Artist:     Jonathon Long

Album:     Jonathon Long

Label:     Wild Heart Records

Release Date:     9.7.18  

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In wrenching the opening notes to “Bury Me” from his sleek, muscular Gibson electric guitar, Jonathon Long picks up the flag for Southern rock from Lynyrd Skynyrd and waves it proudly. With its plain-spoken, heartfelt lyrics—which could someday serve as his epitaph—and churning Dixie drawl, the first salvo from Long’s self-titled third album is a defiant “Simple Man” for these complicated modern times.

And there is more where that came from, as low hard-rock growls “This Road” and “Pray for Me,” with riffs seemingly cut out of granite—summon the ghost of Ronnie Van Zant, while also signaling that one of the true standard bearers of Louisiana blues is intent on evolving and maturing as an artist. It’s probably no coincidence that Long dropped the nickname “Boogie” for this record, perhaps considering it too juvenile for such elevated material. Still, the raucous “Natural Girl” is all respectfully hot and bothered about the attractive features of a comely young woman and “Pour Another Drink” is drunken, burlesque revelry staggering its way into a joyfully shambolic New Orleans second line.

Produced with loving care and an understanding of what makes him tick by award-winning blues artist Samantha Fish, Long’s latest is an unembellished, honest expression of individuality that is deeply spiritual, introspective and occasionally mournful, but also tough and resilient. Warmly embracing bittersweet country balladry in “Shine Your Love,” a tender song of loss and longing, and “The Light,” as well as summery, sophisticated jazz and soul in “Where Your Love Went Wrong,” Long strays from his bluesy roots, only to return triumphantly in the smoldering “That’s When I Knew,” a snake of a track that has Buddy Guy’s wry smile, aged wisdom and wounded heart.

As a guitarist Long knows his way around the instrument, coaxing a pure tone from its shapely body and reeling off distinctive, searing solos with ease. Underappreciated as a singer, Long’s strong, clear vocals are unpolluted by notions of glamour or greed. They are earnest and unaffected, especially when empathizing with the economic plight of the common man in the crumbling sadness of “Living the Blues.” This is Jonathan Long, for better or worse.

—Peter Lindblad