Trout, whose worldwide album sales are now closing in a million, is best known for his spell-binding performances, stratospheric guitar playing, honest song writing, powerhouse vocals and mesmerizing showmanship. Relentless, which features 14 original tunes, captures the essence of Walter Trout and his band the Radicals. They laid it all on the line in front of a studio audience at
the 300 year old Paradiso Theater in Amsterdam, performing the new songs for the first time as they were being recorded. Relentless is raw and unpolished, in your face, spontaneous – and yes,
relentless. This release also marks Trout’s 5th collaboration with legendary modern blues producer Jim Gaines (Blues Traveler, Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughan).
Later this fall, Relentless will be issued in 5.1 as an SACD, followed by a DVD documentary of the recording in 5.1 surround sound. Trout, along with his band is currently touring nationally in support of the release.
Backed by an exceptionally tight trio, which features James Trapp on bass guitar, Sammy Avila on Hammond B-3 organ / backing vocals, and Joey Pafumi on drums, Walter Trout and the Radicals have made a name for themselves both in Europe and the US. This CD is the product of years of his hard work since then, total dedication, years of driving to the next gig, sleepless nights – the road
life that follows when a career of music is chosen. That road life is a risk, as is recording songs live that have never been performed. For Walter Trout, it was a risk worth taking – he instinctively knew the energy of his audience would carry him.
Trout’s ability to tear up the neck made him a sought after sideman, playing along some of the greatest blues players of all time including legends like John Lee Hooker and Big Mama Thornton. But, it was Trout’s 5 year stints with each Canned Heat and John Mayall and the Blues Breakers that gave him a decade to hone his impeccable fretwork into an immediately recognizable style. In 1989,
Trout launched a solo career which spawned a Top 10 hit in Europe, and has led to performances with Elton John, Black Crowes, Lenny Kravitz, Led Zeppelin kingpins Robert Plant and Jimmy Page. Fanfare overseas set the trend for audiences in the USA, which have applauded his releases, several of which
have become top-selling blues albums in the States.
Born and raised in New Jersey and now living in Southern California, Walter Trout, for 35 of his 50 years, has been rocking the strings on his trademark ’73 Fender Strat, faithful to a promise he made to himself as a teenager to always play guitar for those will listen.
TOUR DATES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
Fri 8/08 Grand Forks, ND Sensations
Sat 8/09 St. Paul, MN Minnesota Music Café
Sun 8/10 Duluth, MN Bayfront Blues Festival (4:45 pm)
Sun 8/10 Duluth, MN Norshore Theatre (9:00 pm)
Wed 8/13 Grand Rapids, MI Monroe Mall Amphitheater
Thurs 8/14 Wapakoneta, OH Rhythm and Brews
Fri 8/15 Dearborn, MI George & Harry’s
Sat 8/16 Wheeling, WV Heritage Music Blues Festival
Sun 8/17 Newport, KY Southgate House
Tues 8/19 St. Louis, MO Generations
Wed 8/20 Hot Springs, AR Boogie’s
Thurs 8/21 Dardanelle, AR Romedio’s
Fri 8/22 Aurora, MO The Legacy
Sat 8/23 Kansas City, MO Grand Emporium
Mon 8/25 Englewood, CO Gothic Theatre
Tues 8/26 Colorado Springs, CO Navajo Hogan Roadhouse
Thur 8/28 Las Vegas, NV Boulder Station Casino
Sat 8/30 Long Beach, CA Seaport Marina Hotel (CD release party)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
