By Dave Resto
Internationally established and celebrated blues-rock guitarist Rocky Athas has marked the end of his eight-year tenure with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers with the release of his latest solo effort, Shakin’ the Dust (Cherryburst Records on October 15, 2017). For this album, Athas worked with his friend and previous collaborator, the Grammy Award-winning producer/engineer Jim Gaines (Santana, Supernatural; Stevie Ray Vaughan, In Step).
Athas, known as “The Texas Tornado,” grew up in the Oak Cliff district of Dallas. Mastering traditional Texas blues guitar, he gained notoriety with his first band, Lightning. He went on to work with Black Oak Arkansas, Glenn Hughes, Buddy Miles, Double Trouble and the afore-mentioned Mayall. Throughout, he’s maintained a long and successful solo career.
The eleven tracks on Shakin’ the Dust deliver Rocky Athas in top form as both a guitarist and songwriter. His band (Rocky Athas II, bass; Walter Watson, drums & vocals) is tight, and Gaines’s production proves that his ear is as finely tuned as it ever was.
“Dictator” saunters into the room with a classic Lone Star state blues riff. Athas’ intro beckons the band to join him on this unhurried, shuffling declaration of self-assertion. “Dictator” immediately establishes his strong sense of rhythmic chording and soloing, and “You Pushed Me Too Far” continues in the same musical vein. The Texas shuffle continues through the second track, as Athas uses what he refers to as a “bitey” tone to characterize his playing, right through to the fade-out finish.
There are some strong acoustic guitar performances captured on “Lifeline” and “Time Flies.” The acoustic riff in “Lifeline” sets a slow, swampy groove (we can almost imagine the sound of croaking frogs and the smell of Spanish moss), over which Athas solos sparingly but effectively on both electric slide and electric lead.
“Time Flies” is a thoughtful ballad, which begins with some thoughtful acoustic rhythm guitar and gradually layers in electric rhythm, slide and lead guitars. The beauty lies in the way Athas and Gaines orchestrate so many strings on one track so tastefully.
“No More Breath” is another song in the slower-tempo range, with lyrics written by the guitarist’s son, Rocky Athas II. The chord voicing on the electric guitar is spare and jazzy. Again, Athas layers in more six-string work, juxtaposing a light touch while swelling the volume control against some more forceful lead guitar lines.
No album of Texas blues would be complete without a few danceable bar room romps. “Texas Girl” and “Not This Time” step in to fill that bill. “She’s a slow walkin’, smooth talkin’, good lookin’ Texas girl,” goes the chorus as Athas shifts gears between strumming a boogie rhythm and rolling a low-rumbling riff over it. “Not This Time” packs in rockin’ riffs, shredding soloing, backbeat-rebounding drumming and call-and-response choruses to fill the dance floor.
There are four cover songs on Shakin’ the Dust. Taken together, they form a window into Rocky Athas’s early influences.
Jimmy Reed’s “I Ain’t Got You” has had a stamp placed on it by bands ranging from the Yardbirds (with Eric Clapton) to the Blues Brothers. Athas characteristically wields a strong, forceful guitar tone, so here he uses a muscular wah-wah pedal to make his mark on this classic.
Johnny “Guitar” Watson’s “Looking Back” is an obvious nod to Rocky’s time spent with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, with whom he undoubtedly performed this song many times. Bar-chording his way into the steady 2/4 back-beat frame of the song, Athas waits until after the famed choruses of “I was looking back to see if she was looking back to see if I was looking back at her” to unleash a pair of wicked blues-rock solos.
“Need Your Love So Bad” (by Mertis John, Jr.) gives Athas an opportunity to work his magic on a classic slow blues number. His deft slide work and subtle rhythm guitar underscore his more aggressive soloing.
The album closes with the Jimi Hendrix instrumental “Villa Nova Junction.” Athas is known for his use of vibrato to accent chords and this song’s signature melody allows him to indulge himself. Again, his strength in merging rock, blues and jazz licks shines as he tastefully phrases his way through.
Rocky Athas has been called “The Malice from Dallas.” While it’s a clever nickname, obviously referring to his formidable guitar tone, it’s perhaps not quite accurate. Shakin’ the Dustreminds us that Rocky Athas clearly has nothing but love in his heart for the Texas blues.
For more information on Shakin’ the Dust By Rocky Athas:
Website: http://www.rockyathas.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RockyAthasOfficial/
Apple/iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/shakin-the-dust/1297644272
Rocky is great.Another blast from the past is The Rocky Athas Group Voodoo Moon with Larry Samford.Oustanding songs and guitar.That ones always been a favorite more so than anything else he has done since.
Just downloaded it Saturday, absolutely love it!!!!
Good stufff!!!!
Great review. Rocky seems to have his pulse on the future while always paying respect to the past. One of those good guys that’s just a pleasure to have a part of him in my collection. I have the essential Rocky Athas Vol 1 in my collection. I’m sure this LP will live up to that one. Thanks again