Rich Somers is no less than one of those rare, hidden gems you’re lucky if you find once in your lifetime. Born in Brighton, Rich received his first guitar at 11 years of age and started trying to emulate some of his favorite musicians. It was the likes of Wilson Pickett, Marvin Gaye, The Eagles and many others who all later became an inspiration to Rich’s individual songwriting talent.
I love hearing the various interpretations of blues standards by many artists. I don’t ever get tired of them. However, when some new blues orientated music shows up on my radar, I scramble my auditory jet sensors and intercept the new tunes with a vengeance. “Gypsy Eyes” off the album “Back On Bourbon Street” by Rich Somers is like drinking a finely aged wine. No wasted notes here, just pure blues grit, wrapped in a deceptively funky mid-tempo vibe, which sits somewhere between what you’d expect from Eric Clapton or Joe Bonamassa.
Too many people get hung up on how many notes can be crammed into a measure. But Rich Somers knows the value of the spaces between and the length of the notes which is what makes this so good. This is a track on which Rich obviously brings to the table everything he has learned about playing guitar and singing in his extensive career. The songwriting is unmistakably mature and his performance, though powerful and vibrant, is sophisticated, sublime, and understated.
Rich Somers comes across as the genuine article, whose consummate skill; writing and good taste speaks to his impressive command of his music and instrument. The track “Gypsy Eyes”, as well as the entire “Back On Bourbon Street” album, to be fair, is terrific from the first acoustic note to the final chords, and you’ll find yourself hitting replay over and over.
His lyrics speak of both the playful heart and the deceptive mind, which he delivers with passion and clarity. So be happy to soak in this lusty rhythm and melody, and some of the wisdom therein. No corporate crap here, just great soulful, funky, and rocking blues music straight from the heart by Rich Somers.
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