The Magic Lightnin' Boys

What’s happened to the jam bands? Once the very foundation of American and British rock ‘n roll, it’s now become the exception, not the rule, to go to a show and find musicians so competent on their instruments that they actually friggin’ play them. Sure, we can make a list of artists still touting some down-home rock: Alabama Shakes, Shovels & Rope, Courtney Barnett. But in 2016 the list ends quickly, where as it once was endless.

Many indie music fans longing for a solid guitar solo or a healthy dose of killer blues harmonica are now feeling the pull of modern country music, making the cross-over with help from fresh-feeling acts like Sturgill Simpson and Chris Stapleton. (Stapleton’s face-melting set with Justin Timberlake at the 2015 CMA awards didn’t hurt anything, either.) These old-soul musicians bring an attitude to their tracks that’s harder to capture with computers and Auto-Tune. It’s an attitude that’s ushering in a new rock moment, one where listeners are brought back to a recorded sound that fully hems in the otherworldly presence of live musicianship—that thing listeners are wanting and needing, but is now so hard to come by. So where can we get a little bit more of it? Enter The Magic Lightnin’ Boys.

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Hailing from Cincinnati, Ohio, this bearded swamp-rock quartet is fronted by Casey Gomez, a guy blessed with a voice that can wail, at times evoking Darius Rucker of Hootie & the Blowfish (Who has recently transitioned to country music himself. Coincidence?). While tracks off their first album, the self-titled LP of 2015, showed overwhelming promise, their upcoming release, Stealin’ Thunder, out May 6th, is absolutely iTunes and radio-ready.

“Bones,” the album’s second track, featured at the top of this article, echoes Stapleton’s more jammin’ tunes, modified by layers of sound akin to rock-driven acts like Jack White or The Black Keys. The LP then rolls into “Before the Storm,” and “April Rain,” a feel-good rock song so wonderful you’ll likely drop what you’re doing, hop in your truck, and drive into the sun toward your dreams. A handful of the album’s tunes, like “The Ride,” feature ballad-esque starts and segues that, for a few bars, can almost be mistaken for a new Pearl Jam release. Thunder‘s penultimate track, “Rubber Side Down,” featured below, hits every note fans of classic rock groups like Humble Pie and The Allman Brothers are so missing.



As to what the future holds for these talented dudes, here’s to hoping it’s exposure and accolades similar to what Stapleton has experienced in the past year. There’s no doubt they’ll find success on their own, but they could also make a musical mark by teaming up with artists like Shakey Graves and other storytelling blues-rockers in need of badass bands that can really jam. While it remains to be seen where distant winds carry the Lightnin’ Boys, these upcoming summer tour dates ensure you can catch them as they take off, then soar. - Rebeca Bohanan

This Cincinnati, Ohio band plays a tight mix of rock, blues, and swamp rock that sounds fresh and exciting. The band consists of Casey Gomez (Vocals, Harp, Piccolo Bass), Brian Tarter (Guitar, Backing Vocals), Richie Lee (Bass), and Kurt Lipphardt (Drums).

“April Rain” had a touch of The Black Crowes to it, but not enough to overpower the song; it just gives the listener a hint of the bands that have gone down this path before, just like the Hendrix sound on “Fear & Freedom.” The band has the chops, with tight playing, and the raw vocals from Gomez are a perfect complement to the band’s playing. The deeper you get into the album, the further it wedges itself into your ears and won’t let go. It has the feel of a long lost album from the ‘70s, but not retro sounding, just a classic sound that is all but forgotten in this day and age. You can close your eyes and see the band with their eyes closed, just grooving out to the sounds they are creating. This would be a band to see live and feel the passion and love for the music wash over you.

I can’t think of bands playing this style of music doing a better job than these guys are doing and this needs to be in your music collection right away. (Rick Ecker) - Rick Ecker

The Magic Lightning Boys are proof that there’s always room for blues rock. The only rule, you can’t suck. It’s a tricky genre that doesn’t suffer fools well. Surprisingly, these guys didn’t just roll up out of the bayou, Mississippi, or Muscle Shoals. They hail from Cincinnati and Stealin’ Thunder will take you back if you’re of a certain age, or bring your into the light if you haven’t exposed your ears to swamp music before.

But it’s not just a blues rock record. There’s a lot going on. The album is nicely layered with hard cord ripping tracks (“Fear & Freedom” and “Rubber Side Down”) and a few gorgeous and peaceful tunes such as “The Cleansing,” “Bondo’s Ballad,” and “Before the Storm.” If you’re looking for some authentic gator music, you can’t do any better than “Bones” and “Nan’s Poem.” The latter is eerily engaging.

Sometimes the playlist gets stuck in a rut and sometimes you need old school blues from the fingertips of a young band to catapult you out. The genre has survived for so long because of its restorative effects. The Magic Lightning Boys have earned the right to be here because their music follows the great tradition of penance via howling at the moon with some ballads as a healing balm afterwards. Stealin’ Thunder reminds you to unwind and lay down those rocks you’ve been carrying for a while.

The Magic Lightning Boys have drawn from the greats that came before them, and they are certainly giving back. - Lisa Waugh

The Magic Lightnin’ Boys hail from Cincinnati, Ohio, which immediately tells me a lot about the band since I spent four of my most formative years in that area. For people of the Midwest like me, Cincinnati is the gateway to the South where these regions converge like the pasta, cheese, and onions added to the chili base of Cincinnati chili.
This band has more than a heaping helping of Southern influence, creating its own dish combining Southern rock and blues with a smidgen of funk, served piping hot. Formed in 2014, next month TMLB will be putting out its first full-length studio release in “Stealin’ Thunder” after doing both a studio EP and live album last year.
So the question is whether this new 13-track compilation will be enough to catapult them to a national platform, and indeed I think it’s possible on one condition: listening audiences redevelop an appreciation for the blues as opposed to the rap and hip-hop influence pervasive in modern popular music.
“Stealin’ Thunder” begins with a short bit of spoken word and harmonica called Nan’s Poem. The first thing it made me think of is a song buried on John Mellencamp’s “Scarecrow” album called Grandma’s Theme, which is the prelude to a much more familiar tune called Small Town. I don’t know if Nan’s Poem will lead into a megahit called Bones, but TMLB’s second track is a classic blues number that features some tasty slide guitar and harmonica. They employ a somewhat similar technique on the next couple of songs, with the almost mellow – well, as mellow as you can get with a fuzzed-out guitar sound - instrumental called Before the Storm building into a crescendo before yielding to April Rain.
April Rain sounded like it could have been lifted as an outtake from an Allman Brothers album circa 1971, and there’s not a thing wrong with that. Things are “always better with a cheap-ass bottle of wine,” and that’s the attitude they carry on this track and the next one, the bass-driven Fear & Freedom. “On the other side of fear lies freedom,” indeed, as TMLB isn’t afraid to show they can do bluesy southern rock with the best of them. For me, those were two of the highlight songs on the album. The rocking coda of April Rain and the fact there’s just enough guitar on Fear & Freedom to give the song real life is a testament to the album’s writing and production. Normally I’m not big on self-produced work but the band kept things nicely in line for this one.
As I was writing this, I was also listening to their earlier studio work just to see what kind of a directional change is made on the next song, Roll. It’s a more urban sound, integrating a horn section into their standard blues-based fare. I appreciated the nod to a different sphere of influence, but it didn’t quite fit for me. After the instrumental ballad The Cleansing, the album reaches its lead single, called The Ride. It’s a very good representation of TMLB’s sound, so listen for yourself.

Now that I’ve seen the video, I have to agree lead singer Casey Gomez looks like a bluesman. The other band members are Brian Tarter on lead guitar, Richie Lee on bass, and Kurt Lipphardt on the drums. (As an aside, after reviewing a number of completely solo, in-studio efforts over the past few months, it is refreshing to see a real band playing.)
After another brief and mainly instrumental (just two guitars) tune called Spaceship Blues, TMLB runs through two songs that could be radio hits if programmers knew what they were doing, Mojo and Rubber Side Down. The former reminded me of the Fabulous Thunderbirds, while the latter is another fast blues number. These lead into the final short acoustic track called Bondo’s Ballad and the finale N2U, which as it’s written is a classic closing track. It’s a definite ”thank you, good night!” kind of song if played live. (Actually, just before I put this review to bed I noticed on their website a lot of these songs are featured live, including N2U. Call it a pro tip, and let’s just say I wasn’t far off.) Supposedly the band will be “extensively touring” in support of this album during the summer and fall, and I think this may be a fertile area for a band that plays the blues.
I know this is only mid-April and hopefully I will have a lot more music to review, but I have a sneaking hunch this will be in the running for my top 5 at the end of the year. I’m sure the band would agree it’s time to geographically expand their fanbase, so if you like old-style Southern blues-based rock this could be a revival band you’re looking for. - Michael

All the way from Cincinnati Ohio comes the awesome swamp rock and blues infused sound of The Magic Lightnin’ Boys. With their aggressively awesome new album titled Stealin’ Thunder, it looks as though The Magic Lightnin’ Boys are looking to give us all that thunder back, trust me, this is one high octane album.

The first track titled Bones is gritty and trail-worn in its sound. A catchy slide guitar mixed up with some shakers, some pure rock drums, and vocals that catch the very essence of this powerful genre. The one thing that stood out most is how much this song sounded like it was being played live in an old dusty pub that hands out whiskey as if it was water. A great track, and a solid choice in how to introduce new fans to this bands great music.

Before The Storm follows in the footsteps of Bones, and it does not disappoint. Beautiful in the way it has been composed, and every musical note is given a life of its own, and of course the mixing is exactly what it should be; inspired. It is a short instrumental, but it packs some realy emotion into those few minutes.

The current single that is being promoted, along with a video, is titled The Ride, and that is exactly what this song is. This track is a true journey through the musical senses. With the familiar gritty vocals laid over a riff as rock and roll as it gets, this song reminds me of something Shamans Harvest would have attempted. Not the most complicated of tracks on the album, The Ride does show a certain amount of professional restraint in the composition. It is always what it needs go be and nothing more, and although it doesn’t redefine the genre, it definitely adds to it.

Stealin’ Thunder by The Magic Lightnin’ Boys is a juggernaut of an album. It has great music composition, solid mixing, and enough energy and emotion packed within to power Ohio itself. It would be a shame for you to miss this album, so take my word for it, don’t.

9/10 - Ryan Donelly

Wow, what can I say but….Hell Yeah. This artist is the bomb. I review a lot of music and when this group came across my desk for review I was blown away.

From the first note, the first beat, the first lick on the guitar I was blown away. The energy, the drive, and the momentum of each song kept me on my feet and moving to the groove.

Dynamite with a splash of hot molten groovy funk, that’s what you get with The Magic Lightnin Boys.

I loved the old time muddy waters feel to Nan’s Poem. It reminded me of the old plantations and the true rockabilly, southern rock era of the deep south.

The Magic Lightnin Boys courtesy of Independent Music Promotions
The Magic Lightnin Boys courtesy of Independent Music Promotions
These guys are smooth and sweet like good ole sugar cane molasses. Lead singer Casey Gomez has the voice like home churned butter, creamy, warm and rich. Band members are Casey Gomez – Vocals, Harp, piccolo bass,Brian Tarter – Guitar, Backing Vocals,Richie Lee – Bass, and Kurt Lipphardt – Drums. Together they make up one of the industries most notable up and coming groups of 2016.

“Before The Storm” has a beautiful intro with the thunder and the cymbals really bringing it all together. It’s slow moving like a summer storm.

I want this one for my special collection. The Magic Lightnin Boys have truly embraced a historic sound and crafted that sound in to their own unique style. It fits like a glove. With the blend of french harps and dual bass, soulful gritty guitar and powerhouse vocals MLB is hot and rising.

The Magic Lightnin Boys courtesy of Independent Music Promotions
The Magic Lightnin Boys courtesy of Independent Music Promotions
Could not stop listening to “April Rain”, the melody, lyrics and instrumentation on this song awakens something within. They say music is one of the only things that actually allows us to use all of our brain. That music ignites something within that can actually bring us out of the darkness and into the light. I believe it. “April Rain” flips the switch toward a feeling of euphoria.

The intro for “Fear and Freedom” will almost fool you into thinking it’s a ballad, when actually it could be. It’s a rock ballad. But then there is the short distortion at the beginning, just past the intro and through out with the guitar that breaks up the rhythmic feel and makes this one a very unique addition to this album.

The Magic Lightnin Boys courtesy of Independent Music Promotions
The Magic Lightnin Boys courtesy of Independent Music Promotions
Lyrically this album has everything. Passion, meaning and real, true to life, down to earth, thought provoking stories with engaging music. Old school rock fans should be able to relate to at least one or more of the songs on this album. It’s about life and living free.

“Roll” wakes us up with a solid horn section and then throughout. This blend of various instruments sets the collection apart from others because of the versatility and creative expression.

Where other bands have tried to take this blend of rock, blues, depth and modern style and make it their own The MLB have done so and not only with finesse but with deep rooted history and a link to major influences in the industry. Influences that have led them to where they are today; moving to the top.

The Magic Lightnin Boys courtesy of Independent Music Promotions
The Magic Lightnin Boys courtesy of Independent Music Promotions
“Rubber Side Down” has a great introduction. Love the guitar on all the songs in this collection. The rich instrumentation and the raw and edgy vocals reminds me of Georgia Satellites and The Fabulous Thunderbirds. It’s almost old school meets new generation. It brings back my teen years with Bob Segar and Skynard. When music was authentic.

For more information on The Magic Lightnin Boys and how you can purchase their music and even catch a show near you please visit the following websites. - Sherryl Craig

Hailing from Cincinnati, Ohio, The Magic Lightnin’ Boys are getting ready to release a new album, Stealin’ Thunder. The record is a gritty mix of garage & Southern rock, and the blues—a rawer take on the sound exemplified by acts like The Black Keys. Replete with distorted vocals, screaming slide guitar, and howling harmonica, the band comes across as purer and more authentic than the hoards of other bands that try to replicate this sound and fail. Whereas many acts sound more modern and punk, songs like “April Rain” are distinctly 70’s inspired.

This isn’t straightforward Southern rock, however, because there are influences of soul, jazz, and even touches of psychedelica on songs including “Fear & Freedom” and “Roll;” giving the whole album an extremely eclectic feel. A handful of instrumentals—“The Cleansing” and “Before The Storm” to name two—round out the album concisely, instead of coming across as padded filler. Rather than ending quietly with an acoustic whimper, the band goes out with a bang on “N2U,” arguably one of the hardest and toughest songs on the album. It’s pure, unadulterated blues. Stealin’ Thunder is out May 6th on Bottled Lightnin’ Records. - Cody Conrad

The Magic Lightnin Boys (MLB) are so charged with energy on their new 13 track LP that they’re Stealin’ Thunder. Booming out of Cincinnati, Ohio (aka The Blue Chip City), MLB takes blues rock and flips the genre on its head; much like ZZ Top did when they hit the scene. Whether they’re giving us a Stevie Ray Vaughn style blues groove, or a Midnight Rider (The Allman Brothers) kick, you can bet your sweet candy that The Magic Lightnin Boys will entertain your soul.

There are a ton of great tunes on Stealin Thunder, that are sure to get your motor running. Songs like “Bones” a blues rock classic, “Fear & Freedom” a Zeppelinesque feeling groove, “Roll” a James Brown funky horn driven dance track, and “Mojo” a powerful and energetic blues rock track that took the cake for me. Of all the songs here, “Mojo” gave me chills and took me back to my childhood when I listened to Jimi Hendrix with my dad. Bearing the same soul as Hendrix, this MLB delivered the goods on “Mojo”, and definitely helped me get my mojo working for the day. This is a must-hear song.

In the end, Stealin Thunder is a masterfully crafted compilation of musical works that should be enjoyed at high volumes on the open road. Don’t even attempt to listen to The Magic Lightnin Boys in the city because you will get a ticket as a result of the adrenaline rush their music causes. If you’re a fan of greats like ZZ Top, Stevie Ray Vaughn, The Allman Brothers, and/or Led Zeppelin then you have to check out the MLBs new album on May 6, 2016 when it releases. - Shaine Freeman

As music seems to become more about an overproduced, soulless promo for the next itunes hit single,and less and less about actual musicians, occasionally a band comes along that seems unaffected by all the commercialism and more interested in actually playing instruments. You know, like bands use to in the not too distant past, I think it might have been the 90s. One such group would be The Magic Lightnin’ Boys, whose eclectic rock-n-roll with a shot of adrenaline, is a nod to past original jam bands like Blues Traveler, Spin Doctors, and Phish.




Images Courtesy of The Magic Lightnin' Boys
With a combination of blues and ‘Swamp Rock’, this quartet (Casey Gomez - Vocals, Harp, piccolo bass, Brian Tarter - Guitar, Backing Vocals, Richie Lee - Bass, and Kurt Lipphardt - Drums) should sound similar to other bands who have tried (to follow ‘too closely’ in the footsteps of The Black Keys) and failed, but thankfully they don’t. Much of that has to do with the passionate wails of lead vocalist Gomez, mixed with harmonica playing and bass, makes their sound appealing and fresh to a generation that isn’t accustomed to bands who play, actual instruments. Their lyrics and writing on their latest album, has the seasoned penmanship of a veteran group, which is only further complimented by the Ohio based quartet’s live performances. - Falene Nurse

The Magic Lightnin’ Boys procure a vein of music that’s comfortably notalgic, steeped in blues and swamp-rock influences that remind instantly of classic-rock greats like The Allman Brothers and ZZ Top. The Cincinnati-based quartet shows their gritty bluesy captivation throughout new track “The Ride”, which is the lead single off their new album Stealin’ Thunder, out May 6th. Casey Gomez’ lead vocals alternate between a soaring howl and nonchalant swagger, giving way to a great harmonica solo just after the two-minute mark, where the percussion resembles a stampede and the guitars glide along effortlessly. - Mike Mineo

https://popwrapped.com/introducing-the-magic-lightnin-boys/ -

If nothing else, you have to give props to the The Magic Lightnin' Boys for one thing; they have been able to make a nod to the past sound fresh and modern. Their combination of hard rock and blues should sound similar to other bands who have tried (and failed) to make this sound appealing to a generation who has heard it all, but it doesn't. Not only does it retain a keen sense of identity at all times, it also serves as the perfect springboard for the new foursome out of Ohio. The songwriting matches that of a veteran band that have been playing together for years, and coupled with vocalist Casey Gomez's passionate wails, it won't be hard for them to land a strong fanbase. The funky presence of the bass throughout the entire release meshes perfectly with the organic production, especially on highlight track "Broken Dream". Gomez emotes perfectly while reminiscing about a time that showed nothing but promise. The track takes on a slow-burning pace that explodes outward in a maelstrom of needle-sharp solos and frantic drumming at the end, and this shows the real strength of the band in general. The instruments are played in tandem, never overshadowing each other; it creates a dynamic listen that can shift from soulful and heartfelt to aggressive and boisterous. "Devil's Lettuce" swings from a low-key, subdued soul ditty to a high-energy blues jam several times throughout the track quite naturally.

There's certainly something to be said of the style that The Magic Lightnin' Boys have embraced here; it hearkens back to the days when music was just a bit more simplistic. It's a nostalgia that may not resonate with all listeners, but it will be incredibly rewarding for those who do connect to it. The inclusion of the harmonica in some songs reminds the listener of that dirty southern rock sound that the band consistently uses as an influence, but it never completely overtakes the blues sound that pervades the album. By very precisely taking these influences and injecting it with a modern approach to songwriting, the band stands at the cusp of something very exciting. The depth that the band do bring to their sound is the individual members playing with such an obvious passion coupled with the personal lyrics present throughout The Magic Lightnin' Boys. Without the heart-rending lyrics of "Couples Skate", it would be easy to call it the generally predictable "slow song" of the release. As it stands, it is one of the strongest vocal performances here and ranks among the best here. The most exciting track is the concluding instrumental track "Stones Throw", which points to the band continually tweaking their formula to provide varied and interesting results. For the short amount of time that the band has been together, this is a very impressive debut that points to an ever-improving band not one bit afraid to change it up until they find their perfect sweet spot. I have no doubt that I'll be listening to their progression until that happens; by this first release, I can't imagine it will take much time. Soulful and passionate, The Magic Lightnin' Boys are here to resurrect the old blues/hard rock sound and make it their own. - Mark A - Sputnik Music

You know what I like about music besides good songwriting, production, performances and all the usual criteria a journalist like me looks for when listening to music? Don’t know? Well I’ll tell you and the answer is that more often then not, the songs themselves have special meanings as sometimes they are based on personal experiences or events that happened in either the bands career or the personal lives of one of the bands members. I’ve seen this happen in recent years with some bands I like and the special songs they write are always amazing and a joy to listen to with EDEN’S CURSE and ECLIPSE being two examples.

The reason I bring this up is because the band featured in this review are just one of those who have special meanings behind the songs they have written for their debut album which is already out and their name is THE MAGIC LIGHTNIN’ BOYS. Formed a few years ago in Ohio in the USA, this is a band that you could almost say never happened.

Why? The main singer of this unit, Casey Gomez, couldn’t devote much of his time to the band as his wife was battling the bastard known as cancer which is unfortunately a battle she lost. Because of this event, they decided to put the band on permanent hold but Casey wanted to keep going with the music after his wife had passed so they did just that.

Having restarted the band, Casey and the guitarist Brian Titcher got themselves a bass player in the form of Richie Lee and then eventually getting a fourth member in their drummer Kurt Lipphardt who was a good friend of the bands for many years. Having established the foundation of their band, work began on the songs and despite being influenced by a wide variety of genres, the overall sound has a Classic Rock vibe to it with a modern sound and some Blues/Country melodies thrown in too.

The end result, is a seven track debut self titled release which upon first listen, is a clear indication that despite the events described earlier in this review, they wanted to use music as a form of therapy while basing the melodies, the lyrics and the songs around the struggles their singer was facing during his late wife's cancer battle and you can really detect their passion for music as you listen to their songs.

From start to end, the debut from this Ohio quartet is a powerful and passionate approach to successfully modernizing Classic Rock while also using elements of Blues music too to allow anyone who has never heard the genre before to hear and enjoy it for the first time.

The songwriting on this is what really stands out the most as the majority of the songs are based around various events that happened during and after Casey’s wifes cancer battle. Naturally of course, this is something that is always going to have a strong impact on anyone, so to express that through the wonderful art of music, is a fantastic achievement in itself as there is no greater therapy then music in my opinion for when you are feeling down, scared, afraid and so on as there will always be a song to help you through any situation.

The use of both Classic and Blues Rock combined with the excellent songwriting, the passionate performances and indeed the superb production, make this an album you are always going to enjoy listening to as I know I certainly did when I replayed it a few times while finding the words for this review.

Bottom line, the debut from THE MAGIC LIGHTNIN’ BOYS is an excellent and very well done approach to modernizing Classic Rock while also opening up opportunities to enjoy Blues Rock as well and the result is something that I highly recommend you check out. Even if you’re not a fan of Classic or Blues Rock, your mind may become changed if you give this one a listen which I highly encourage you to do. - MarcusTheRocker - Metal Temple

These guys really manage to bring the classic kind of hard rocking sound and make it their own. At times you’ll likely make out different artists. It ranges from things like funk, to tradition blues and even stoner rock. It all works and it seems to flow together nicely. This is an effective set and one sure to please a wide range of music fans. - G.W. Hill

To understand The Magic Lightnin' Boys and their music, you have to understand blues music. Real blues. Southern American blues. Willie Dixon. Muddy Waters. Robert Johnson. Mississippi John Hurt. I'm not dropping names from a Google search or Wikipedia entry. I've had albums by these men and others over the years. Real American blues is at the foundation of almost all rock music. Just ask Keith Richards.
With their self-titled debut, The Magic Lightnin' Boys, from Ohio, harvest the sounds of American blues history, and they're a bunch of white guys. The late B.B. King once said, "I've said that playing the blues is like having to be black twice. Stevie Ray Vaughan missed on both counts, but I never noticed." (I did get that one from a Google search. Sorry).
The strength of The Magic Lightnin' Boys is self-evident and simple. First, there's the voice of Casey Gomez, easily one of the best contemporary blues vocalists. He's got that soulful, bit gritty, somewhat whiskey soaked, delivery which carries through every song. Then, secondly, MLB knows their craft, their chosen genre. They simply mix a bit of classic rock into their blues. But mostly, they go for that deliberate slow and sweet as molassas blues groove, and then flair it with Gomez's vocal stylings and Brian Tarter's blues guitar intonations. Even better, within Devil's Lettuce they pair play off one another like tag team wrestlers. Along the way they may through in some blues harp as well. Underneath drums and bass keep a steady beat and groove. And thanks to the minimal and clear production, you catch the sweetness of Richie Lee's rhythmic bass lines.
A few songs need some mention. There's a bit of blues funk in Mindfunk, where MLB may be stealing some pages from early Little Feat. Another is Couple Skate, a ballad, better a love song, in the key of blues, maybe with a touch of country and a strong pinch of classic Seventies rock. And that guitar solo is so smooth. Finally, there's the closing instrumental Stones Throw, where Tarter gets to stretch his blues guitar licks.
Again, this is real American blues rock. And, unfortunately, in the larger context of American popular music, it's going fall on deaf ears. It's going to tread the underground music scene. The same place that much of classic hard rock and heavy metal have to struggle to survive. But if you dig the blues, real blues, twisted with classic rock, then The Magic Lightnin' Boys are the real deal, and definitely worth your time. Recommended. - Danger Dog

You know when something is so right and yet there’s just that one thing that bugs you about it? Not that it detracts from the record in any way it just seems… well damn odd. On to that shortly; first things first – this is a helluva album, though at just seven tracks it certainly leaves you wanting more.


Throughout this Magic Lightning Boys release the biggest and boldest vibe you feel is a real understanding Blues through the ages – at times, and this is about the greatest compliment I can pay, you feel this could almost be Hendrix, or SRV or ZZ Top or Joe Cocker . Sure there are other influences in there more Jam Band, Rootsy stuff, but the overwhelming feel is of music from another time, when things were simpler and playing it from the heart really mattered.


Ok let’s get it out of the way then… musically the ‘odd man out’ here is opener ‘Mindfunk’ which as the title suggests is Funk, damned good Funk mind you, but just so out of place stylistically from the rest of the album you just hope other reviewers press on and find the real magic. If it were me a more fitting and impressive place would have been to place it at the end of the record where it would open up a host of questions about what might come next. As it is you get a single slice of Funk followed by a whole slab of Rock which I must admit confused me at first listen – I mean why put on that Funk masterclass upfront then forget about it entirely for the rest of the record?.


Thankfully the album is sensational, and even though I’m obsessing about the tracklisting its just because I care, and you will too.


Check out ‘Sucker Punch’ and tell me you’re not moved by the swampy Southern swing of the music and the heartfelt lyrics. It’s a song that only hints at what’s to come but as a contrast to the opener takes it right back to the roots of it all with that cascading slide guitar and incessant bassline. And if you’re impressed by that one then ‘Broken Dream’ that follows will have you reaching for those Hendrix comparisons through the miasma of harp and Southern harmony. It’s as much the vocal as the guitar that speaks to us.


‘Gone’ takes us back to Swamp Blues via a strangely hypnotic proto-Hendrix riff and a vocal and guitar that shimmer and sear and burn before bursting into flame. It’s a powerful song that seems like it wants to burst out of the constraint of the backline as it approaches the chorus. This is the sort of power that makes you believe in what these guys are doing. The oddly-named ‘Devil’s Lettuce’ (I’m sure some readers will be familiar with that term) that follows keeps up the urgency but takes a straighter Blues route, seemingly via ZZ Top, for me though it’s the sweeping beautiful resonance of ‘Couple Skate’ that shows the real class of this band and truly moves me with that deistinctive 70’s taste. Hendrix comes back to mind for the instrumental ‘Stones Throw’ which is almost like an essay on Voodoo Chile, that keeps the intent and leads us down another equally refreshing path.


Man this was just what we needed… a truly beautiful album. - The Rockpit