July/August 2000

Steve Guyger
Past Life Blues
Severn Records

By Bill Milkowski

Harpist/singer Steve Guyger, is coming from the gritty side of the tracks on Past Life Blues (Severn Records 0002; 49:03). A wild, raw-throated frontman and raucous honker, Guyger delivers with unbound energy on tough originals like "I Thought I Heard," "Let's Rock Tonight," "Somethin's Smellin' Good (At My Baby's House)," the humorous jive-talking "Rib Shack Boogie" and the revved up jump blues "We're Gonna Ride." This guy must be an absolute riot live. His slow blues "I Tried So Hard" is strictly in the 12-bar tradition while the instrumentals "Blue Mambo" and "Snake Oil" provide a decided change of pace. The band includes Big Joe Maher on drums and Nulisch's partner Steve Gomes on bass. An excellent example of quintessentially raunchy, Little Walter-styled amplified blues harp honking by a strong new voice on the scene.