Albums:Ain't No Good Life

From WWR

BIO ABOUT RUSTY WRIGHT BLUES...

There will always be those who feel compelled to argue over what the blues is or isn't. If the music of Rusty Wright Blues sounds like it was colored from the big box of crayons, it's because Rusty Wright and Laurie LaCross-Wright feel the universe would be a mighty flat and boring place if everyone was given a crayon from the box and told they had to express themselves with just that one color.

A wide variety of influences make an appearance on this Flint Michigan couple's Sadson Music debut release “Ain’t No Good Life” but these husband/wife guitarists manage to keep at least one toe lodged in the blues while embracing a southern rock vibe that might best be described as 'Bonnie Raitt and ZZ Top crashing an Allman Brothers house party.'

Tommy Stewart (a longtime friend of Rusty's who enjoyed success as original drummer for Godsmack) adds wickedly deep pocket drum grooves on all of the tracks. Steve Himes, a band mate since 1999, plays keys. Recent additions to the band include drummer Dan Mata and bassist Randy McEntire.

The title track, Ain't No Good Life, is easily the most traditional sounding on the disk and features Rusty's slide guitar skills.

Taking a cue from husband/wife country music teams like Carter & Cash, Jones & Wynette and McGraw & Hill, the Wrights also bring the time-honored male/female duet tradition into the Blues world. Their affable banter and sense of humor pervades the disc and they sound like they're having a helluva good time as they trade verses back and forth on songs like "Something Missin" ''and "The Fool Will Do."

Their quirky sense of humor again shows up in "Nasty Reputation," "Ain't From Mississippi," "Toppy" and "Long Time Coming" - all hard grooving tunes with a southern blues-rock vibe. Rusty tears up the fret board on "Hell On My Heels."

"Do It Again" may slip out of the genre of blues but Rusty and Laurie refuse to feel apologetic.

"It's a song about looking back and not regretting the decisions and circumstances that led you to where you stand today. Our over-30 crowd relates to it and it's a great song to be able to sing at this stage in our lives," said LaCross-Wright. "Plus, it's a blast watching audiences bob their heads and sing the “I’d do it again” line on the choruses."

Playing off a particularly enthusiastic response heard at almost all their shows, Rusty and Laurie playfully dubbed their 2005 tour dates the “Dude! Where the #$%& did you come from?” Tour after hearing the phrase uttered by none other than Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Ricky Medlocke and Johnny Van Zant at the end of RWB’s opener set in 2004.

Longtime fans weren't surprised. Rusty Wright's got the kind of guitar chops that make people stop and stare, spellbound. Wide eyed, people jostle for a better view of his hands and riotous facial expressions.

Wright's introduction to professional musicianship came at age 13 when he climbed aboard a tour bus and became the guitarist for a successful Southern Gospel recording act led by his mother. His diverse career as an in-demand touring guitarist, front man and composer has taken him to most points in the US and across Europe. A skilled movie and television composer, songwriter, audio engineer and in-demand session guitarist, Wright's compositions have also been picked up by ESPN and TNT.

Fronting the band with Wright is his wife, rhythm guitarist/vocalist Laurie LaCross-Wright, a compelling singer with a vivid and expressive vocal style that stretches with ease from a breathy, crooned endearment into a two-octave slide that becomes a throaty affirmation of her ability to wail. Touching people's emotions through a song is a rare ability, but this woman has the knack - often making the most stoic man in the room wipe at his eyes with her Bluesy rendition of "Summertime."

By age 16, Laurie was touring and recording in Europe, as well as performing across her home state of Michigan. She says she knew at a very young age she wanted — no, needed to be a singer, and at age 10 began studying folk, bluegrass and country vocal and guitar styles, progressing to classical and choral music, rock, jazz and even medieval Troubadour music and bawdy songs from the renaissance era. The sheer diversity in her musical interest and training allowed her to develop vocal style that perfectly complements her husband’s passionate and masterful guitar work.

The chemistry between Wright and his wife is both obvious and refreshing as they exchange playful banter onstage and share anecdotes about the songs and their lives with the audience.

Musically, they soar. Their passion for music and performing is evident as they take turns playing off each other. Laurie laughs with delight when Rusty plays a particularly inventive riff. His guitar work echoes the dynamics and emotion of her voice as she sings. He closes his eyes and loses himself in the music as he plays. She, in turn, looks directly out at the audience, smiling widely from the stage, as if to say "You'd better believe this is every bit as fun as it looks!"

CD LINER NOTES ABOUT THE SONGS…

Ain't No Good Life - Rusty pays homage to those who have preceded him on the Blues path in this cathartic tune about the demanding muse within and the inevitability of life's twists and turns. Traditional slide guitar blues guaranteed to haunt your head.

I Ain't from Mississippi - Rusty and Laurie poke fun at the notion that you have to have been born South of the Mason Dixon line to be eligible for Blues credentials. We live in Flint Michigan - and north of the river, to boot. Our whole city is living the blues every day. 'Nuff said.

The Fool Will Do - We're all fools for love at least once in our lives. With a little luck, a lot of patience, and a great big whopping sense of humor, sometimes things turn out just fine. No one who knows us would have thought this song possible ten years ago.

Hang Dog - Rusty gives a nod to his love of southern blues-rock with this dark-edged story tune.

Do It Again - A song about looking back and not regretting the decisions and circumstances that led you to where you stand today. Would you do it all again? We would. People's lives rarely unfold the way they'd like them to. Add the sweet parts to the bitter and make lemonade.

Missin' You - An emotional statement about not having an opportunity to make your peace and say your goodbyes. Military personnel and their families, lovers and friends are always on my mind when I sing this one.

Summertime - Laurie puts her own spin on this Gershwin classic. I have been singing this one forever and have never grown weary of it. My father sang it to me from birth.

Nasty Reputation - Rusty glances back in the rearview mirror at a misspent youth, rolls his eyes and laughs out loud. I'm much better now. Really...

Long Time Comin' - Even in his earliest band days, Rusty would tell band mates he was going to go play the Blues for the rest of his days when he hit 40. It's been a long time comin’ but I'm home for good.

Something Missin - A break up song without all the hate. Some people just grow apart and when the reality hits there's no way of getting close enough to grab hold of each other again.

Don't Need Yo Bad Mind - A song about not taking all the negative crap people want to dump on you. There are few things in life we have to do. Everything else is up to you. An anthem for my bikr buds.

Toppy - A song about getting decked out for that big first date and feeling really fine about it. ZZ Top has always been the epitome of cool. When you're feeling that confident and good, you're definitely feeling "Toppy"!

Hell on my Heels - 4 minutes of pure blues guitar mayhem in that "Crossroads" tradition.

The information below this box is from the Whole Wheat Radio databases and cannot be changed by editing this page. You can add to or edit everything above this box by clicking the "edit" link in the row of tabs at the top of the page. To add music to the library see information for artists.