By Chris Wheatley
Eight (studio) albums into a successful solo career, former Asleep At The Wheel frontman, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Johnny Nicholas, is back. New release Mistaken Identity, on Valcour Records, will be available digitally this August 28th, with physical formats following on October 2nd. Nine new tracks, plus the much-missed Stephen Bruton’s “River Runs Deep” have been recorded ‘live’ with overdubs kept to a minimum, produced and mixed by Cajun fiddle-supremo Joel Savoy. Throw in guitar virtuoso ‘Scrappy’ Jud Newcomb, recipient of multiple ‘Bass Player Of The Year’ awards, Chris Maresh, the wonderful drummer John Chipman and a host of top-flight backing players and you get the sense that something special might just have gone down here.
First cut “She Stole My Mojo” certainly bears that out. A delightfully playful, lyrically witty blues-rocker, the track occupies a territory somewhere between Muddy Waters and the Rolling Stones, yet with a distinctly Southern-country twist. Harmonica, guitar, bass and drums slip and slide across each other, fluid and supple. This is barn-yard stomping, open-sky fare, but with a veneer of urban polish and sophistication. Indeed, Nicholas has always eluded the trap of being pigeon-holed. Although he would be the first to tell you that everything he does stems from the blues, Nicholas describes himself as a player whose musical roots grow deep and wide. His boundless enthusiasm and wide vision make for a varied and yet consistent body of work.
The group which he has assembled for Mistaken Identity are equally capable of putting out stirring country sermons such as “Spark To A Flame” with verve and vigour. Nicholas’ knack for deceptively simple yet memorable lyrics remains undaunted. “Don’t put yourself above me, if you want to get to know, about the arson in my heart, when you call my name.” The timeless subjects of love and every-day livin’ provide endless fodder for southern writers. Nicholas manages to breathe new life into old themes. His eclecticism and fine ear mean elements of Western Swing, Cajun, Folk and even a little Jazz all sit comfortably in the mix.