Review: Jimmy Vivino ‘Gonna Be 2 of Those Days’

Review: Jimmy Vivino ‘Gonna Be 2 of Those Days’

By Hal Horowitz

The list of musicians that multi-instrumentalist Jimmy Vivino has played behind, and along with, is so long, complex and extensive, there is no room to list it here. Many will recognize him as the frontman of Jimmy Vivino and the Basic Cable Band, Conan O’Brien’s longtime (30 years!) musical director. He’s also a member of Beatles tribute group The Fab Faux and plays in the current incarnation of Canned Heat. It’s almost impossible for any blues or roots fan to not own an album with Vivino’s name somewhere in the credits, often hiding behind tiny print.

Between all this supporting activity though, Vivino hasn’t been productive as a recording artist under his own name. A 2013 live album with his Black Italians, and a studio set from 2008, both pretty obscure, are the only items in his catalog. And even this new 2025 set, ‘Gonna Be 2 of Those Days,’ has been teased on his web page since 2022.

Thank blues guitarist/label owner Mike Zito for giving the 70 year old Vivino the ability to once again record. Zito has released ‘…Those Days’ on his highly regarded Gulf Coast Records imprint, allowing him to shine on these 11 rootsy, blues-soaked originals. It has been a long time coming.

Not surprisingly, an aging theme runs through some of these selections. “I’m just a man out of time/My better days are all in the past,” he reflects on “Better Days Past,” one of the sinewy blues based rockers that populate the album. While some songs are heavily indebted to others (the title track is a slowed down, toughened up rewrite of Chuck Berry’s “No Money Down,” “Ruby Is Back” hews awfully close to Cream’s “Strange Brew”), Vivino’s rough personality, vibrant singing and sheer musicality keeps the music fresh, tough and sharp.

He grinds out a sturdy Chicago shuffle on “Beware the Wolf,” letting Scott Healy pound gutsy piano as he warns about the titular predatory animal, which might be a covert cautionary political statement “..when you think he’s on your side/He’s bound to eat you up alive.” We wade into the swamp for the portentous “Ain’t Nuthin’s Gonna Be Alright,” a collection of anecdotes about how he avoided some of the less savory people that tried to steer him in the wrong direction. His howling, growling vocals, thumping drums and reverbed guitar sets the auspicious tone.

The jaunty “Shady Side of the Street” with its walking bass line finds him tinkling the piano. He speaks/sings a story about avoiding hustlers that’ll “rob you blind right where you stand” with a New Orleans vibe close to what Dr. John might have felt comfortable recording. Here Vivino’s inspired gruff voice and propulsive keyboards create one of the disc’s highlights. He then excavates the slow blues of “Fool’s Gold” with the ferocity of Gary Moore, singing with gospel intensity about his own life (“Sometimes a man gets tired by that same old”), overdubbing searing lead guitar and Hammond B3. Rugged and cool.

Vivino takes us to the Delta for the closing “Back Up the Country,” bringing in buddy John Sebastian to blow powerful harp on the acoustic country blues. He quotes Joni Mitchell (“paved paradise”) which stomps the disc to its conclusion.

‘Gonna Be 2 of Those Days’ might be Jimmy Vivino’s first album in many years, but it shows his dedication and diversity to the blues which beats at the core of his playing. Hopefully he doesn’t make us wait as long for its follow-up.

“Blues In The 21st”