Virginia's Roots/Blues Rocker Drew Gibson Releases Title Cut "Burning Horses" With Maddi Mae

There have been several timeless duets that leave a lasting mark. Whether it's Tom Petty and Stevie Nicks, Americana darlings Buddy and Julie Miller or the late Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris, there is an intangible found in their duets that is mesmerizing. Now Sterling, Virginia-based musician Drew Gibson has created "Burning Horses," a beautiful new single featuring Maddi Mae found on Gibson's charming new album Burning Horses.

 

Gibson says the single was inspired by watching the recap of an episode of Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power and a rather startling, unnerving image. "It represents the heavy machine of industrialization," Gibson says of the song's genesis. "There was this scene on the Amazon Prime show, The Rings of Power. And in the scene, there was a horse on fire, running away. I was watching a breakdown of the episode on a YouTube channel and the commentator mentioned the burning horse, and how (author J.R.R.) Tolkien was against industrialization. It clicked with me. That's where I got the idea for the album theme, the album title, and the title track. The irony of this is not lost on me."

 

"Burning Horses," written by Gibson, opens with accordion courtesy of Brian Simms before the rugged, rootsy gem takes center stage. Both Gibson and Mae sing the opening verse together, and it's just magical, bringing to mind the iconic Petty/Nicks duet "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around." Finding the groove early as Mae provides haunting backing vocals near the homestretch, bassist Kevin De Souza and drummer Ben Tufts are instantly in the proverbial pocket while pedal steel guitarist Dave Hadley accents "Burning Horses" perfectly. Gibson's electric guitar and synth work is at times subtle but emerges when needed. While almost nothing could compare to the Parson/Harris classic "Love Hurts," this song is certainly in the ballpark.

 

"Burning Horses" is the title track off Gibson's fifth studio album that was four years in the making. Like most musicians, Gibson spent much of the pandemic years working on new material, which found its way onto Burning Horses. "I recorded a lot of the guitars, keyboards, synths, some bass, and pedal steel, at my home studio," Gibson says. "It began that way because of Covid. Before, I would take a guitar solo here and there, but would mostly give the opportunity to my pedal steel player, Dave Hadley, or keyboardist, Brian Simms. This time around, I said to myself, 'You know what? I need to do more. I can do more.' So I did."

 

Gibson also says the album's creative process started deliberately in his basement studio. And while the world and daily life underwent massive restructurings, Gibson pined for simpler times. "Everything is now so connected, so tech-driven, and so hectic in a way," he says. "I pretty much miss the simple days of biking through the woods, going to a record store, and having a more communal time with family. In some ways, I feel like I'm on a different planet, and I'm homesick for that more romantic time. That's what this album is all about. It's about a different time."

 

Burning Horses, co-produced by Gibson and Marco Delmar (who also mixed and co-engineered the album) and released on Cragmont Records, features 10 songs, nine of them written by Gibson with "Gunslinger" penned by Gibson and Paul Curreri. Gibson's guitar style at times recalls Mark Knopfler on the roots rock cut "What Good Friends We Were" and "From Our Front Porch," which also brings to mind Ray LaMontagne.

 

In other moments, Gibson is just as sensational, especially on the intricate, Bruce Cockburn-ish finger picking on "How The Border Town Was Born" and "Low Country, High Wire," the latter is another ballad Mae gives spine-tingling, goosebump-inducing greatness to. If that wasn't enough, the closing cinematic instrumental "The Long Good Night: Part II" sounds like some mystical, elegant fusion of Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour and Daniel Lanois.

 

Burning Horses, which also includes bassist Jon Nazdin and drummer Eric Selby, was recorded at Sterling, Virginia's Letterbox Studio, the Recording Arts in Arlington, Virginia and Ivakota Studios in Washington, D.C. Gibson, Delmar, Tufts and Ben Green served as co-engineers while Mike Monseur at Nashville's Axis Audio mastered the record.

 

The studio album is Gibson's fifth following his 2007 debut Letterbox, 2011's The Southern Draw, 2015's 1532 and 2019's Shipbuilder. His critically acclaimed discography has been discussed in noted publications such as USA Today, No Depression and The Washington Post. He's also performed at venues such as The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virgina.

 

Now with a new studio album and the lead single "Burning Horses," Drew Gibson is set to offer up an exciting, elite level of roots rock and Americana to the masses. It's a signature single from what is surely set to be a signature album.

Pasha Black

The technological developments of the XXI century, along with the proliferation of the internet and digital media, have changed the face of musical practices and forms once held to be the norm. Under these shifting circumstances, Pasha Black of Kyiv (Ukraine) devotedly carries out the role of today's musician, showing both excellent songwriting and production, while striving to maintain an exceptional purity of sound and the clarity of his music's message.

A musical patchwork of pensive joy and thoughtful sadness, impressive mature melodies and deep lyrics, accompanied by richly textured instrumentation, help him to tell his picturesque story. Pasha’s commitment to every small detail of his music enables him to take his listener's minds to faraway places, allowing their spirits to soar.

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Zita

 

Zita is a four piece group that fuses classic rock, funk, and blues to create a live show that surpasses expectations. Founded on their shared love for rock & roll music the days of their youth, and an affinity for the great music history of New Orleans, their sound resides uniquely between these two worlds. Formed in 2019, the band consists of Michael Mullins on Lead Vocals, Trombone and Rhythm Guitar, Bradford Lewis II on Lead Guitar, Dylan Caillouet on Bass, and Kai Melancon on Drums. 

As of late, the band has had success with local festival appearances at Hogs for the Cause, French Quarter Fest, Gretna Fest, Oak Street Po-Boy Fest, and NOLA Crawfish Fest. Also, Zita has had high-profile sit-ins from musicians such as George Porter Jr. (The Meters), Nigel Hall (Lettuce, Tedeschi Trucks Band), Luther Dickinson (The Black Crowes, North Mississippi All-Stars), and Brad Walker (The Revivalists, New Orleans Suspects). 

From Zita, you can expect vibrant rock & roll energy, the New Orleans groove with a southern flair, and most of all, a great damn time.

The Past Unperfect

The Past Unperfect is the band created in 2024 in London by three foreigners - an Irish (Vinnie Reck - drums), a Greek (Lakis Economou - bass) and a Russian (Benny - guitar and vocals). We met in Slim Jim's Liquor Store on a blues jam and at some point decided to create a band that will play our original blues and alternative country and bring our own vision into classic songs of the both genres. I guess the band's place of birth determines to some extent our sound, vibe and lyrics. In the end of 2024 we released three singles: Time to Die, Cold Wind Blows and John the Revelator, in February of 2025 were the part of Broadstairs Blues Bash. Currently we plan to record more original songs to release them soon.

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Ottawa’s Blues Rock Powerhouse Tony D Returns with Electric Delta: New Solo Album and Tour Dates Announced

For over two decades, Tony Diteodoro, better known as Tony D, has brought the house down from coast-to-coast and internationally with his fantastic blues rock. Whether as the lead singer of the Juno-Award winning group MonkeyJunk or as a sideman to the likes of the late Dutch Mason and Paul Reddick, Tony D captivates fans of high-quality, Grade A blues anyone from the late Muddy Waters to the late Stevie Ray Vaughan would appreciate. Now, for the first time since 2004's The Jook Joint with The Tony D Band, the musician is releasing a solo album Electric Delta on Cordova Bay Records, an eclectic mix of old-school blues, fine instrumentals, and brilliant guitar work from one of Canada's best.

 

Electric Delta includes a who's who of Canadian talent including MonkeyJunk band mates in guitarist/harmonica player Steve Marriner and drummer Matt Sobb, keyboardist Kim Dunn and drummer Geoff Arsenault (Matt Andersen's band), singer Dana Wylie (Secondhand Dreamcar), bassist Greg "Fish" Fancy (Dutch Mason) and vocalist Stacie Tabb (who worked with Amanda Marshall). The album features a cover of Muddy Waters' "Can't Be Satisfied" and several Tony D originals, including the opener "There's A Chance" and "Modern Times." 

"It's a song about how we're too reliant on gadgets in modern times and the way we live in modern times," Tony D says of the inspiration behind "Modern Times," one of the singles from Electric Delta. Here, Tony D delivers an exceptional shuffle boogie that is a toe-tapper from start to finish. Fans of Dire Straits' "The Bug," one of their deeper but more infectious tunes, would lap this gem up in a heartbeat as would "Toneheads," the moniker Tony D gives to his fan base. It's a song that "will get you movin', groovin' and boppin'," the artist says. 

The 10-track album, described as "an extension of who Tony D is as an artist and all of the influences that have shaped him along the way," are often rooted in blues rock beginning with "There's A Chance" which the musician co-wrote with Michael B. Brooker. It's a great offering that recalls classic David Wilcox and definitely packs some hypnotizing boogie to boot. Aside from three instrumentals in the deliberate blues coda "Kings," the beefy, heavier "Pueblo," and the funky, swampy "NAS," Tony D shines on Muddy Waters' "Can't Be Satisfied" with a bit of bottleneck blues thrown in which would already be a great live tune any audience would love.

Just as solid is "I Wanna Shout," which features some great give-and-take moments with Tony D on guitar and Dunn on piano, taking the song down to its proverbial studs before bringing it back up for an excellent homestretch. "New Attention," another single from Electric Delta, is a nifty slab of smooth blues bringing to mind Colin Linden or Robert Cray. And "Josephine," recalls '50s era greats Chuck Berry and Fats Domino as Tony D fully fleshes out the latter half of the song for a rollicking result.

 

Tony D was hugely influenced by those who came before him, including Muddy Waters, the late Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin wizard Jimmy Page, and Albert King, among others. In fact, he was playing in a band full-time by age 17. Two years later, Tony D saw himself playing rhythm guitar for the immortal Buddy Guy for three days. On August 16, 1984, Tony D, then with the group Saints and Sinners, opened for the late Stevie Ray Vaughan at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. "That was a tremendous night because Stevie was and is a huge influence on me, my music and the way I play," Tony D said in an Instagram post Aug. 16, 2024, announcing the release of his single "Modern Times" and, 40 years to the date of the concert. Tony D also showed a vinyl copy of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble's 1984 album Couldn't Stand The Weather which the legend autographed "To Tony, Soul To Soul, Stevie Ray Vaughan."

 

Having worked with Suzie Vinnick, Dutch Mason, David Gogo, singer-songwriter Lynne Hanson, and neo-flamenco artist James Cohen among others, Tony D independently released seven solo albums as The Tony D Band. In 2008, Tony D, Marriner and Sobb formed MonkeyJunk. Since then, they've released five studio albums and earned two Juno Awards for Blues Album of the Year. They've also collectively taken home 25 Maple Blues Awards.

 

Now with Electric Delta, the follow-up to his 2020 instrumental compilation Speak No Evil, Tony D, who describes himself as "Lightnin' Hopkins with an electric guitar," is back to attract fans of quality blues rock from far and wide. A string of album release concert dates is also set. Regardless, Tony D and his new album Electric Delta will satisfy all listeners of great blues rock!

New York-Born, New Orleans-Based and Los Angeles-Headed Blues/Rockabilly Singer Caroline Cotto Releases Powerful Punchy Single "Lone Man” (feat. Slim Jim Phantom)

 

As a young girl growing up in the Big Apple, New York-born singer Caroline Cotto couldn't get enough of "(She's) Sexy + 17," "Rebels Rule" and "18 Miles To Memphis." The songs were off the riveting 1983 album Rant n' Rave with the Stray Cats by the iconic rockabilly trio from Massapequa, New York. And Cotto loved the imagery of the rebel rockers. Now, Cotto has to be pinching herself as her latest rockabilly-leaning single features one of the Stray Cats, Slim Jim Phantom. The result is the catchy, groove-fuelled single "Lone Man."

 

"Brian Setzer, Lee Rocker and Slim Jim Phantom were the perfect trio to me," Cotto says. "So when I found myself years later in the studio with Slim Jim, this was a dream come true."

"Lone Man” shines with punchy, rockabilly-leaning goodness thanks to Phantom's back beat and Cotto's own guitar work in the bridge. Old-school influences like Little Richard, Presley, and Buddy Holly can be heard as it slowly builds before launching into a glorious, closing foot-stomping rave-up.

 

Cotto, who was also a fan of Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps, and Elvis Presley, saw a bit of herself when she discovered the Stray Cats. "When I first heard Stray Cats, I was inspired immediately by the revival of rockabilly with their unique flair," she says. "Though Stray Cats and I grew up decades apart, I felt a kinship to them. Throughout all my travels from New York to Paris to London to New Orleans, their music was a guiding light."

Cotto sent the track to Phantom, figuring he'd be the perfect fit to produce and play drums on it. "We both loved Elvis Presley's Sun Sessions and have a kinship to '50s rock 'n' roll," she says. "Jim is an absolute legend and icon. We completed the song in a few hours over a span of two days. It was just straight rock 'n' roll -- just guitar, voice, bass and drums."

 

Lyrically, Cotto says "Lone Man” is "about being in a relationship with someone who is stuck in darkness and cannot see the light around them -- and no matter what one does to help them, they continue to stay stuck there." The song originated from a conversation Cotto had with someone and their self-imposed deadline, namely "if they didn't make it into the music industry by the time they were 30, they would move to New Orleans and play loud guitar and drink." Cotto felt the idea was sad "to not see the light of a dream and be consumed by drugs and alcohol."

 

Cotto and her "red, glitter guitar case" flew to Los Angeles this past January to record the single in Sherman Oaks, California at former Guns N' Roses member Gilby Clarke's studio. Clarke co-engineered "Lone Man” alongside Barry Pointer. With Phantom obviously playing drums, Cotto was also accompanied by bassist Tom Slik.

 

Cotto grew up reading literature and writing poetry, becoming inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's "Annabel Lee." But she moved from writing poetry to music, inspired by her father playing The Beatles songs on guitar and teaching her. After transferring from Connecticut College to New York University, Cotto became a regular at Sidewalk Cafe in the city's East Village. Prior to departing for Paris in 2015, the musician released her debut EP entitled Devil in Me. After moving from Paris to London to play the blues, she moved again to New Orleans.

 

In 2023, she released her debut album Bayou Sun which earned her the 2024 Independent Blues Award for Best New Artist and Best New Artist Release. Meanwhile, her material has appeared on Little Steven's Underground Garage and BBC Radio 2's The Blues Show with Cerys Matthews.

 

Now with "Lone Man,” look for Caroline Cotto to not just rock New York, London, Paris, New Orleans or Los Angeles but any town she chooses to!