Mike Zito (Page 1 of 2)

Well here's an old post that should never have disappeared without a trace.

I've been a fan of Mike Zito for a couple of years, his Pearl River album is a great blues rock album.

I've just though got his new album Greyhound, which is produced by producer/second guitarist/backing vocalist Anders Osbourne and it's a great collection of rootsy southern based rock, which has potential for real crossover. Strong guitar playing, fine vocals and most important very good songs.

Here's a video of the title track: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QF0PbXuMhLA

Any other Mike Zito fans out there?

Singing to the choir here..... Greyhound's a bit of a slower burner for me than Pearl River, but still a fine album. If you haven't already, check out the Superman album. Agree with you in every other respect.

Mike

really enjoying listening to Mike's new album

Don't care if I have already posted this - an album this darn good is worth shouting about!

I been a fan Mike’s since “Pearl River” and got his back-catalogue in short order; for me he’s the backbone in Royal Southern Brotherhood, but I think that this is his best album yet, with both his vocals and his guitar playing being very self-assured and in the zone. In true Blues fashion; a creative highpoint about his life’s low point.

It’s this chronicle, at times as raw as an open wound or as desolate as the open desert to the uplifting promise of redemption, just falling short or rejoicing that is the backdrop of variety here, from the restrained funk of Don’t Break A Leg to the soul ballad “Take it easy”, from acoustic slide blues “Death Row” to the eerie psychedelic blues of “Voices in Dallas” telling of Mike’s problems with drugs. No, life may be good at the moment, but you get the impression that Mike Z knows how fragile a thing it is concluding with Willie Johnson’s Let Your Light Shine On Me.

Mike’s put together an awesome band ‘The Wheel’ over the years, featuring Rob Lee on drums and Scot Sutherland on bass and the record also features Jimmy Carpenter on sax, Lewis Stephens on keys and Susan Cowsill on backup vocals. Delbert McClinton guests on the honky tonk blues “The Road Never Ends,” adding vocals and harmonica, while on “Rainbow Bridge” Sonny Landreth adds his distinctive electric slide guitar. RSB buddies Cyril Neville and Devon Allman contribute on a track each; I Never Knew A Hurricane and The Road Never Ends, respectively.

However, Mike’s gritty vocals and biting guitar and his open, honest but never mawkish lyrics make this a Blues album for the 21st century, it has the hallmarks of being a classic, in every sense.

Gone To Texas - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnGKc39H9CY
I Never Knew A Hurricane - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7wCMF6jddY
Take It Easy - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEWaQ0letfc

I saw Mike Zito for the first time this past weekend at the Western Maryland Blues Fest. Really enjoyed watching him. He's got a certain charisma about him, a confidence that he exudes in his singing and playing and I can see why a friend of mine is so into him. She is a fellow videographer and has been filming him for years. The saxophonist, Jimmy Carpenter is pretty amazing and of course his bassist, Scot Sutherland is the epitome of cool. Wish his set hadn't been cut short by a storm that came through. Would have been nice to have heard the whole thing.

Hell On Me https://youtu.be/Mh5JrM3BzUs

I Never Knew A Hurricane https://youtu.be/rJy8YWQj3Bw

Pearl River https://youtu.be/tiuG0QYSCjI

Walk Away https://youtu.be/hY_iIuPwEVg

Texas Flyer https://youtu.be/H1WjFIVGBbg

Natural Born Lover https://youtu.be/tXFpBP4WdMU

Subtraction Blues https://youtu.be/bLUu9ka2HcE

Bad News https://youtu.be/jfJoiGwaGL4

Mike Zito's new album Keep Coming Back is released next Monday - pick up the title track on Mike's Bandcamp page: http://mikezito1.bandcamp.com/track/keep-coming-back

Mike Zito & The Wheel are currently on tour in Europe. Here are some forthcoming shows:

10/28/15    The Iron Road, Evesham

10/29/15    The Flower Pot, Derby

10/30/15    The Cluny, Newcastle

10/31/15    True Blues Club, Newton Le Willows

11/01/15    The Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/event/175469

11/02/15    The Leopard, Doncaster

11/03/15    Yardbirds Club, Grimsby

11/04/15    Robin 2, Wolverhampton   

11/05/15    Chislehurst    The Beaverwood Club    United Kingdom

11/06/15    Sutton    The Boom Boom Club    United Kingdom

11/07/15    Devizes    Long Street Blues Club    United Kingdom

11/09/15    Bonn    Harmonie Bonn    Germany

11/10/15    Bensheim    The Rex    Germany

11/12/15    Enschede    Nixenmeer    Netherlands

11/13/15    Weert    De Bosuil    Netherlands

11/14/15    Hannover    Blues Garage    Germany

Lookin' forward to his gig at De Bosuil at Weert

1/4/17  Hartlepool Supporters Club

Wow - East Texas met East Durham on Saturday night when Mike Zito breezed into Hartlepool. Yeah, I know: when I first saw it listed I though Mike Zito, Hartlepool, April 1st….. Well, you’d have been a fool if you missed it, and judging by the packed house at the Supporters Club, there aren’t many fools in Hartlepool.

Opener for the night was Darlington’s Alex Fawcett Band who played a fine rocking set; close your eyes and you’d swear it was a young Nimmo on stage. Alex is building a lot of respect in the region, and this showing only enhances that. Great showing by Alex, Jack on keys, Phil on bass & Robin on drums. Next step would be to get some dates out the region.

No offence to Alex though, when Mike Zito took the stage, it was like comparing a Ford Capri with a Ford Mustang. Mike has a blistering new album, Make Blues Not War, and its like that’s his new mission statement. Highway Mama & Wasted Time got the momentum going and from there, Mike, Matthew Johnson on Bass and (Scott Gorham look-a-like) Handsome Bob Bridges on Bass gave it their all, and gave Hartlepool one Hell of a taste of real Texas Blues. The Pearl River album was plundered, as was Mike’s most recent releases, Gone To Texas and Keep Coming Back.

The show was split over two sets; not surprising after the powerhouse of Crazy Legs; the second set getting off to a “mellower” start before Mike generously invited Alex Fawcett on stage, and the two combined seamlessly of 3 songs, trading licks. Now we were well into party mood, right till the end. A real, 5Star night.

Interestingly, promoters from Sedgefield, Saltburn and Darlington clubs were in, picking their jaws off the floor, so looks like Mike’s next tour could be a World tour of Durham & N. Yorks. (Mike’s next stop was Harrogate…).

Make Blues Not War - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoDW-E-0UHc  Boom Boom - 30/3/17
Keep Coming Back - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3xSkiLdPF8 - Boom Boom - 30/3/17
Compilation - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RI2uBg2jJ6o - Boom Boom - 30/3/17