Review: Greg Sover ‘HIS-STORY’
By Mike O’Cull
Singer, songwriter, guitarist, and rising star Greg Sover shows off both chops and identity on his new record HIS-STORY.
Available now on Grounded Soul Records, HIS-STORY is an impressive effort that excels at the often difficult job of capturing a multi-faceted musician. The sessions went down in Sover’s hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and were co-produced by Sover and Jim Salamone. The ten tracks presented here range from heavy, psychedelic, Hendrix-style blues/rock to lyrically oriented singer-songwriter material and back again. This makes for an excellent listening experience, as Sover’s vibe and energy ebb and flow and take you along for the journey.
Even cooler, Sover is joined by iconic Band of Gypsies bassist and last surviving Hendrix band member Billy Cox on Jimi’s seminal “Manic Depression” and R&B-inflected obscurity “Remember.” Cox sounds great and his presence here is a big endorsement of Sover’s talent and intention. Also appearing on His-Story are bass player Kenny Aaronson (Bob Dylan, Rick Derringer, Billy Idol, Joan Jett, Hall & Oates) and drummer/podcast host David Uosikkinen (The Hooters).
Greg Sover is one of those kids who picked up the guitar at age five and never put it down. While his friends listened to rap, Sover was into classic rock, blues, and country music. He became entranced by guitar legends like Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Duane Allman, and Dwight Yoakam guitarist Pete Anderson.
Since those early days, he’s become a solid musician who can rip on the guitar, put down convincing soul and R&B vocals, and write memorable original tunes. He has performed with major artists including The Yardbirds, Jeffrey Gaines, Jimmy Vivino, Tommy Conwell & the Young Rumblers, Walter Trout, Sonny Landreth, Popa Chubby, and the Marcus King Band. Sover is also a two-time semifinalist at the International Blues Challenge and won the 2015 Hard Rock Rising competition at Philadelphia’s Hard Rock Cafe.
Sover opens the record in songwriter mode with the haunting “Dark House.” It’s a minor key, funeral song that deals with an ongoing dark night of the soul. Sover gives his ideas and lyrics all the space they need and uses his guitar to support this large dose of difficult feelings. His lead guitar notes scream and cry with genuine pain and his semi-deadpan vocal performance reflects the numbness that a person in this situation would actually feel. It’s a bold artistic move but it works. Sover immediately declares that he’s more than just another hot guitar guy shredding for attention.
“Freedom, Pt. 2” rocks hard and displays the guitar horsepower lurking under Sover’s hood. You can hear the Hendrix in his tone and phrasing but there’s also a more out and modern aspect to his lines that invokes avant-garde rock legend Vernon Reid. The song’s lyrics are full of social commentary and honest questions that increase Sover’s sense of gravitas while the music of it rocks the house. Sover is absolutely explosive on guitar when he chooses to be, dealing out expressive licks and aggressive sounds with the ease of a master.
Sover throws down his take on the Stevie Ray Vaughan sound on the slow blues “Temptation.” His tone, note choice, and use of space are all top-tier and are a complete sea change from the wild, almost free-form playing in the previous track. Sover’s voice is smooth on this one and you get the sense that he could sing any style he wanted to. He definitely makes his Strat wail on the solo and his intensity will sweep you up.
“Temptation”
Another fine moment on HIS-STORY is Sover’s cover of Jimi’s indelible “Manic Depression.” Greg can summon the notes and spirit of Hendrix at will and does so beautifully here. He has the same volcanic quality behind his notes that Jimi had and walks a tightrope of chaos on the guitar that’s completely mesmerizing. Like Hendrix, Sover touches the Eternal and lets us feel it, too.
Great tunes and playing abound on HIS-STORY. Don’t miss “Tonight,” “Song 28,” and the deep Hendrix nugget “Remember.” Greg Sover is a big talent who comes across like he’s just now hitting his stride. This is an outstanding album that will undoubtedly open up new horizons in his career. Highly recommended.
Greg Sover website
I also highly recommend it. Once I discovered the album I played it through twice, back to back. Right now it sits in my Top 10 albums of the year.