Words by Annette Valentine.
The Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band will be releasing their latest album The Traveler on 31st May along with a European tour to follow.
Gone is the fresh-faced Kenny who exploded onto the early ‘90’s scene with his impressive self-taught skills, and here is a grown man, a father, who has a different perspective on life.
That’s reflected in the album's title, derived from the complexities of life and the journey we all make.
Story-telling tracks like Long Time Running, about expressing a complicated existence, and Gravity, about a troubled relationship, feature heavily. These are gritty blues-rock songs with a lick of country, melded with such tender lyrics.
Two covers on the album Turn to Stone, honouring Joe Walsh and Buffalo Springfield’s Mr. Soul sends shivers down your spine, hitting listeners with guitar riffs of effortless brilliance.
Woman Like You quite uniquely glorifies the featured female in an uplifting way, and Tailwind is beautiful with heart-string-puller effects.
Better With Time - every note is perfectly played, bluesy and psychedelic, and you can feel Kenny’s calling to carry the torch of longevity of blues-rock, paying homage to the greats he absorbed as a child, and clearly why he is greatly respected in this arena.
He’s come into his own here, metamorphosing with the band and rocketing them to deserved higher ground.
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