CALIFORNISOUL! That's exactly what it is. It's the missing soundtrack to a summertime drive from Los Angeles to San Francisco in 1971! ~ Fabrizio Grossi
It's the sound that Supersonic Blues Machine has spent much of 2017 sharing with audiences from Texas, Holland, India, St. Petersburg, Russia, starting with their headlining slot in front of thousands at the Notodden Blues Festival (Europe's premier blues festival) in Norway, and they are back with an exciting new studio release that picks up right where the band left off on their well-received debut record, West of Flushing, South of Frisco.
Recorded at Fab's Lab in North Hollywood, California, Californisoul is all about the songs, and while Grossi wrote most of the lyrics, the music was created and fleshed out in the studio by the band, and they have conjured up a modern day soulful, blues rock classic.
Californisoul is all about great songs. This album shines in the depth and soul of the songs and songwriting - no cookie cutter filler to be found. "Cry" is a soul searching, simmering piece of poetry and Lance Lopez preaches it in the most righteous way. "I Am Done Missing You" is another number that reaches down deep with a message that will resonate with both spurned lovers and those who have left their bad habits and ways in the past. Californisoul is a study and celebration of the human condition, and "This Is Love" could be the lovechild of Bob Marley and War with some stinging guitar action spread on top. We're living in times in which it's hard to keep on keeping on, and it's easy to fall prey to habits, vices, and distractions - "Elevate" takes a close look at the "high" life, and how one must raise above the temptations and tribulations if the music is to be made. Elevate your soul, ineed. Blues, rock, reggae, soul, it's all here in a joyous abdundance and a celebration of life. That's the nature of Californisoul.
Supersonic Blues Machine is Lance Lopez (guitars/vocals/songwriter), Fabrizio Grossi (bass, producer, songwriter), and Kenny Aronoff (drums). As they've proven on their first album and round of shows, it's not a party unless you invite some friends, and for Californisoul, they've brought along some heavy hitters.
Guests on the album include Billy Gibbons, who returns with pen and guitar ("Broken Heart"), Steve Lukather (Toto) throws down some stunning licks ("Hard Times"), Eric Gales is back in the fold ("Elevate"), Robben Ford brings his bag of soulfully sophisticated chops ("Somebody's Fool"), Walter Trout brings some silky slow blues ("What's Wrong"), and the party is rounded out with Alessandro Alessandroni Jr. on keyboards, Serge Simic (co-writer and background vocals on "Love" and "Hard Times"), and Andrea and Francis Benitez Grossi (background vocals). You may come for the stars, but you'll stay for the whole show.
Fabrizio Grossi adds, "Lots of people have been saying to me ‘why does Supersonic Blues Machine always bring guests around? You guys can stand your own ground', and there are three answers to that : 1) we're all super friends and we're having a blast, 2) most of them don't give lessons and for us it's only way to learn their secret "ways", and three because the inspiration and the challenge they bring to the table!"
Supersonic Blues Machine is truly a family as well as a band, and these guests don't mail it in, they stay for dinner. The community aspect is very real, and one of the band's great treasures.
