that never devolves into self-indulgent flailing as so many trios do. No wonder this bunch has rocked stages with important artists including Bob Seger and his Silver Bullet Band, ZZ Top, Gov’t Mule, Samantha Fish, and Tab Benoit.

Rosano opens the album with the intensely-grooving “Sweet Little Devil.” It’s a tough, mid-speed blues/rock track that spotlights Anthony’s cliche-free slide guitar work and big vocal tone. Another thing that’s immediately noticeable is the way the three musicians play with each other. They create an extra-large, well-defined sound by using notes and open space in the proper balance, which is the secret of all great trios, and it’s mesmerizing when it grabs ahold of you.

“My Baby Gets Around” is a wild and heavy blues song that relates an all-too-familiar story of love gone wrong. Rosano busts out his univibe pedal to add some swirly, modulating fun to the guitar parts and uses it to wail all over the solid beat of his rhythm section. The live-ness of the track is hypnotic and intoxicating and will make you feel as if you’re in the front row as this jam is happening.

Rosano’s “Sin City” is an all-out hard rocker full of fire and abandon. Anthony takes his guitar to a whole new place on it, riffing and roaring until you think his amp is going to go up in smoke. Bassist Jake Fultz also shines brightly here, providing the bottom and the motion needed to keep the band moving at highway speeds. His style compliments what Rosano does quite well and the two make a fine pair. Factor in drummer Kyle McCormick and his mighty backbeat and you get blues/rock the way it’s meant to be played.

The title track “Cheat The Devil” kicks off with a crisp vocal-and-handclaps intro before dropping into a chugging groove. Again, Rosano heats up his slide and plays lines that will quickly take up residence in your ear. He has the perfect touch and vision for this type of music; it sets him apart from other bands that are just writing songs and taking solos. With Rosano, you always get the sense that there’s something deep inside him guiding him forward.

Cheat The Devil is an outstanding set of music from a contemporary artist who can stand tall with the greats of any era. Anthony Rosano and the Conqueroos may just be the hottest small band in the land and you owe yourself a spin through their world. Highly recommended.

“King Bee”

 
Anthony Rosano & The Conqueroos website