Eric Gales brings the blues in February with 'The Bookends'

Last spring, I got to witness Gales live at Doheny Blues Festival in Orange County, CA. See the review here:

newwavegeo.blogspot.com/2018/05/doheny-blues-festival-2018-review-feat.html

I look forward to hearing the new material. Read on for more info...

On Feb. 8, Eric Gales returns with his new album 'The Bookends' on Provogue/Mascot Label Group, featuring collaborations with B. Slade, Doyle Bramhall II and Beth Hart.

Gales goal with 'The Bookends' was to challenge himself. "As a guitar player it's been established that I can play a little bit, just a little bit," he smiles. But for this album, he not only wanted to push himself as a musician, but also as a vocalist, and build up his vocal discography. "What spearheaded that was the artists that I have on the record," he says.

Written over a nine month period, the album was recorded at Studio Delux in Van Nuys, California, The Dog House in Woodland Hills, California, and Blakeslee Recording in North Hollywood.

Tragically, the day before he was due to fly to LA for pre-production the original producer David Bianco passed away. It was Bianco's management who then suggested Matt Wallace. "I heard his work and the kind of people he has produced such as Maroon 5, Faith No More and all these sorta cats. When we met up together it was just perfect," says Gales. "I just trusted the guy and it ended up being great, I love Matt Wallace".

Three-time Grammy nominated and Emmy Award winning vocalist B. Slade appears on two songs, "Something's Gotta Give" and bonus track "Pedal to the Metal." "When he came in during pre-production and we were writing, it was so intense. At first I was a little afraid to sing in front of this guy, because this is what this dude does, he's a phenomenal person and he just brought it out of me," Gales says.

"I don't know if he was really aware of who I was before we met, but the day that he walked in and he heard the songs, his mind was blown. That was before he even saw me playing guitar, so when he saw me playing he said 'in my life I ain't never seen nobody that can play like this.'"

Themes of change ('Reaching for a Change', 'Somebody Lied') and love ('How Do I Get You', 'Whatcha Gon' Do') are present throughout the album. On 'Something's Gotta Give', Slades and Gales vocals take turns to yearn "I tell ya people have lost their mind, happy children so hard to find, desolation all in the streets, plenty babies don't have food to eat, hey, I ain't preaching, that's not my thang, I just know we've got to make a change." "It Just Beez That Way" features Gales beatboxing and playing Slide guitar on record for the first time.

Talking about being in the studio, Gales elaborates; "The whole vocal thing was something I consciously wanted to push and Matt was on the same page, saying, 'there's gonna be sometimes you might not like me because I'm gonna push you because I feel that I know what you can do, and its more than just guitar playing'. It was just really powerful and moving."

Doyle Bramhall II and Gales' friendship dates back to the 1990s and Eric Clapton's right hand man features on the triumphant "Southpaw Serenade," while powerhouse vocalist Beth Hart joins Gales on a rousing rendition of "With A Little Help From My Friends." "Why that song? Well we both have similar stories," he says. "We're survivors you know, drug addiction and her from depression. If you've got the right support and you can have help from your friends it will all be awesome. It is such a powerful piece."

Previous album 'Middle of the Road', was released in February 2017 and reached #1 on the iTunes Blues chart and #4 on the Billboard Blues chart.

Since 2017 Gales has toured with Gary Clark Jr., Beth Hart, Gov't Mule and a Rockin' The Blues run with Gary Hoey, Quinn Sullivan and Lance Lopez.

He played his first ever headline tour in the UK and Ireland to sold out crowds, took a starring role as part of Supersonic Blues Machine at the UK's Ramblin' Man Fair and also found time to play a one off reunion show as The Eric Gales Band. This is not to mention his collaborations with Bootsy Collins ('World Wide Funk'), The Apocalypse Blues Revue (Shannon Larkin/Tony Rombola of Godsmack) and Supersonic Blues Machine ('Californisoul').

Gales' story started when he was a child prodigy and 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. He has released 15 studio albums in total ahead of 'The Bookends,' as well as other collaborations. He has battled drink and drug issues and spent time in jail in 2009 for possession of drugs and a weapon.

The musician proudly tells his story every night before every show. Now over two years sober, he is creating some of the most breath-taking music he has ever made. Talking about his approach to songwriting in this time he reflects. "I guess the songs would answer the question more or less, I definitely don't have anything clouding my view and it's definitely a much more pure place its coming from."

Eric Gales band is: Eric Gales (Guitar, Vocals), Mono Neon (Bass), Aaron Haggerty (Drums), LaDonna Gales (Backing vocals, Percussion) and Dylan Wiggins (Organ).

Track listing:

1. Intro
2. Something's Gotta Give (feat. B. Slade)
3. Whatcha Gon' Do
4. It Just Beez That Way
5. How Do I Get You
6. Southpaw Serenade (feat. Doyle Bramhall II)
7. Reaching For A Change
8. Somebody Lied
9. With A Little Help From My Friends (feat. Beth Hart)
10. Resolution
11. Pedal To The Metal (feat. B. Slade) [Bonus Track]

US Tour Dates:

December 14 - The Thirsty Turtle - Millbrook, AL
December 15 - The Junction at Monroe - Tallahassee, FL
February 1 - Knucklehead's - Kansas City, MO*
February 2 - Winter Blues Fest - Des Moines, IA*
February 5 - Sony Hall - New York, NY*
February 7 - The Hamilton - Washington, D.C.*
February 8 - Infinity Music Hall - Hartford, CT*
February 9 - Newton Theatre - Newton, NJ*
February 10 - The Cabot Theatre - Beverly, MA*
February 14-18 - Rock Legends Cruise - Fort Lauderdale, FL
February 25-28 - Keeping the Blues Alive At Sea V - Tampa, FL
March 1 - Keeping The Blues Alive At Sea V - Tampa, FL
April 27 - The Caverns - Pelham, TN*

* with Walter Trout