Yako Records artist: Chris Yakopcic - Live At The Hidden Gem - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live At The Hidden Gem, from Chris Yakopcic and it's a solid set of Delta and Piedmont style blues. Opening with original composition, Gotta Get Goodbye Somehow, singer/songwriter and guitar player, Chris Yakopcic opens his set. With contemporary folk blues styling, Yakopcic has firm guitar footing and a strong vocal approach.  On one of Robert Johnson's better known compositions, Traveling Riverside Blues, Yakopcic shows a lot of feel with percussive guitar attack and wailing vocal. Very nice. Another Johnson composition, Kind Hearted Woman, has a much smoother approach with a more romantic sound and precise guitar accompaniment. Original composition, Sounds of the Highway, has a Blake feel with a certain contemporary edge. Fine guitar work and vocals make this the likely top track on the release. Wrapping the release is a rousing cover of Johnson's Preachin' Blues with Yakopcic working his national steel bodied  guitar over real good with deft finger picking and slippery slide work. Solid closer for a solid release. 

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Yako Records artist - Chris Yakopcic - The Next Place I Leave - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, The Next Place I Leave, from Chris Yakopcic and it's quite refreshing. Opening with title track, The Next Place I Leave, singer, songwriter and guitarist Chris Yakopcic; joined by Brian Hoeflich on drums and Leo Smith on bass set out on a cool acoustic journey with traces of Johnny Cash and David Bromberg. With fluid finger work and solid foot pedal this is a cool opener. Robert Johnson's Preachin' Blues is a modern uptempo remake with solid blues roots and resonator slide work. Sweet Time Blues has a great laid back Piedmont style with Yakopcic milking tone from his guitar. I really like Yakopcic's vocals on this track with just a bit of bite. Smallman Street blends resonator work with electric and a more rock feel. With a vocal style more like Arlo or Dylan, this is a real nice acoustic blues rocker. Robert Johnson's Phonograph Blues again gets a more modern cover but staying tight in the blues genre. With it's light rock beat and primitive guitar styling, this track hits nicely. I really like it! Sounds Of The Highway has a casual blues feel with cool acoustic slide and finger picking. Although I would not compare Yakopcic's voice to Bromberg's, I do think his vocal approach is similar. Very nice track. Mississippi Fred McDowell's Write Me A Few Lines has a driving train feel with adept finger and slide work, solid bass and steady driving drums. Picking up momentum during the track and then restarting, this track is tight! Leonard Cohen's Tower Of Song has a more country rock feeling with traces of bluegrass. Yakopcic's vocal phrasing is quite pleasing and similar to Johnny Cash (no, he doesn't mimic Cash). With only a minimum of percussive guitar and drums/bass, Yakopcic carries the track nicely. Jimmy Reed style, Time To Go is up next and Yakopcic hold quite true to blues roots. This is a solid 12 bar number with nice slide work. Addicted is a modern folk track with a blues bend. I like this track for it's originality. With a recurring guitar vamp and rock beat, and acoustic finger picked soloing, this track have a cool feel. Wrapping the release is my choice of the release, My Last Three Strings. With a wandering Grateful Dead blues kind of feeling and soulful singing, this is a great track to wrap the 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”