At The Blue Front
Self-Released, 2025
9/10
The guitarist Ryan Lee Crosby traveled to Mississippi for these blues tracks that welcome Jimmy ‘Duck’ Holmes, Grant Smith and Jay Scheffler to the authentic occasion.
The soft and soothing “Going Away” opens with Crosby’s mesmerizing guitar and silky pipes alongside Smith’s light percussion and Scheffler’s warm harmonica, and “I’m Gonna Change” follows with a hypnotic presence of melody and breeziness.
Halfway through, “Mistreating People” has Crosby using a falsetto amid the intimate blues climate, while “Hard Times” welcomes Holmes’ meticulous guitar via the hushed moment of relatable wordplay and gentle songwriting.
“Slow Down (Part 2)” and “Tell Me” exit the listen. The former recruits Holmes’ distinct pipes to the meticulous songwriting, and the latter finishes with a genuine blues spirit that’s thoughtful and timeless.
Crosby’s fingerpicking prowess sure is memorable, and the influences from Africa, India and the Bentonia sound might be a far cry from his punk roots, but are certainly well done.
Travels well with: Jackson And The Janks- Write It Down; Jim Kweskin- Doing Things Right