Review: Sonny Gullage ‘Go Be Free’
By Hal Horowitz
New Orleans may not currently be popular music’s epicenter. But there is no doubt the storied southern city has been essential to stimuli that have formed the backbone of America’s roots sounds.
One listen to Sonny Gullage’s debut and it’s clear he has absorbed his hometown’s sonic history, internalized it, and delivered an intoxicating synopsis of its inspirations in the dozen tracks comprising Go Be Free (released August 23).
Funk, gospel, soul, jazz and of course blues are on display as Gullage, himself the son of New Orleans musicians, reveals his talents as expert pianist, songwriter (he co-pens all but two tunes), and especially singer on this exciting, impressive first solo set.
It never hurts to have seven-time Grammy nominated producer/drummer/frontman Tom Hambridge along either. The veteran boardsman not only coordinated the sessions (which took only three days to record) but co-composed all the material and played drums. He also invited buddy Christone “Kingfish” Ingram to play molten lead guitar on the Steely Dan-styled “Worried About the Young,” a burner and album highlight that takes a strong socio-political stance as Gullage sings “What has become of the truth of what’s right and what’s wrong?/In a world of temptation we’re wasting our time carryin’ on/I’m worried about the young.”
Get ready for church when animated handclaps kick start the title track, the bass then gallops in, and finally the band enters. Gullage builds up steam like the train whistle he alludes to when telling of his mother’s encouragement to head out on his own with “I heard a train whistlin’ down the track/Headed somewhere wasn’t comin’ back/I asked my mama what’s beyond the breeze/She said, “Find it yourself, Sonny, go be free.” Kevin McKendree’s organ swells as the intensity results in a shimmering climax that’ll leave live audiences sweating on the dance floor. Wonderful stuff.
There’s plenty of funk too, initially on the opening “Just Kiss Me Baby,” which sounds so much like Billy Preston’s “Nothing From Nothing” 70s hit, you may check to see what song you played. Regardless it’s a spirited, energized opening to an album that never lets up. Gullage sounds like he’s having a blast, performing with a contagious vitality that enlivens every performance.
We head down to the swamp on the oozing, slow motion “Hot House” where he name-checks his hometown with “South of New Orleans/Where the blues runs free/The sky’s on fire/You can barely breath” as the vibe creeps along like a snake on the forest floor.
Gullage goes John Lee Hooker on the appropriately titled boogie “File It Under Blues,” slows down in a grinding Chicago shuffle for the gruff “Blues All Over You,” and taps into slower “Stormy Monday” territory on the accusatory “Tattooed Wings.” On the latter he sings “I swear it felt like love/I believed it was a blessing/Turns out I was wrong/ You didn’t fall from heaven” (ouch) as he pounds out a sizzling solo on the 88s.
The R&B soaked closing “Home to You” wraps things up with a potent ballad. Hambridge brings in horns to further the New Orleans connection as Gullage returns to his gospel roots.
As first albums go, it’s tough to find a more eclectic and illuminating introduction to a young, multi-talented musician than Sonny Gullage’s Go Be Free. It’ll take just 42 minutes to realize he has a promising future and that this might be one of the finest roots debuts of the year.
It might even encourage you to book a trip to the Crescent City.
Pre-order the album HERE
“Worried About The Young”
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