There’s always room for another guitar virtuoso. That might well be an old Chinese saying and then again it might not but it would imply that there is a surfeit of guitar virtuosos in the world which there most certainly isn’t. Thus, and as a committed air guitarist myself, I was more than glad to make the sonic acquaintance of the Billy Walton Band.
Ably supported by William Paris and John Hummel, Asbury Park stalwart Billy Walton shows he needs no studio trickery to impress with this album “Live at the Stone Pony”. Fleet of finger and displaying the kind of ease that only those born to play the guitar have, Billy Walton spins out well kent songs like “Little Wing” and “Treat Her Right” into runaway freight train guitar workouts. It’s not that he is an out and out fret board screamer, for Mr Walton has more than enough skill to indulge in subtlety, but more that he is such a fluid player that you have to wonder how he can keep up the pace.
Fans of high octane blues rock won’t be disappointed with this album and those who think they know the real deal will recognise the truth in every note that is played.
Anyway, that’s more than enough words. Time to press play again and pick up that air guitar. There are riffs aplenty here to inspire me.