It seems that over the last few years most of the young
blues and rock guitar slingers have emerged on our side of the ‘pond’,
however here is an assured 10-song set from 19 years old Trent
Romens, from Edina, Minnesota . . . he definitely has the requisite
‘chops’ in the guitar playing stakes, but even at his tender age he seems to
have a pretty decent voice too!
In the company of John Wright (bass and co-producer), Tony Marshall (Hammond
B-3), Jordan Carlson (drums), Tony Paul (percussion) and Cate Fierro and
Shalo Lee (backing vocals) he kicks off “Aware” with the thumping “Stimulate
Me”, with it’s stop-time and his fiery guitar underpinned by the
afore-mentioned Marshall’s fine Hammond playing. He changes the pace on the
country blues stomp of “Material Blues” – starting off on acoustic before
changing to electric and featuring the fine backing vocals of Fierro and
Lee. He rocks hard on his own “Fairy Tale” which builds to a close with a
blistering guitar solo, before he and the band stretch out over 7:35 on the
blues classic, “Going Down Slow”, with searing slide intro over Marshall’s
keyboards and plenty of dynamite soloing from Romens himself. The strutting
“Right Back Where I Started” has a “Walking Blues” feel to it with
impressive vocal from the young man and more slide fireworks. The release’s
only other cover is a take on Big Bill Broonzy’s “Key To The Highway” . . .
delivered here acoustically to show Romens versatility.
The ballad “Love’s Lost Cause” is a soulful original, his vocal ably backed
up by Cate Fierro and Shalo Lee as the songs builds throughout its course,
with more guitar fireworks at the end; the album closing with “Hey Now”, a
return to the acoustic guitar, with a reggae feel – possibly inspired by the
late, great Bob Marley – plus harmony vocals and the percussion of Tony Paul
. . . a nice ending to a fine release from a name to keep an eye on for the
future. ~Grahame Rhodes
