Delta Moon

Since its inception, Delta Moon’s dusty, double slide blues has been tempered by sultry female vocals. But the departure of Kristin Markiton forced the band to look inward for a replacement; founder, lap steel player and songwriter Tom Gray settled in as frontman with his brushfire vocals befitting Delta Moon’s rich, guitar fueled jaunts. Clear Blue Flame captures Gray and Mark Johnson forming brooding six-string breakdowns, whether strutting through “Cool Your Jets” or tightening the blue collar on an Americana-inflected reading of “Money Changes Everything,” a song he penned over two decades ago, later crafted into a pop anthem by Cyndi Lauper. Clear Blue Flame burns hot enough to prove Delta Moon has found its true voice, it’s just a shame it took this long. -Jamie Lee


Since its inception, Delta Moon’s dusty, double slide blues has been tempered by sultry female vocals. But the departure of Kristin Markiton forced the band to look inward for a replacement; founder, lap steel player and songwriter Tom Gray settled in as frontman with his brushfire vocals befitting Delta Moon’s rich, guitar fueled jaunts. Clear Blue Flame captures Gray and Mark Johnson forming brooding six-string breakdowns, whether strutting through “Cool Your Jets” or tightening the blue collar on an Americana-inflected reading of “Money Changes Everything,” a song he penned over two decades ago, later crafted into a pop anthem by Cyndi Lauper. Clear Blue Flame burns hot enough to prove Delta Moon has found its true voice, it’s just a shame it took this long. -Jamie Lee
- Relix

It's two years since Delta Moon's last album and Clear Blue Flame has been much anticipated. The eponymous title track opens proceedings and it is rootsy & gutsy with a whisky stained vocal - classic Americana. Blind Spot is blues tinged roots with beefy slide guitar. The only thing missing is the vocals of Kristin Markiton from the last album, Howlin'. In fact, the band has changed dramatically since that 2005 album and they are now essentially a vehicle for Tom Gray and Mark Johnson with Ted Pecchio on bass and Tyler Greenwell on drums as their main backing. Money Changes Everything has more than a nod to Bruce Springsteen and John Hiatt. It's not a cover (written by Gray) but it does sound so familiar. Gray could be called a Southern Boss! The addition of fiddle gives this a bayou feel. Trouble In the Home is the bluesiest track so far. Excellent slide makes this grinder a favourite. Jessie Mae is another that could be a cover, its sound being so authentic. They stay in the blues zone for this rocker which is driven by the rhythm section and underpinned by the guitars of Gray and Johnson.

Cool Your Jets continues with the same vocalist and is another blues flecked rocker. The band revolves around the slide guitar and they produce no nonsense music. Life's A Song has good harmony and is blues rock of high calibre. This is one track where the dual guitars get to rip it up. Stranger In My Hometown is a rootsy blues with mandoguitar and laid back slide - a surprising favourite. Lap Dog is a grinding blues with some of the best guitar work of the album. I'm A Witness is hard to compartmentalise but I'd say middle of the road rock with obligatory slide. The only cover on the album, Mississippi Fred McDowell's You Done Told Everybody is an acoustic blues with high class slide from Gray and Johnson. Music as it should be - raw and honest.
- Netrhythms

Delta Moon are Tom Gray and Mark Johnson, two full-blooded musicians who got to know each other after meeting in a local Atlanta music store. That was a long time ago. In the USA, the two, who have had different singers and players on their albums, are a solid constant in Roots Music circles. Since 2006 Delta Moon has been a quartet with Tom Gray taking over the vocals. On their new album the band delivers wonderful, groovy Southern rock and blues. It sounds full through and through, is superbly composed and gives pure joy. The trademark of the band is the double slide guitar formation. Gray and Johnson play slide guitar at the same time, an idea Johnson had after seeing Ry Cooder and David Lindley together at a music festival.

Now one could think, that two slide guitarists would lead to double thunderbolts, as if George Thorogood and David Hole took the stage together. But that is not the case. Like other creators, Gray and Johnson are more advocates of fine, nuanced tones. The guitars compliment and support one another; together they produce wonderful sound experiences and let themselves be carried by the elegant and very danceable rock. The skillful positioning of the sound reminds one of the Stones, Allman Brothers, or early Fleetwood Mac. Whoever likes Lynyrd Skynyrd or Gov't Mule should not shy away from the purchase of Clear Blue Flame from the USA, because it is really worth it!!!
- Blues News (Translated)

The Southern swamp blues rock of Delta Moon takes a significant turn with the exclusion of a female frontperson/vocalist for the first time in the group's career. Guitarist/songwriter Tom Gray is the exclusive singer throughout, which gives this a slightly tougher, less overtly sexy texture than previous albums. Gray's grainy voice isn't polished but its rough-around-the-edges crunch is perfect for the slippery twin slide guitar propelled attack that Delta Moon has all but patented.

Songs such as "Jessie Mae" (dedicated to and about blues woman Jessie Mae Hemphill) take a funky, greasy riff and drive it home through repetition and intensity as the rhythm section stays in the pocket. The style shifts slightly to include the greasy mid-tempo "Life's a Song" which features the dual intertwining guitars laying down the foundation, but generally the template remains consistent for the majority of these 11 tracks. Gray is a classy songwriter whose topics of ornery men and women generally mistreating each other are handled with sophistication and a deft touch unusual for the genre. Most impressive is the sense of restraint for a band that features two excellent slide guitarists (Mark Johnson is the other). The solos are short, sharp and concise, and don't compromise the melodies for the sake of aimless wanking, a refreshing change for both Southern rock and blues played by guitarists.

Gray revisits his own number one hit "Money Changes Everything" in a fiddle soaked version that sounds unlike either the original new wave oriented approach by his first band The Brains or Cyndi Lauper's far more Technicolor--and popular-- cover. But that is not typical of this more aggressive set that hones Delta Moon's established slide guitar dominated sound with tight playing, memorable melodies and a gutsy sense of red clay rebelliousness found all too rarely in pre-packaged contemporary blues rock.

Review by Hal Horowitz
- All Music Guide

Big, brawling, dual-guitar controls the steady tempo of Atlanta, GA's Delta Moon on its refreshing long player, Clear Blue Flame.

Tearing into the undercurrent on "Blind Spot," Mark Johnson's fluid lines burn deep into the song's grooves alongside Ted Pecchio's gently anchored bass and Tyler Greenwell's consistent drumming . Co-composer and bandleader Tom Gray boasts a background of writing for Carlene Carter and Manfred Mann, and on this release, he contributes one of his compositions made famous by Cyndi Lauper, "Money Changes Everything."

But it's in the duo's deep, dark, funky and blue vision perpetrated by the nasty slide styling of "Jessie Mae" where Clear Blue Flame takes off, endearing Delta Moon to lure its listeners back. When the band launches into the forward rocking "Cool Your Jets," take notice; it veers dangerously around the curves previously driven by masters Cale and Clapton.

Delta Moon's Clear Blue Flame is yet another musical marvel exploding out of Atlanta's richly historical and bustling blues-powered mecca.

- An Honest Tune

Tom Gray and Mark Johnson are the rusty, banged up Cadillacs of the slide guitar, side by side coughing up smoke and spitting backwoods dirt, but unswerving in their precision and singular style. Gray and Johnson form the axis of Delta Moon, and their slippery, rousing blend of delta-style blues and rock ’n’ roll consciousness never fails to be gutsy and mesmerizing.

Until recently, a lady with a gorgeous voice sang lead in the band. On Clear Blue Flame, Gray alone sings his songs in a jagged rasp that only adds rightly to the rough and tumble air. The title track, flickering brightly in a fog, and “Blind Spot,” slinky and marauding like a mountain lion, both establish without question that the pull of the Moon groove is as strong as ever. But, there are some great changes of pace here. A sweet fiddle glides through “Money Changes Everything,” the pop tune Gray wrote way, way back that Cyndi Lauper took and turned into a big hit. And on “Stranger in My Hometown,” the guitars dart in and around a lively melody that, juxtaposed with the melancholic theme of the song, sets up a sharp contrast. Backed mainly—and sturdily—by bassist Ted Pecchio and drummer Tyler Greenwell of the Codetalkers, Gray and Johnson have cooked up yet another set of smart, down home rockers as the incomparable Delta Moon.

- Hittin' the Note

"Clear Blue Flame" (Jumping Jack) Four Stars

There's nothing quite as sensual and invigorating musically as the primitive sound of a slide guitar and a simple, pulsating rhythm. Southern rock was built on that swampy roil, and Little Feat later refined it for a fuller band. Delta Moon, a two-man band from Atlanta, has the formula down pat on its fifth disc, "Clear Blue Flame."

Tom Gray, the co-founder and guitarist, organist and dulcimer player, assumes the additional duty of lead vocalist here, assisted by guitarist Mark Johnson and some topnotch regional session players. Gray and Johnson's double-slide style, inspired by a pairing of David Lindley and Ry Cooder, works to perfection on "Flame."

Gray, while he was with the Atlanta new wave outfit the Brains, penned "Money Changes Everything," a hit for Cyndi Lauper. A Springsteen-esque version is included here, but the slick tune doesn't quite fit with the more earthy material. More interesting is the title track, a phrase familiar to anyone who has ever road-tested a good jug of moonshine, and "Jessie Mae," an ode to the matriarch of Mississippi hill country blues.

Jeff Johnson
- Chicago Sun-Times

Mark Johnson and Tom Gray first ran into each other in a music store in Atlanta, as Tom tried to sell a Dobro to Mark. Nothing came of the sale, but the both exchanged telephone numbers. A short time later they decided to start a band together. After Mark had heard Ry Cooder and David Lindley together at the New Orleans Jazz Fest, the musical direction was ultimately established and what the future band should sound like. Together with the singer Gina Leigh and others on bass and drums, Delta Moon was born.

They wanted their own music style to create in the tradition of the older 2 guitar bands. A style in which the lap steel and the bottleneck slide should fit perfect together. Gina left the band in 2004 and was replaced with Kristin Markiton, who was responsible for the vocals for the next 18 months. In the meanwhile Tom Gray had taken over as lead singer. He had earlier swung the microphone for the band The Brains. “Delta Moon has now finally found our voice” commented Mark Johnson about the decision.

With this line up went Delta Moon into the studio to record their 5th album. What emerges is a wonderful work with relaxed yet rough tones. The music is maybe best described as most of all a mix of blues, swamp, and roots rock, by which the slide guitar is the most dominating instrument. Occasionally a fiddle and mandolin are heard, and of course, not to be forgotten, the steel guitar. There are 10 original compositions plus “You Done Told Everybody” from Fred McDowell on Clear Blue Flame. The songs spread a marvelous, relaxed atmosphere, where both guitarists prove to be masters of their craft. Unbelievably full of feeling they work the strings of their instruments and complement each other perfectly. Also the acoustic parts (example: Title Song) sound excellent and fit great in the overall feel of this CD.

I do not know the previous albums from Delta Moon. I cannot however imagine, after many listens to this gem, a female lead singer with this music. Tom’s rough voice is simply made for this art of sound. I do not want to give a song tip for this album. Each of the songs is multifaceted and all have their personal strengths and specialties. These both guitarists speak here one and the same language and that is what Clear Blue Flame comes to express. Classic work. Keep rockin’ Delta Moon.
- Rocktimes (Translated)

Good things sometimes happen in strange ways. Take what's happened to DELTA MOON for example. Since their inception, the band has always been fronted by a female lead. When Gina Leigh left, thinking something was broke, the band fixed it by bringing on Kristin Markiton. Now that she's gone as well, it looks as if the band's discovered that these departures were somewhat of a breakthrough. After two divorces of sorts, TOM GRAY and MARK JOHNSON have come to discover "addition by subtraction" and from the looks.....and certainly from the sounds of things....."CLEAR BLUE FLAME" makes it very clear that nothing's broke. And, as the saying goes....."If it ain't broke, don't fix it".

"CLEAR BLUE FLAME", DELTA MOONS fifth release and first as an "all male revue", is clearly - from what this listener's ears heard - their best effort to date. On this project, DELTA MOON founders TOM GRAY on vocals, guitar, steel guitar, organ and dulcimer and MARK JOHNSON on guitar and mandoguitar are joined by TED PECCHIO on bass, TYLER GREENWELL on drums and percussion, CHRIS LONG on backup vocals and bass, ZEB BOWLES on fiddle, and JEFF BAKOS on tambourine. The eleven well written and perfectly performed tracks are all originals.

The opening and title track, "CLEAR BLUE FLAME", quickly solidifies the bands confidence in the direction they've chosen to go - capitalizing on: arguably being the best damn guitar team to ever work together; their extremely talented song writing: their captivating performance persona. And on "CLEAR BLUE FLAME", that's exactly what you get. Gritty and gutsy vocals by TOM, great, user friendly lyrics that are fun to sing along with and phenomenal guitar work from TOM and MARK.

"BLIND SPOT" is somewhat of an eerie song reminiscent to something you'd expect to hear from the master of such songs -Dr. John. It's bad enough that we all seem to have that so called "blind spot", but the devil just happens to be living in this one. The track is highlighted by some of the discs best rhythm and percussion by TED and TYLER.

Cyndi Lauper had a hit with his song, and now, twenty-five years later, TOM may have a one with "MONEY CHANGES EVERYTHING" as well. This is one of those anti-genre songs that should go over well with many musical tastes. Everything about this track - by far the discs best - is a highlight.....TOM'S vocals.... TYLER'S drum work....ZEB'S fiddle....the backup vocals......etc. I believe I may have hit the replay button on the media player as many times as I did the letters on the keypad while listening to this monster track.

Some of the discs best lead guitar work can be heard on the all too short "COOL YOUR JETS". This is one of those three and a half minute tracks that you end up wishing was 10 minutes longer......at the very least!

Other equally impressive tracks on "CLEAR BLUE FLAME" are "TROUBLE IN THE HOME", "JESSIE MAE", LIFE'S A SONG", "STRANGER IN MY HOMETOWN", "LAP DOG", "I'M A WITNESS" and "YOU'VE DONE TOLD EVERYBODY". What I found to be interesting about more than less of them is that although the band was quite often in a jam mode, the songs had catchy sing along chorus lines. I liked that a lot.

Being someone who has seen DELTA MOON perform with both of it's excellent female leads, and with all due respect to both Gina and Kristin, I think the band may be onto something with this new direction their headed in.

To purchase this, as well as all their CD's, check out TOM and MARK at www.deltamoon.com. Make sure you tell them you heard the good newzz 'bout them from the Blewzzman.

- Mary4Music

Delta Moon -- the group’s name already sounds good, but wait till you hear their music. "Clear Blue Flame" is the CD, already the fifth from this group from Atlanta. The first three CDs were with singer Gina Leigh, and when she left the band stand-in Kristen Markiton came join the song parties, and then when she also left, the two founders Mark Johnson and Tom Gray, together a super slide tandem, no longer sought a replacement. Tom Gray took over the vocals, and you wonder why not earlier? Tom's voice, a little gritty on the edge, sounds perfect with those double slide guitars, which always remind me of David Lindley and Ry Cooder for the spirit. On the former disks the voices of the female singers were fine, but this is still so much better.

Now you know in the meantime that I can only with difficulty resist the celestial sound of good slide guitar, but with the beautiful way these two “sliders” perfectly anticipate each other, I am completely for the axe. These two names may be for me without delay in the list of my favorite guitarists, such as Duane Allman, Derek Trucks, Warren Haynes, Sonny Landreth and the two named before: Lindley and Cooder.

Tom Gray proves to be not only a splendid guitarist but also a good songwriter. He wrote in former days among others "Money Changes Everything," which was a hit for Cindy Lauper. The number is also here on this CD and achieves the highest Springsteen quality, even though it is the only song where the slide guitars do not appear.

The CD bathes in an environment of the bayou and the swamps, and you can feel the sultry wet heat speaking, as "Trouble in the Home" is an example. The hypnotizing rhythms of the Burnside disks sit in "Jessie Mae," only with that full, fat sound of duo-slides. For guitar lovers such as I am, "Cool Your Jets" is a song to cross your fingers and lick off, the same for "Lap Dog" with a Texas groove in the vein of ZZ Top, whereas the sound of the real "Southern" band is clearly present in "I'm a Witness.” As a clincher the only cover, Mississippi Fred McDowell's "You Done Told Everybody," is a real Delta song delivered in a traditional manner, masterfully.

Delta Moon is a band that deserves a lot more name reputation, especially here in Europe, because their releases always get better, and they have now reached a level that I without exaggerating call daring. For fans of slide guitars, absolute must! Hit the replay button, darn it.
- Rootstime (Translated)