New music: Collective Soul, GA-20 with Charlie Musselwhite, Brad "Guitar" Wilson

In this column I preview highly-anticipated albums from Collective Soul and a collaboration between GA-20 and Charlie Musselwhite both due Friday, July 31, as well as the newly-released Brad "Guitar" Wilson LP Boundless.

Artist: Collective Soul

Title: Touch and Go (Fuzze-Flex Records)
You might like if you enjoy: The Cars, Collective Soul, Devo

Tell me more: Collective Soul is back with another masterful album, Touch and Go (due July 31), loaded with winning original material that is bolstered by undeniable choruses, tight arrangements, lead vocalist Ed Roland's signature vocals and strong performances. Inspired by groundbreaking New Wave rock, notably The Cars, this album blends the best of the late 1970s and early '80s with Collective Soul's masterful modern rock touch. Catchy material to be sure, Touch and Go's standouts include the Cars-flavored opener "Rainbow," wistful synth-swept "Eye On You," dance-minded new wave rocker "Uh Oh," delightfully Devo-ish "Fun," dreamy "Feel" and anthemic album closer "Love Your Way." My favorite track is the sumptuous "All My Days On Thru," which soars and captures the euphoria of romantic bliss perfectly. 

Originally released earlier this spring as part of Record Store Day, Touch and Go will now be available globally via all digital outlets, as well on CD and 180-gram teal-marble colored vinyl. Collective Soul is currently on tour, and is scheduled to perform at Humphreys Concerts By The Bay in San Diego on Sept. 25, and at Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale, AZ on Sept. 26. Information: collectivesoul.com. 

Artists: GA-20 with Charlie Musselwhite

Title: Blues  Now (New West Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Charlie Musselwhite, Kim Wilson, James Harman

Tell me more: Now 82, beloved Mississippi blues harmonica legend Charlie Musselwhite impresses on the three advance tracks from the 10-track disc Blues Now where the Grammy winner has joined forces with the stellar Boston-based trio GA-20. The strength of the album (set for release on Friday, July 31) may well be rooted in the straightforward recording of the album; in early 2025 GA-20 booked six days of studio time at Rare Signals in Cambridge, MA and collected some of their favorite songs originally recorded by Elmore James, Junior Wells, Eddie Taylor, Jimmy Reed and even a couple of cuts off Musselwhite's own 1968 debut Stand Back! The idea was to record the songs quickly and capture the energy of Musselwhite's celebrated debut but with a contemporary spin. Listening to the initial trio of cuts from the Matthew Stubbs-produced Blues Now it's clear this was a mission fully accomplished. Indeed, blues lovers will want to hear the joyfully infectious Chicago blues cut "I Can't Hold Out," stylish take on Reed's 1962 ballad "I'll Change My Style" bolstered by Musselwhite's signature harmonica magic, and the fiery "Crazy Love." Blues Now is available across digital platforms, on audio CD, standard black vinyl and several limited edition color vinyl formats. GA-20 will perform at the Blues Heritage Festival in Tucson, AZ on Nov. 7, and at Tumbleroot Brewery in Santa Fe, NM on Nov. 8. Information: ga20band.com. 

Artist: Brad "Guitar" Wilson

Title: Boundless (Cali Bee Music)
You might like if you enjoy: Robert Cray, Tommy Castro, CCCCC

Tell me more: Singer-guitarist Brad "Guitar" Wilson showcases his distinctive style blending rock, blues, jazz and R&B on the newly-released Boundless. The songs were recorded in Hollywood, California's Musician's Institute Studios, Central California's Mondragon Studios, and at ICP Studios in Brussels, Belgium. Highlights include a reworked reading of the Roy Hawkins and Rick Darnell penned B.B. King classic "The Thrill Is Gone," blues-rock take on the 1961 Ray Charles hit "Hit the Road Jack," original Heartland-flavored rocker "Gonna Stay Or Go," a wonderful cover of Tears For Fears' Everybody Wants To Rule The World" (the latter enhanced by Wilson's sharp lead guitar playing), Americana sortie "Wild and Free," jazzy "San Francisco Nights" and smooth "Blues Magic." Information: bradwilsonlive.com. 

Robert Kinsler

JD Simo, GA-20 bring authentic blues-rock to the Coach House

From left: JD Simo, Adam Abrashoff and
Michael Zimmerman at The
Coach House on Nov. 11, 2021.

Who: JD Simo, GA-20

Where: The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, CA

When: Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021

Next: JD Simo and GA-20 are in the midst of an extended tour together extending through January 2022. The artists' next show is at the Soda Bar in San Diego on Nov. 14. Learn more HERE or HERE.

Two terrific trios were showcased at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano on Thursday night. Headliner JD Simo and opener GA-20 are part of a growing field of acclaimed young artists mastering classic blues-rock sounds while bringing their own creative instincts into the mix. That fusion of past and present forces was certified in spades throughout the night.

GA-20, from left: guitarist Matthew Stubbs, drummer
Tim Carman and singer-guitarist Pat Faherty.

Boston-spawned GA-20 kicked off the concert with a rousing 65-minute set of hard-hitting selections that recalled the power and fury of some of the blues genre's greats to emerge in the late 1950s and early '60s — Buddy Guy, Earl Hooker and Junior Wells immediately come to mind. Singer-guitarist Pat Faherty, guitarist Matthew Stubbs and drummer Tim Carman were on fire from the moment they took the stage, conjuring up an intoxicating sound that is rooted in the past but firmly connects in the here and now courtesy of a signature edge.

From left, GA-20's Matthew Stubbs and Pat Faherty.

Faherty and Stubbs are both stylish guitar players able to deliver enticing lead solos,  while Carman is a solid drummer able to keep the one man rhythm section moving with grace and power. In addition to his top-tier vocals, Faherty often using a slide to enhance the sonic fireworks (he did that in the speedy opener "No No"). 

GA-50 drummer Tim Carman.

There were plenty of other wonderful moments early in the trio's set, including the 1950s rock and roll mining "Just Because," pretty Texas-flavored "Dry Run" and fiery "Give Me Back My Wig" (the latter off the threesome's latest album Try It...You Might Like It: GA-20 Does Hound Dog Taylor).

GA-20's Matthew Stubbs, left,
 and Pat Faherty in San Juan Capistrano.

Late set standouts included the slow blues nugget "Happy Today," raucous "Hold It One Time," aptly-titled "Let's Get Funky" and catchy "Double Gotten' My Love." 

From left, drummer Adam Abrashoff, singer-guitarist JD Simo and bassist Michael Zimmerman locked in at The Coach House on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021.

Backed by Adam Abrashoff (drums) and Michael Zimmerman (bass), JD Simo impressed throughout his 80-minute outing. Simo arrived in Orange County on the heels of the release of his new album Mind Control (released Nov. 5 via Crows Feet Records), an ambitious project developed during the COVID-19 pandemic when the three musicians would gather one day a week to record new tracks.

JD Sumo at The Coach House.

Compelling material from Mind Control was showcased along with earlier material from his winning discography during a 75-minute performance. "Go Away Satan" was an early highlight blending trance blues and heavy blues rock where Simo's yearning vocals were delivered against a particularly hypnotic marching drum beat. Simo's guitar work ranged from quiet and nuanced to Hendrix-mining dramatics.

JD Sumo at The Coach House.

Following was "One Of Those Days" off his 2020 album JD Simo (which the artist noted was a tribute to the late Curtis Mayfield); the wistful cut found Simo using his high-reaching falsetto to deliver some beautiful soul-filled vocals while his gentle guitar work matched the song's artistic tone.

JD Sumo at The Coach House.

Later in the set the trio tackled "That's When You Know You're Down," where Simo's vocals reached low and the two members of the rhythm section stretched their reach on a Captain Beefheart-inspired sortie. 

Bassist Michael Zimmerman.

Simo's set allowed him to explore the far-flung reaches of his style, including Chicago blues, soul, blues rock and more. "Let Go" - another cut from Mind Control - found Simo tearing it up with his slide guitar work and potent lead vocals.

Drummer Adam Abrashoff.

Simo ended the night with a true one-two punch, the '60s blue rock "Know It All" featuring the guitar great impressing with some of his most breathtaking guitar work of the night. "Higher Plane" fused all sorts of musical styles across its 20-minute run including a heavy Jimi Hendrix-like opening section, astonishing slide guitar work, a drum solo, jazzy section and plethora of dynamics to please the crowd.

Review by Robert Kinsler

Photography by Bob Steshetz