Jonny Lang Reveals Behind The Scenes Look At The Making Of Signs - Pre-Order Now Live In Front Of Fall Release

Signs To Be Released On September 8^th In North America

Available For Pre-Order Beginning Today

2017 World Tour Dates On Sale Now

First Track “Make It Move” Now Available On All Streaming Services

Los Angeles, CA --- Jonny Lang’s brand new studio album, Signs, will be released in North America on September 8th via Concord Records.  The album (his sixth major label release) is his first in four years. The album is now available to pre-order beginning today: http://amazon.com/dp/B071FPWNS6

The European release for Signs will be on August 25 via Provogue Records / Mascot Label Group.

Fans can now get an inside look at the making of Signs here:

North America: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qx_R2U8h_9E

Europe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rA-BkmZ-2IM&feature=youtu.be

Anyone who originally discovered Jonny Lang through his searing instrumental work will revel in the huge guitar tones and go for broke solos on Signs, while those who have appreciated his growth as an honest and passionate songwriter will find that honesty and passion unabated. Though he long ago left blues purism behind, Lang has never abandoned its spirit of universal catharsis through the relating of personal trials. Signs reaffirms his commitment to the blues and the guitar without sacrificing the modern approach that has made him such a singular artist. 

It is hard to believe that at only 36 years old Jonny Lang has already had a successful career for two decades. Easier to believe when you learn he released his first platinum record at 15—an age when many young people are just beginning to play music. Lie to Me revealed a talent that transcended the crop of blues prodigies floating around in the late Nineties. No flashy re-hasher of classic blues licks, even at that early age Lang was a full-blown artist with a style of his own. Also, setting Lang apart from the wunderkind crowd was a 15-year-old voice that sounded like a weathered soul shouter. Actual life experience was yet to come, and has been subsequently chronicled in a series of five uniformly excellent recordings.

What began as a bluesy sound, influenced by electric pioneers like Albert Collins, B. B. King, and Buddy Guy, evolved over those recordings into a modern R&B style closer to Stevie Wonder and contemporary gospel music. Lang’s distinctive, blues-inflected licks appeared on every album, but became one element in a sea of passionately sung and tightly arranged songs.

Signs is not merely a return the artist’s guitar-based beginnings, but an embodiment of an even more elemental sound. Beyond focusing attention on his soloing prowess, it is about recapturing the spirit of the early blues, where the guitar was front and center, fairly leaping out of the speakers. “A lot of my earlier influences have been coming to the surface, like Robert Johnson, and Howlin’ Wolf,” he reports. “I have been appreciating how raw and unrefined that stuff is. I had an itch to emulate some of that and I think it shows in the songs. Still, I let the writing be what it was and that was sometimes not necessarily the blues.”

The record, which features funk, rock, and blues elements, is held together by Lang’s distinctive playing and singing, and the lyrics, which center on themes of embattlement and self-empowerment. “Some of the songs are autobiographical, but not usually in a literal way,” Lang explains. “The main goal is for folks to be able to relate to what I went through. If I can’t make it work using just my personal experience, I use my imagination to fill in blanks.”

Signs was produced by Lang, Drew Ramsey, and Shannon Sanders. Josh Kelly helmed “Bring Me Back Home.” Lang offers, “Josh and I cut six or seven songs together and had a blast doing it.  I am saving the other ones for who knows what, but I definitely wanted that one to be on this record.”

Since the release of his debut album, Grammy Award winning Jonny Lang has built a reputation as one of the best live performers and guitarists of his generation. The path Lang has been on has brought him the opportunity to support or perform with some of the most respected legends in music.  He has shared the stage with everyone from The Rolling Stones and B.B. King to Aerosmith and Buddy Guy, who he continues to tour with today.

JONNY LANG  - SIGNS WORLD TOUR

6/10     Birmingham, AL                                                                    Alys Stephens Performing Arts

6/11     Nashville, TN                                                                         Schermerhorn Symphony Center

6/16     Riverside, IA                                                                          Riverside Casino & Golf Resort 

6/17     Aurora, IL                                                                              Blues on the Fox Fest

6/18     Moorehead, MN                                                                     Bluestem for the Arts Amphitheatre

6/22     Columbia, MO                                                                        The Blue Note

6/23     Wichita, KS                                                                            Orpheum Theatre

6/24     Okmulgee, OK                                                                       Musogee (Creek) Nation Festival

7/06     Lexington, MI                                                                         Lexington Village Theater

7/07     Kent, OH                                                                                Kent Stage

7/09     Rochester, MI                                                                         Meadowbrook 

7/13     Peoria, IL                                                                                Riverfront

7/14     Minneapolis, MN                                                                   Music In The Zoo 

7/15     Sioux Falls, SD                                                                       Sioux Falls Jazz Fest

7/20     Tucson, AZ                                                                             Rialto theatre

7/21     Chandler, AZ                                                                          Chandler Center

7/22     Las Vegas, NV                                                                       Boulder Station

7/28     Saratoga, CA                                                                          Mountain Winery

7/29     Lincoln, CA                                                                            Thunder Valley Casino

8/11     Los Angeles, CA                                                                    Teragram Ballroom

8/13     Arlington, WA                                                                        Stillaguamish Festival

8/19     North Thornton, NH                                                               White Mountain Boogie

8/20     Alexandria, VA                                                                      Birchmere

8/22     New York, NY                                                                       Highline Ballroom

8/23     Philadelphia, PA                                                                     World Café Live

8/25     Toronto, ON                                                                           Danforth Music Hall

8/26     Trois-Rivieres, QUE                                                               Trois-Rivieres en Blues

9/08     Aspen, CO                                                                              Belly Up

9/09     Boulder, CO                                                                           Boulder Theater

9/10     Arvada, CO                                                                             Arvada Center

9/14     Dallas, TX                                                                              House of Blues

9/15     Houston, TX                                                                           House of Blues

9/16     Austin, TX                                                                              ACL Live

9/18     Kansas City, MO                                                                    Knuckleheads

9/19     St. Louis, MO                                                                         Pageant

9/21     Milwaukee, WI                                                                       Potawatomi Casino

9/22     Milwaukee, WI                                                                       Polawatomi Casino

9/23     Chicago, IL                                                                             House of Blues

9/24     Louisville, KY                                                                        Bourbon & Beyond Festival

9/26     Indianapolis, IN                                                                      The Vogue

9/29     Huntington, NY                                                                      Paramount

9/30     Hartford, CT                                                                           Infinity Hall

10/01   Fairfield, CT                                                                           Warehouse

10/03   Boston, MA                                                                            The Wilbur Theater

10/04   Portland, ME                                                                          Aura

10/06   Cranston, RI                                                                           Park Theatre

10/07   Hampton Beach, NH                                                              Hampton Beach Casino

10/22   Zwolle, NL                                                                             Hedon

10/23   Cologne, DE                                                                           Gloria

10/25   Berlin, DE                                                                               Columbia Club

10/27   Hamburg, DE                                                                         Mojo

10/29   Copenhagen, DK                                                                    Amager Bio

10.30   Oslo, Norway                                                                          Rockafeller

10/31   Stockholm, SE                                                                        Nalen

11/04   London, UK                                                                            SBE (London Folk and Roots Fest)

11/05   Leuven, BE                                                                             Hep Depot (Leuven Blues Festival)

11/07   Cleon, FR                                                                               La Travene (Blues de Travene)

11/09   Marseille, FR                                                                          Espace Julien

11/10   Six-Fours-les-Plages, FR                                                        Espace Malraux

11/11   Paris, FR                                                                                 La Cigale

11/13   Prague, CZ                                                                              Lucerna

11/14   Vienna, AU                                                                             Porgy and Bess

11/16   Sumperk, CZ                                                                          House of Culture (Blues Alive Fest)

ADDITIONAL DATES WILL BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY

WWW.JONNYLANG.COM

Jonny Lang Announces First New Album In Four Years. Signs To Be Released September 8th.

JONNY LANG ANNOUNCES

FIRST NEW ALBUM IN FOUR YEARS

SIGNS TO BE RELEASED ON SEPTEMBER 8^th

2017 World Tour In Support Of Signs Goes On Sale This Week

First Track “Make It Move” Available As A Free download at: www.jonnylang.com

Los Angeles, CA --- Jonny Lang is pleased to announce a brand new studio album, Signs, which will be released in North America on September 8th via Concord Records.  The album (his sixth major label release) is his first in four years.  A pre-order for physical goes live today, with digital to follow on June 9.  The European release for Signs will be on August 25 via Provogue Records / Mascot Label Group.

Starting off the record with a juke joint stomp, “Make It Move” is Lang’s story about going to the mountain rather than waiting for it to come to you. “There have been times in my life where I thought something would take care of itself, when I should have put some effort forth to help it happen,” says Lang. “Being proactive has been a weak spot for me, and the song is about doing your part to get things moving.”

All fans can immediately download “Make It Move” for free via Jonny’s website at: www.jonnnylang.com. 

Anyone who originally discovered Jonny Lang through his searing instrumental work will revel in the huge guitar tones and go for broke solos on Signs, while those who have appreciated his growth as an honest and passionate songwriter will find that honesty and passion unabated. Though he long ago left blues purism behind, Lang has never abandoned its spirit of universal catharsis through the relating of personal trials. Signs reaffirms his commitment to the blues and the guitar without sacrificing the modern approach that has made him such a singular artist. 

It is hard to believe that at only 36 years old Jonny Lang has already had a successful career for two decades. Easier to believe when you learn he released his first platinum record at 15—an age when many young people are just beginning to play music. Lie to Me revealed a talent that transcended the crop of blues prodigies floating around in the late Nineties. No flashy re-hasher of classic blues licks, even at that early age Lang was a full-blown artist with a style of his own. Also, setting Lang apart from the wunderkind crowd was a 15-year-old voice that sounded like a weathered soul shouter. Actual life experience was yet to come, and has been subsequently chronicled in a series of five uniformly excellent recordings.

What began as a bluesy sound, influenced by electric pioneers like Albert Collins, B. B. King, and Buddy Guy, evolved over those recordings into a modern R&B style closer to Stevie Wonder and contemporary gospel music. Lang’s distinctive, blues-inflected licks appeared on every album, but became one element in a sea of passionately sung and tightly arranged songs.

Signs is not merely a return the artist’s guitar-based beginnings, but an embodiment of an even more elemental sound. Beyond focusing attention on his soloing prowess, it is about recapturing the spirit of the early blues, where the guitar was front and center, fairly leaping out of the speakers. “A lot of my earlier influences have been coming to the surface, like Robert Johnson, and Howlin’ Wolf,” he reports. “I have been appreciating how raw and unrefined that stuff is. I had an itch to emulate some of that and I think it shows in the songs. Still, I let the writing be what it was and that was sometimes not necessarily the blues.”

The record, which features funk, rock, and blues elements, is held together by Lang’s distinctive playing and singing, and the lyrics, which center on themes of embattlement and self-empowerment. “Some of the songs are autobiographical, but not usually in a literal way,” Lang explains. “The main goal is for folks to be able to relate to what I went through. If I can’t make it work using just my personal experience, I use my imagination to fill in blanks.”

Signs was produced by Lang, Drew Ramsey, and Shannon Sanders. Josh Kelly helmed “Bring Me Back Home.” Lang offers, “Josh and I cut six or seven songs together and had a blast doing it.  I am saving the other ones for who knows what, but I definitely wanted that one to be on this record.”

Since the release of his debut album, Grammy Award winning Jonny Lang has built a reputation as one of the best live performers and guitarists of his generation. The path Lang has been on has brought him the opportunity to support or perform with some of the most respected legends in music.  He has shared the stage with everyone from The Rolling Stones and B.B. King to Aerosmith and Buddy Guy, who he continues to tour with today.

NORTH AMERICAN APPEARANCES ANNOUNCED TODAY

ALL DATES OTHER THAN 9/30 – GENERAL ON-SALE FRIDAY, MAY 19

8/11     Los Angeles, CA                                                        Teragram

8/13     Arlington, WA                                                            Stillaguamish Festival

8/19     North Thornton, NH                                                   White Mountain Boogie

8/22     New York, NY                                                           Highline Ballroom

8/23     Philadelphia, PA                                                         World Café Live

8/25     Toronto, ON                                                               Danforth Music Hall

8/26     Trois-Rivieres, QUE                                                   Trois-Rivieres en Blues

9/08     Aspen, CO                                                                  Belly Up

9/09     Boulder, CO                                                                Boulder Theater

9/10     Arvada, CO                                                                 Arvada Center

9/14     Dallas, TX                                                                   House of Blues

9/15     Houston, TX                                                               House of Blues

9/16     Austin, TX                                                                  ACL Live

9/18     Kansas City, MO                                                        Knuckleheads

9/19     St. Louis, MO                                                             Pageant

9/21     Milwaukee, WI                                                           Potawatomi Casino

9/22     Milwaukee, WI                                                           Polawatomi Casino

9/23     Chicago, IL                                                                 House of Blues

9/24     Louisville, KY                                                            Bourbon & Beyond Festival

9/26     Indianapolis, IN                                                          The Vogue

9/29     Huntington, NY                                                          Paramount

9/30     Hartford, CT                                                               Infinity Hall (On-Sale 5/18)

10/01   Fairfield, CT                                                                Warehouse (On-Sale 5/31)

10/03   Boston, MA                                                                The Wilbur Theater

10/04   Portland, ME                                                               Aura

10/06   Cranston, RI                                                                Park Theatre

10/07   Hampton Beach, NH                                                   Hampton Beach Casino

EUROPEAN APPEARANCES ANNOUNCED TODAY INCLUDE:

10/22   Zwolle, NL                                                                  Hedon

10/23   Cologne, Germany                                                      Gloria

10/25   Berlin, Germany                                                          Columbia Club

10/27   Hamburg, Germany                                                    Mojo

10/29   Copenhagen, Denmark                                                Amager Bio

10.30   Oslo, Norway                                                             Rockafeller

10/31   Stockholm, Sweden                                                    Nalen

11/04   London, UK                                                                SBE (London Folk and Roots Fest)

11/05   Leuven, Belgium                                                         Hep Depot (Leuven Blues Festival)

11/07   Cleon, France                                                              La Travene (Blues de Travene)

11/09   Marseille, France                                                         Espace Julien

11/10   Six-Fours-les-Plages, France                                      Espace Malraux

11/11   Paris, France                                                               La Cigale

11/13   Prague, Czech Republic                                              Lucerna

11/14   Vienna, Austria                                                           Porgy and Bess

11/16   Sumperk, Czech Republic                                           House of Culture (Blues Alive Fest)

ALREADY ANNOUNCED AND ON-SALE:

5/18     Rochester, NY                                                            Rochester Lilac Festival

5/20     St. Joseph, MI                                                             BBQ, Blues & Bluegrass

5/21     Annapolis, MD                                                           Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival

6/10     Birmingham, AL                                                         Alys Stephens Performing Arts

6/11     Nashville, TN                                                              Schermerhorn Symphony Center

6/16     Riverside, IA                                                               Riverside Casino & Golf Resort 

6/17     Aurora, IL                                                                   Blues on the Fox Fest

6/18     Moorehead, MN                                                         Bluestem for the Arts Amphitheatre

6/22     Columbia, MO                                                            The Blue Note

6/23     Wichita, KS                                                                 Orpheum Theatre

6/24     Okmulgee, OK                                                            Musogee (Creek) Nation Festival

7/06     Lexington, MI                                                             Lexington Village Theater

7/07     Kent, OH                                                                    Kent Stage

7/08     Rochester, MI                                                             Meadowbrook

7/13     Peoria, IL                                                                    Riverfront

7/14     Minneapolis, MN                                                       Music In The Zoo 

7/15     Sioux Falls, SD                                                           Sioux Falls Jazz Fest

7/20     Tucson, AZ                                                                 Rialto theatre

7/21     Chandler, AZ                                                              Chandler Center

7/22     Las Vegas, NV                                                           Boulder Station

7/28     Saratoga, CA                                                               Mountain Winery

7/29     Lincoln, CA                                                                Thunder Valley Casino

ADDITIONAL DATES WILL BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY

WWW.JONNYLANG.COM

Provogue Records artist: Ronnie Baker Brooks - Times Have Changed - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Times Have Changed, by Ronnie Baker Brooks and it's terrific! Opening with Joe Tex number, Show Me, Ronnie Baker Brooks (on vocal and guitar) is kicking ass and taking names right out of the chute featuring Steve Cropper on guitar, Steve Jordan on drums, Willie Weeks on bass, Felix Cavaliere on Hammond, Ben Cauley on trumpet, Lonniie McMillan on tenor sax and Jack Hale Sr on trombone. Big Head Todd sits in on Doing Too Much, a cool blue rocker with Leroy Hodges on bass, Charles Hodges on Hammond and Turner on piano. Recently passed and sorely missed, Lonine Brooks, sits in on Twine Time, a cool, sixties style surf rocker. Rapper, Al Kapone  sits in on traditional blues style track, Times Have Changed, with Weeks setting a great bass line and Brooks' solid vocals and guitar riffs. The addition of Jessie Munson and Wen-Yih Yu on violin, Beth Luscome and Jennifer Puckett on viola, and Mark Wallace and Jonathan Kirkscey on cello add a refined note to the short Kapone rap. Curtis Mayfield's Give me Your Love, a cool jazz infused soul track featuring Angie Stone on vocal has a true Mayfield smoothness. Robert Cray track, Old Love has great style and featuring Bobby Blue Bland on vocal and his own stylistic guitar work makes this a true favorite. On high stepper, Wham Bam Thank You Sam, Brooks really struts with cool vocals, great guitar accents, a solid bass line from Hodges and super R&B style horns. Very cool. Closing the release is When I Was We, featuring Hubby Turner on piano supporting Brooks' warm vocals.

Very nice conclusion to an exceptional release.

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

 

“Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE

Provogue Records artist:Eric Gales - Middle Of The Road - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Middle of the Road from Eric Gales and it may be my favorite yet! Opening with revival style track, Good Time, Eric Gales is really upbeat with Aaron Haggerty on drums, Dylon Wiggins on B3 and LoDonna Gales on backing vocals. Bringing down the heat with reggae rhythmed blues number, Change In Me with a super bass line under fiery lead guitar riffs. Very cool. Carry Yourself is a nicely stylized radio blues track with a solid melody, cool vocals and crisp lead guitar. With it's jazzy bottom, Boogie Man bops along with soulful blues guitar riffs giving the track an almost Johnny Guitar feel. Very cool! Been So Long again has a bit of a reggae beat but with scorching guitar riffs and super bass lines under Gales always solid vocals. Very nice. Help Yourself follows a cool acoustic blues format but building into electric guitar riffs. Gales' tone both on rhythm and lead are super and his riffs are hot but not overplayed. On I Can't be Deceived lets the dog off the leash a bit more with scorching lead soloing and cool backing vocals. On funky, Repetition, Gales creates a dark sound with a nice bass line and Maxwell Drummey adds mellotron to backing vocals assembling the perfect bottom for his lead vocal and electrified guitar lead. Super! Another track with a super groove is I Don't Know with another rumbling bass line, super rhythm guitar, tight drums, nicely blended backing vocals and really cool lead work. Excellent! Wrapping the release is Swamp!, with more of a upbeat, almost jazz influenced, southern rock feel. I really like this release and think it is among his best works to date.




  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

 

“Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE

Eric Gales To Release "Middle Of The Road" On February 24th

ERIC GALES TO RELEASE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD GLOBALLY

VIA PROVOGUE / MASCOT LABEL GROUP ON FEBRUARY 24

“How Eric Gales isn’t the hugest name in rock guitar is a total mystery” Dave Navarro

“One of the best, if not the best guitar player in the world” Joe Bonamassa

“This guy could be the best player on Earth” Mark Tremonti

“He is absolutely incredible” Carlos Santana

“I feel the most free I’ve ever been in life, even more so than when I was a kid…you gotta help

yourself man, once you can help yourself you can genuinely help someone else.”

“When I say the world will hear about it, you’ll see what I mean when you hear the record.  This

record is going to take me everywhere that I’ve never been, and everywhere I’ve ever wanted to go.”

New York, NY --- Provogue / Mascot Label Group will release Eric Gales new studio album Middle Of The Road on February 24.  Memphis-born Gales shares, “Unfortunately you have to go through some things to be free.  Now, I feel the most free I’ve ever been in life, even more so than when I was a kid.  You gotta help yourself man, once you can help yourself you can genuinely help someone else.” The title, “Middle of the Road,” is the running theme throughout the record. He offers, “It’s about being fully focussed and centred in the middle of the road. If you’re on the wrong side and in the gravel you’re not too good and if you’re on the median strip that’s not too good either, so being in the middle of the road is the best place to be.”

The release is Eric Gales fourth album on Provogue/Mascot label Group (Joe Bonamassa, Beth Hart, Black Stone Cherry, Warren Haynes, The Robert Cray Band, Robben Ford, Eric Johnson, The Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band) after Transformation (2011), Relentless (2010) and The Psychedelic Underground (2007) and it sees him at his most expressive yet; it is a deeply personal and reflective record that echoes where he is in his life right now and he opens himself up and allows himself the chance to really flourish.

It’s well documented that Gales was a child prodigy and heralded as the second coming of Jimi Hendrix when he released his debut album The Eric Gales Band in 1991 as a 16 year-old on Elektra Records. It was the first of 10 albums on a major label through a blistering career. He has released 14 studio albums in total ahead of Middle of the Road and a host of other collaborations, one of which led him to work with producer Fabrizio Grossi (Alice Cooper, Joe Bonamassa, Billy F. Gibbons, Ice T, Leslie West, Slash, Walter Trout, Steve Lukather, Steve Vai, Paul Stanley, Supersonic Blues Machine).

Talking about working with Eric, Grossi offers; “I’ve been a fan of Eric since i first worked with him 15 years ago on a project with George Clinton & the P.Funk. His tone and his playing was wicked. Personally and musically Eric grew into a ‘monster’ , a really good one and he’s set on a path of huge success with a ‘taking no prisoners’ type of attitude! I know a very few musicians with such a musicality and Eric is right there a head of the bunch. I hope fans will dig. There’s lots of love, tears, sweat and “truth” in this record, which is what classics are made of. As far what I think about him: Eric is simply Miles Davis and Jimi Hendrix’ love child, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.” 

Recorded in several locations; Room A Studio and Fab’s Lab in North Hollywood as well as Cuz Studio and Sound in Cleveland, MS and ‘Cotton Row Studios in Memphis, TN. With Aaron Haggerty (drums), Dylan Wiggins (B3 Organ), LaDonna Gales (All backing vocals), Maxwell ‘Wizard’ Drummey (Mellotron on Repetition) and Eric Gales providing all lead vocals, guitar and bass. It’s a beautiful snapshot of life right here, right now. “I played bass on the entire record, it was beautiful” he beams. “I’m a bass player at heart so Fabrizio was like ‘bro you need to be playing the bass’. It was something that was very natural for me to too, I loved it.”

Recent years have seen an array of musicians singing the praises of Eric Gales. Dave Navarro (Jane’s Addiction – Red Hot Chili Peppers) exclaimed that “How Eric Gales isn’t the hugest name in rock guitar is a total mystery”, modern blues icon Joe Bonamassa said he is “One of the best, if not the best guitar player in the world”, whilst Mark Tremonti (Alter Bridge) said in a Classic Rock Magazine interview (Oct 2016) that “me and Myles [Kennedy] were on the bus looking up clips and we ran into some Eric Gales clips and we were just like ‘this guy could be the best player on Earth.’”

Talking about the accolades he is starting to receive he humbly adds;” It’s absolutely great, I’m grateful to see the recognition for the work that God has allowed me to continue to progress with. It’s beautiful to see the recognition to be finally coming and in the proper way, unlike times where I was engaged into heavy addiction, where it wasn’t such good publicity, but to see it be changed around, it’s a great turn of events.”

This refers to the time he spent in jail serving at the Shelby County Correction Center in 2009 for possession of drugs and a weapon. Elaborating he adds; “While I was in there all the officers and guards were like, ‘bro you know this isn’t where you’re supposed to be. When you get out of here, go take the world by the horns and ride it all the way out.’ It took a couple of years after but, I’m here.” Whilst he was incarcerated he was able to play shows, for the Mayor, the city and festivals, his own versio of Johnny Cash Walk the Line.

This is where Middle of the Road finds the rebirth of Eric Gales.  A new album that has seen him more free than he’s ever been and on the biographic songs you take this journey with him. Along the way he brings in not only a host of guest and collaborators, but also those closest to him: Lauryn Hill, Gary Clark Jr, Eugene Gales, LaDonna Gales, Lance Lopez, Raphael Saadiq and Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram.

Much of the album is achingly heart on its sleeve and “Change in Me [The Rebirth]”is one of those moments, it’s about a new change in life. “I changed up some things in life and decided to go a new route”. “I wrote Carry Yourself with Raphael Saadiq and strangely enough, as I sit here looking at her that song is about LaDonna actually. It’s about how we met and how we grew to get to know each other through life and how she’s always carried herself. It has always been something I’m fascinated with. The only cover is the mesmerising interpretation of “Boogie Man” featuring Gary Clark Jr is something to behold.  “I’m a fan of Freddie King anyway and I like that song. I just enjoyed the original version and I just put a little twist on it and music wise.” “Basically”, Gales adds, “The Boogie Man is about, so watch out cos there’s a bad guy on the way and you know, I’m coming!  I think me and Gary did a really good job on that song.” “I shot the rhythm of “Been So Long” over to Lauryn Hill and she was like ‘that’s hot’”. And now begins the start of another beautiful collaboration. “I said I had an idea of what I wanted the song to be about, like it’s been so long since I’ve given myself a proper chance which goes back to “Middle of the Road” which is the reoccurring theme.”  Continuing the rebirth is “Help Yourself,”  features 16 year-old guitar sensation Christone ‘Kingsfish’ Ingram.   “I’ve Been Deceived” has a multi-layered meaning to it. “Personally,  I was talking about how I was deceived by addiction” he confesses and on “Repetition,” he goes back to the very beginning and where it started by collaborating with his ‘mentor’ and older brother Eugene Gales.