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Westbound Blues (Oh Lonesome Me Music) documents a mostly original set from Delta Highway, a Memphis-via-North Carolina band that combines a veteran rhythm section with newcomers Justin Sulek (guitar) and Brandon Santini (harmonica, vocals). With the roll-and-tumble groove of "Miss Annalise," featuring a frenetic harp-guitar unison solo, a jazzy, midtempo, minor chromatic stroll on "My Sugar Calls Me Honey," and Chicago shuffles ("Cold As Ice" and "Done Told You Once"), and a serious back-scratching on "I Love You (But I Really Love The Blues)," it's solid, no-frills blues all the way. R.L. Burnside's "Jumper On The Line"/"Snake Drive" gets the right feel, and slow blues numbers- the band's "All The Water In The Ocean" and the familiar "Early In The Morning"- don't diminish the energy level one bit. Good stuff.
-Reviewed by Tom Hyslop
- Blues Revue
Discography
The Devil Had A Woman- Released November 2007
Westbound Blues- Released June 2006
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Bio
In a generation that has forgotten it's musical roots, Delta Highway breathes youth and energy back into the blues. With strong guitar sounds reminiscent of Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, and R.L. Burnside, combined with an electrified harmonica sound, this Memphis band has developed a style that is all their own and is sure to please new and veteran blues fans alike.
Delta Highway was born in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, founded by now twenty five year old vocalist / harmonica player Brandon Santini and twenty six year old guitarist Justin Sulek in 2003. The two moved to Memphis later that year to absorb the sounds and history and culture of the delta region where the blues runs wild. The Delta Highway sound has been described as a massive freight train splitting the tracks left behind with an engineer and brakeman high on Jack Daniels' finest wine.
Frontman Brandon Santini was inspired while in his mid-teens by the sounds of John Popper's harmonica but quickly learned about the real blues from harp heavyweights such as Paul Butterfield, Little Walter, Kim Wilson, and Junior Wells. His playing style is a bit more progressive some might say but Santini brings youth to the intstrument and presents his thick, dostorted tones with his fiery quick runs that seem to grab the attention of younger music fans as well as satisfying traditionalists. He also has developed into a very soulful vocalist while he brings a rather unique yet traditional style to the microphone.
Guitarist Justin Sulek began playing guitar after hearing his father's blues records throughout his childhood. He remembers hearing the blues played by legends such as Buddy Guy, Lightnin' Hopkins, and Stevie Ray Vaughan and becoming inspired by the pure, honest playing styles by each of the bluesmen. He delivers fiery licks and continues to amaze audiences with his bottleneck solos.
The band's rhythm section consists of veteran musicians Tom "Slim" Louis (Jason Ricci & New Blood, Big Bad Smitty, Harmonica Red) on bass and "Steady" Keven Eddy (Mojo Buford, Mason Ruffner, Blind Mississippi Morris) on drums. The two are the perfect fit for a rhythm section and were seemingly tailored to handle backup duties for Brandon Santini and Justin Sulek. Together, these four men lay down one of the freshest blues sounds in years.
Currently a favorite on world famous Beale Street in Memphis TN, the band represented the Memphis Blues Society in the 2006 International Blues Challengeby winning the society's Battle of the Blues. With the release of their debut album "Westbound Blues," the band takes listeners on a trip to major blues towns and regions such as Chicago, Texas, the delta, and the hill country region of north Mississippi.
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