Zito resurrects classic blues rock guitar

I started listening to Mike Zito about 2010 or 2011 when he was playing guitar for the cool blues and blues rock supergroup, Royal Southern Brotherhood.

I followed him when he started his solo effort The Wheel (2012). That was one of my go-to road CDs.

In 2014, Mike and the Wheel’s next album, Gone To Texas, was nominated for a Blues Music Award in the 'Rock Blues Album of the Year' category.

Mike popped up everywhere and the constant touring and all the turmoil which follows — Mike tried it all and knew he had to step back.

Anyway, Gone to Texas, was a deep and personal CD dedicated to the state that he says saved his life.

From another album, Greyhound, the song “Roll On” was featured on FX's hit series Sons of Anarchy.

I never passed this on to Mike until now, but I thought that fact was a bit ironic because he could have been a stand-in for Kim Coates.

Kim played Alexander "Tig" Trager, the Vice President and former Sergeant-at-Arms of the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club's Charming, California charter.

What you think?

Anyway, Mike has just released Resurrection, a modern day blues rock masterpiece.

“I wrote and recorded the music I felt strongest about and I wanted to share it with the world,” Zito said, “I played my guitar the way I want to play my guitar, not the way anyone says I am supposed to play my guitar. I sang the way I wanted to sing – in my voice with my emotions.”

The album was recorded at Dockside Studios and Marz Studios between November 2020 and January 2021.

Producing the new disc is the celebrated Grammy-winner David Z, best known for his long-standing work with Prince, and who has contributed to albums by Etta James, Billy Idol, BoDeans, Buddy Guy and John Mayall, among many others.

“I had David Z produce for me again after a few years apart. We have now worked on seven albums together and I believe he understands my music and helped me to shape this album to be strong in the year 2021. This is an album that requires deep listening from beginning to end. The album cover art is an original painting by an amazing South Korean Artist, Yool Kim. She has captured the feeling of soul and light at the end of struggle. I am excited for people to hear this music. I believe it is a wonderful album of songs, stories, and sonic waves of electric guitar that convey darkness before the dawn. I am once again excited about love and life and music.”

Great stuff.