This young up-and-comer has a solid start to what will be a long career. Matt Walsh has taken time with some of the older guys to learn his craft. On his first disc he has a good grip on the music. His vocals reminded me right off the bat of the producer of this album, Bob Margolin. This is before I knew who produced the album. Margolin guests on guitar on two of the songs as well.
But back to Walsh: his style is more than just a Blues guitarist. His tones hit the old Rock 'n' Roll and Rockabilly sounds, also. These recordings do sound like some of Margolin's Alligator recordings. That is not a small task to pull off for any artist, let alone one that is just cracking the thirty-year old mark.
You can point similarities to Monster Mike Welch if you want, but Walsh is his own artist. He can swing at times, but not too hard. He has a subtlety in his music, a restraint. Walsh brings out the acoustic on few songs. He even goes after the rag on "Woody's Rag." The song swoops around with a thumping bass and soaring harmonica.
I'd like to bring up his resemblance also to the Fabulous Thunderbirds' early recordings. The tone of his guitar is aimed at the Texas sound, but each song has its own flavor. He never rocks too much, just enough to get you on the dance floor.
"Sit and Wonder" is a slow, quiet, acoustic number that takes its time through the seven-plus-minute wandering. The elegant touches on the strings are added to by a pulsing upright bass. You never know what corner this guy will turn with his guitar.
Every song on the album was penned by Walsh. You really can't take a musical journey like this disc takes you on without playing your own music. Walsh has a lot of original ideas and works some out on this disc, but you know there are many more ideas still in his head. Give him time and he should be putting out shining gems in the future.
Hard Luck is an excellent start to his recording career. This is a foundation that can launch him onto one of the Blues labels out there. He hits so many bases on this album that he will find a comfortable niche and blast off from there. He is not an artist who will be happy playing just one style. He is very versatile and that seems to keep him satisfied.
To hear an artist that will keep you guessing what is coming next and please you each time, take a listen to Matt Walsh.
- Kyle M. Palarino is a contributing editor at BluesWax
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