GOZER GOODSPEED – EP REVIEW

Gozer Goodspeed – Impossible to Pick Up EP 

Gozer Goodspeed - Impossible to Pick Up EP

Release Date: 8^th June 2018

Gozer Goodspeed is one of the hardest working musicians in terms of the number of gigs he racks up but he’s also one of the few musicians out there who seeks to persistently adapt and advance his sound whilst never letting go of his Blues roots in all that he does. New EP, ‘Impossible to Pick Up’, is great evidence of Goodspeed’s continued development and, dare I say, evolution so I’d urge you to join me as journey through these four tracks.

Opening up with ‘Impossible to Pick Up’ and there’s that familiar and rich acoustic guitar rattle which has become something of a trademark or calling card for Goodspeed. But there’s more here as this song has a rock’n’roll soul wrapped around that Blues heart and as the percussion joins in you can feel this EP start to wake up as if from a long slumber, ready to stalk the earth once again. ‘Survivor by Habit’ continues the rock’n’roll theme with some Blues story telling woven in to the lyrics as the satisfying acoustic chug is given some support by the excellent bass work of Josiah Manning. We’re well in to a new era for Goodspeed’s music here as this feels like a full band approach rather than a soloist and you can start to picture what it might sound like if the troubadour had a band of brothers to support him on his live forays – not least when Manning gets on that organ for a full-blooded blues solo.

Things take a step back on ‘The Key Broke off Clean in the Lock’ as Goodspeed gets introspective with lyrics such as “I’m out of the loop but you’re endlessly looping, I’m looking at you as you look at me looking in”. This is the stuff the Doors or Dylan but played out with Goodspeed’s unmistakable vocal rasp nudged along by his trusty guitar and the Mandolin of the near-legendary Davey Dodds. The EP closes out with ‘Keep Your Expectations Low’ which is my current favourite of this crop due it’s funky guitar and organ duel played out over the top of a late-night Blues bar drum shuffle. Goodspeed’s story telling has always been top drawer but what’s so impressive on this EP is the progression in musical ideas and the swell of instrumentation that makes this feel like a Black Crowes acoustic collection or at the very least the work of someone with an international reputation. It’s only a matter of time though, I’m sure of that.

More information: https://www.facebook.com/gozergoodspeed/

Live Dates:

12^th May – Rock Bottom Bar, Plymouth

19^th May – The Snooty Fox, Torquay

20^th May – Peaky Blinders, Paignton

24^th May – Bierkeller, Exeter w/Davey Dodds

3^rd June – Freedom Community Festival, Plymouth

14^th June – The Millbridge Pub, Plymouth

17^th June – Penventon Park Hotel, Redruth

23^rd June – Fellowfest 2018, Langaford Farm

26^th June – Peaky Blinders, Paignton

8^th July – Inn on the Shore, Downderry

11^th July – Blues Bar & Grill, Plymouth

19^th July – The Millbridge Pub, Plymouth

22^nd July – Peaky Blinders, Paignton

28^th July – Lapstock Festival

5^th August – Haywood Cider Farm, St Mabyn

10^th August – Ocean City Blues’n’Jazz Festival, Plymouth

15^th August – Blues Bar & Grill, Plymouth

24^th August – Rockest & Rascals, Plymouth

7^th September – The B-Bar, Plymouth w/Davey Dodds

12^th September – Blues Bar & Grill, Plymouth

13^th September – The Royal Castle Hotel, Dartmouth

23^rd September – Peaky Blinders, Torquay

4^th October – The Millbridge Pub, Plymouth

17^th October -The Blues Bar & Grill, Plymouth

14^th November – The Blues Bar & Grill, Plymouth

6^th December – The Millbridge Pub, Plymouth

12^th December – Blues Bar & Grill, Plymouth