Christmas music gives me the blues. When I hear a Christmas song on the radio, I change the station as soon as possible.
However, I couldn't resist a new Christmas Cd. “Christmas With the Blues,” from Canadian bluesman David Gogo, you can almost forget he is singing about Christmas. He has quite a few inspirational moments including the swampy harp powered blues of “Christmas on the Bayou,” and his hippie Christmas song “Let’s Get a Real Tree.”
He plays some beautiful blues guitar on Freddie King’s “Christmas Tears,” about missing a loved one over Christmas. He keeps thing slow on “Please Come Home For Christmas.” But he picks up the tempo on the gritty Elvis Presley cover“ Santa Claus is back in Town,” featuring a guitar solo dripping with soul and passion.
“Let’s Get A Real Tree,” is the best track on the CD with the Texas boogie beat and story telling/ singing lyrics.
He borrows a few bars from Johnny B Goode,” for the solo. He also tackles well roasted Christmas chestnuts on “Little Drummer Boy,” on dobro and harp, doing a fantastic job of it.
He ends the CD on a slow and sexy, ’60s flavoured note with “Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin’.”
Artist: David Gogo
Genre: blues