Eric Gales - The Bookends

Eric Gales is an American guitarist born in 1974. He does not hide it at all, his major influence is Jimi Hendrix, which he covers in a lightning way Little Wing. Significantly, he holds his guitar upside down, upside down (no I did not double the "upside down"). "That's how I caught the guitar the first time and it's always been the way to go for me! It happened naturally." When he was told that he was holding his guitar upside down, his response was, "Yes, it did happen, but when I was told it was too late. "

Click here to watch the video of Little Wing by Eric Gales (not on the album)

Eric Gales doesn't play only blues, he is expert in all forms of music, as can be seen on his many solo records and numerous appearances as a guest artist. In 2017, he signs the sublime Middle of The Road and he comes back in 2019 with a very powerful The Bookends. After an intro while power and beauty, we attack in acoustic blues with a surprising Something's Gotta Give. Rhythm, groovy and bluesy vocals and a rhythm section of the highest order. It soon turns into electric with a solo to open the earth in two. R & B choirs, here we are in the heart of business, in the heart of the blues. Life.

Click here to watch the video of Something's Gotta Give

Bluesy, funky, Hendrixian guitars, Whatcha Gon 'Do has all these qualities. The production is exceptional. It's fresh, modern and by no means confined to the past. Eric Gales is a musician of today with references from the past. The wah wah solo is the proof. You snap your fingers and feet on the sublime It Just Beez That Way ? It's normal. Eric Gales has all the guitar techniques. The master of groove.

Click here to watch the video of Whatcha Gon' Do

Even the ballad How Do I Get You is not cutesy. It has a monstrous bass line. The filigree keyboards are proof of a remarkable mastery of the composition. We return to pure blues with the beautiful duet between Eric and Doyle Bramhall II (Eric Clapton's guitarist, among others) on Southpaw Serenade. A duel of guitars breathtaking and beautiful to be damned. And when he tackles heavy rock with Reaching For A Change, the result is always the best. The guitars are heavy, barely lightened by the voice of Eric Gales and the rhythm section Mononeon / Aaron Haggerty is most seasoned. Another heavier solo than Hell.

Click here to watch the video of Southpaw Serenade with Doyle Bramhall II

Somebody Lied slips on the side of reggae with a syncopated rhythm, a soulful and warm voice and many guitars. One of the most beautiful songs on the album. With the little help from Beth Hart, Eric Gales revisits With A Little Help From My Friends. The duo completely dusted off this legendary Beatles title, popularized in its days by Joe Cocker. Resolution is an instrumental, rather successful, which gives way to the bonus track Pedal to The Metal. Modern, blues, reggae, this title is the flagrant example of all the brilliance of Eric Gales' talent. And again and always a magic solo. Short but magical.

Click here to watch the video of Pedal to The Metal

The Bookends is a monumental album that will undoubtedly bring out all the talent of composer and guitar playing of Eric Gales. A must.