Tequila & Bullets
Joplin Street, 2025
9/10
The Texas blues guitarist Jay Hooks is joined by an all star cast for these timeless 12 blues rockers.
The lively “Evinrude Boat Motor” opens with Jorge Castillo’s flowing rhythm guitar that suits Hooks’ soulful pipes and sturdy guitar licks, and the title track follows with a rugged and thumping energy that enlists Brock Proctor’s well timed bass which complements the powerful climate.
Landing in the middle, “Your Touch” offers plenty of rawness and grit that benefits from Matthew R. Johnson’s drumming acrobatics, while “Left Me Cold”, the album’s best, blends the swirling guitar and animated rhythm section.
Getting close to the end, “I Was Wrong” meshes melody and meticulous via the driving dynamics, and “Mexican Larry” exits with a hint of intimacy amid the dense interaction.
It’s been awhile since Hooks released an album, and he more than makes up for the wait with these defiant and rugged tunes that any fan of the blues will enjoy.
Travels well with: Fred Hostetler- Blues Back Pages; Teskey- White Wolf