By Scott Bampton
The name, Johnny Oskam, may not ring too many bells outside Southern California. But if there’s any justice in the music world, those bells will soon form a chorus you can’t ignore.

The California native has spent the past few years cutting his teeth, opening for the likes of Kenny Wayne Shepherd, The Yardbirds, and Orianthi, to name just a few. He’s also headlined his own shows in Southern California. But the 25-year old has his immediate sights set on bigger things – namely playing the KAABOO festival.

Oskam will soon compete in a regional heat of The KAABOO Discovery Tour–a nation-wide battle of the bands offering a spot on the KAABOO festival alongside the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tom Petty, and Muse (among others.) So, Oskam will no doubt be hoping his sophomore record, In My Shadow, helps tilt the spotlight in his direction ahead of his KAABOO Discovery Tour face-off on August 13th.

The follow-up to 2014’s Soul Search, Oskam cites In My Shadows’ influences as “Led Zeppelin, Cream, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Soundgarden, Rival Sons and everything in between.” And the Led Zeppelin influence in particular is evident in the opening track, “Badlands.” It’s an air-punching hard rock anthem that demonstrates why Oskam and his accomplished band have drawn endorsements from heavyweights like Grammy Award-winner Albert Lee (exact words: “a bunch of young guys who can really play.”)

It’s no wonder Oskam occasionally lets his band members take centre stage–with an extended sweeping organ breakdown in “Badlands,” setting the stage perfectly for Oskam’s wailing guitar solo. Great blues players know when to command the limelight and when to take a step back–that Oskam is already showing flashes of that maturity speaks volumes of his potential.

Oskam’s guitar and vocal ability also belie his years; the thoughtful vocal harmonies of “Turn the Key” and “Devil’s Comin’” evoke a spiritual ambience not necessarily associated with modern blues rock. That’s not a huge surprise considering Oskam got his early musical education singing in choirs and playing classical music. Yet, at the same time, Oskam’s vocal tones carry a 40-a-day gravel that couldn’t sound further from his choral roots.

“Turn the Key” is perhaps the strongest example of how far Oskam’s eclectic songwriting ability extends–a minimalist atmospheric intro builds gradually to a stadium rock breakdown reminiscent of Guns N’ Roses, followed by a grunge-esque chorus a-la-Soundgarden.

On the opposite end of the scale, “Hold Your Tongue,” employs a simple “boom, clap” bass and snare pattern that’s so prevalent in the Billboard charts. The rhythm rolls along like a freight train headed for the deep South while the guitar melody wails back to the heyday of BB King and even Leadbelly.

Tracks like “Deep in My Bones” and “I Want You to Stay” carry a mellow ‘60s vibe–with a toned-down but confident bluesy undercurrent that brings to mind the Doors and Credence Clearwater Revival. Yet, by the time “Drag You Down”’s vocal line kicks in, Oskam’s ‘90s commercial rock influences are in full swing–the song’s structure, melodies, and rhythm nodding firmly in the direction of Lenny Kravitz.

While In My Shadow wears many musical expressions over its nine faces, its heart and soul is blues through-and-through. It’s an accomplished junket through Johnny Oskam’s musical upbringing that confidently transverses genres and eras–yet it never strays too far from the blues path to end up lost in an egotistical wilderness.

Catch Johnny Oskam at KAABOO Discovery Tour competition Sunday, August 13, at Moonshine Beach in Pacific Beach, San Diego, CA.

In My Shadow is out now and can be found:

Website: www.johnnyoskam.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnnyoskam/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/2qPL3vqCF3sPwXsoyWkFSZ