Artist:     PK Mayo

Album:     Simple Search for Truth

Label:     Self-released

Release Date:     9.17. 2021

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Three decades plus musician PK Mayo (Paul K. Mayasich) holds his rightful place in both the Minnesota Blues Hall of Fame and the Minnesota Rock & Country Hall of Fame. He is noted guitarist both on acoustic and electric slide, having been inspired at an early age form Duane Allman’s solo on “Statesboro Blues.” That inspiration has carried him to stages worldwide as he continues to gig (in non-pandemic times) at a rate of 200+ shows per year.

This record is special— and perhaps his career best—thanks to Mayo’s focus on songwriting. He claims to have invested much time writing these songs because, he said, “In the past, I tended to use the lyrics as a bridge between solos.” He insists this a no-frills album commensurate with its title: “Two guitars, bass and drums recorded in one room for most of the record.”

His band is bassist john Wright, guitarist/mandolinist Steve Lehto, and drummer Noah Levy. He opens with the autobiographical “Blues and Me,” trading guitar licks with Lehto, and delivering several cutting lines. “You Don’t Know Jack” is an ebb and flow instrumental where guitars sound like keyboards and the major lead that comes two minutes in is phrased like a horn solo. “Levee of Lies” features the mandolin and has a true roots feel, a swaying groove, and harmony vocals from Lehto and Levy, making it one of the standout tracks. About 60% through, as if to make one contemplate the line “how does it feel?,” the music almost comes to a standstill before the slide guitars build to a dramatic close.

A heavy, insistent beat propels the potent “Ain’t Workin’ for Me No More” which has more than its share of explosive, angst-driven guitar work. “Truth” rumbles in with train-like riffs and takes on a slash-and-burn North Mississippi Hill Country vibe with the slide sharp enough to cut through a thick board. Requisite calm follows in the resonator-infused, country blues of “Road of Love” while “Somewhere Between You and I” stays in similar vein, imbued by the combination of resonator, mandolin and harmony vocals, another standout. “Solace” closes out a string of three primarily acoustic, well-crafted songs, as if the album, a mere eight songs, has two distinct halves— Mayo’s fiery, electric side, and the second half revealing his songsmith side.

Spend a little more than a half hour with this blues master. He’s the real deal, a triple threat as they say.

—Jim Hynes