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When Eric Clapton proclaims himself a fan, you know that Sonny Landreth might be worth checking out.  _Grant Street_ is a live recording of the slide guitar legend, along long time bandmates Dave Ranson (bass) and Kenneth Blevins (drums).  Landreth himself recorded this live album as a reward to fans who attend his yearly performances at the Lafayette, Louisiana club.

The players here are better known as John Hiatt’s backing band, The Goners.  Landreth has also recorded recently with  Jimmy Buffett, and road warriors Government Mule.  His technique of combining slide guitar with fretted notes provides a sound hat is fairly unique, as if he were playing two guitars at once.

“Native Stepson” opens, and is a five minute romp through blues rock, and Eric Johnson style leads.  “U.S.S. Zydecoldsmobile” illustrates a tongue in cheek approach to the New Orleans sound.  “Wind in Denver” somehow manages to convey exactly that picture.  

There are two other new tracks here – “Port of Calling” and “Pedal to Metal”, a song that builds upon itself throughout to a blistering instrumental display of some of Landreth’s best guitar work. Vocally, Landreth takes his cues from those who came before him, and stays faithful to the blues.

Grant Street is a good example of what happens when an artist is intelligent enough, or lucky enough, to know when his band “has” it, and gets it down on tape.

Brian A. Smith
30 January 2005