Supersonic Blues machine is a collective of some of the best musicians working in the industry: The highly respected drummer Kenny Aronoff, a stickman so in demand it's easier to say who he hasn't worked; the versatile Producer and bass player extraordinaire Fabrizio Grossi and Lance Lopez, the Texas-based guitarist and frontman of this well-oiled work of musical machinery.
This collaboration is an attempt to "bring back the camaraderie between musicians," and go into the studio with an old school ideology to have a jam and make some great music. It's also a forum for the trio and their guest artists to bring their strengths and talents to the table in order to create an organic piece of work. Their debut is nourished by their fluidity as musicians and the ability to bounce off each other in the creative arena.
Miracle Man is an upbeat take on the pressures of being a 'new man', Running Whiskey features Billy Gibbons letting off some steam outside ZZ Top. Gov't Mule's front man and former Allman Brothers guitarist Warren Haynes shows off his pedigree as he goes head to head with Lopez to create a formidable dual guitar duet on Remedy, which is a cracking blues track that allows all the musicians to shine in an amalgam of laid back blues and sweet southern rock.
Bone Bucket Blues gives SBM a heavy rock blues twist with some smoking southern harmonica and furious fretboard work. Veteran blues maestro Walter Trout couldn't wait to record with the band and his enthusiasm just screams on Can't Take It No More. It's a darkly atmospheric track with a nod to melodic stylings of Robert Cray with Trout's remarkable playing and rugged vocals matching Lopez note for note. Ain't No Love (In The Heart Of The City) a cover of the classic Bobby 'Blue' Bland track is delivered with soul, passion and a lot of heart.
Despite the band not aligning themselves to any religion, Whatchagonnado is a take on the premise of the second coming and how Jesus would react to his seeing his teachings being twisted. With a funk blues backdrop, dynamic backing vocals and catchy chorus, it wouldn't be out of place in Jesus Christ Superstar. It ends a deliciously morish album on a thought provoking high.
One thing you can take from SBM is the aptitude and skill of these three seasoned musicians. They may not be household names, but their ability to attract a plethora of them to their debut release speaks volumes about their credibility, as does the music itself, which is certainly supersonic.
Groupie rating 4/5