Mike Zito

Blues For The Southside

Gulf Coast, 2022

9/10

Listen to Blues For The Southside

Few people know their way around a guitar better than Mike Zito, and here the blues legend brings us a live set from November 2021 in St. Louis, which is where it all started for Zito, and it’s heavy on selections from his early albums.

After a quick intro to the live set, Zito leads with sturdy guitar riffs, jumpy keys and thumping drums in the throbbing blues rocker “Mississippi Nights”, and it isn’t long until the slow burning and powerful title track illustrates much precision.

Further on in Disc 1, “Texas Flood” emits both grit and melody in the soulful rocker, while “Back Problems” is full of rhythm and complicated progressions that showcases incredible organ acrobatics and bouncy bass lines.

Disc 2 leads with the energetic and animated “Highway Mama”, where Tony Campanella lends his guitar prowess, and “Voodoo Chile”, the best of the listen, welcomes Eric Gales’ guitar for the cautious, timeless blues rocker that’s quite cathartic. “Johnny B Goode” exits the listen, as Zito puts his own inimitable spin on the classic that parallels the greatness of Marty McFly’s interpretation.

Zito’s excellent band of Matthew Johnson (drums, vocals), Lewis Stephens (piano, organ), and Doug Byrkit (bass, vocals) certainly illuminate the tunes well, and help prove yet again that it just doesn’t get much better than Mike Zito when it comes to modern blues.

Travels well with: Albert Castiglia- Wild And Free; Mike Zito & Friends- A Tribute To Chuck Berry