Anthony Rosano and The Conqueroos – Cheat The Devil
https://whiskeybayourecords.com/
11 tracks – 48 minutes
New York native Anthony Rosano, now living in Virginia grew up listening to all of the British bands that were playing blues-oriented music. He quickly decided that he had a “spiritual connection” with those types of songs and notes that Peter Green is a particular influence on his music. Listening to Green then led him to John Mayall’s Blues Breakers and, in turn, the actual blues masters such as Freddy King and Muddy Waters.
He formed his first version of The Conqueroos in 2012. The band was quickly recognized for their performances and was selected twice as semi-finalists at the International Blues Challenge. While on tour in 2013, Anthony met Tab Benoit and the two immediately made a connection. Tab invited Anthony to be the opening act for his tour and eventually produced the Conqueroos debut album. And now years later, Tab produced, engineered, and mastered their second album. The original Conqueroos was a five-piece band. But for this second album Anthony, following a suggestion from Tab, reduced the band to a trio. Anthony leads on vocals and guitar with Kyle McCormick on drums, and Jake Fultz on drums. The album liner notes that the recording was made live at Tab’s Whiskey Bayou Studios in New Orleans with “no overdubs, computer trickery, or digital manipulation. Mixed to Analog Tape the way records are supposed to be.”
The album opens with a blues-rocker featuring Anthony’s slide guitar and appealing vocals. He notes that the “Sweet Little Devil” … is so tempting and so kind”. “You promise me the world, but you take my soul”. “My Baby Gets Around”, is an all-out rocker lamenting the familiar love gone wrong theme. Fuzzed-up guitar work blasts out as Anthony moves into a smooth vocal and asks, “What Kind of Fool” “would hold on to love that is not true…could hold onto a broken girl like you”.
On “Keeps Adding Up” Anthony’s slide guitar again gets a workout as he identifies the problems he is having with her. “Sin City” continues to rock out as Anthony states ” I think I might be losing my mind, look in the mirror all covered in lies.” “Sell my soul just to set it free.” He then offers good advice to never go down to “Jonesboro Road” where “they will stab you for a nickel, kill you for a dime”. “I have been down there one time, barely made it out alive.”
“Rosalita” slows things down as he recalls a woman with “beauty like a summer rain”. He left her and worries “that his memory might fade away” but wonders “If I return, will you take my name”. “Shook” gets things rocking again as he says, “you got me shook straight to my soul…cannot even breathe”. “In my heart, you tear it apart.”
“Scattered Bones” deals with the horrors of war. A somber slide guitar opens the song. “You took me to the river, dragged me in the mud, quenched my love for poison, but gave me thirst for blood.” “Scattered bones is all I will ever be.” The title song opens with an a Cappella declaration that “You can’t cheat the devil, he will always win” with handclaps driving the rhythm. The guitar then kicks in as “he says that he will tempt you with silver, tempt you with wine”. “He will make you pay with your soul, pay for every sin.” The album concludes with a rocking version of Slim Harpo’s “King Bee”.
Blistering guitar, strong vocals and interesting lyrics that catch your attention are the strengths of the album. This is powerful blues rock that sometimes borders on hard rock. Anthony cited in an interview that he was attempting to approach traditional blues with a modernized sound. Certainly, his music is in the realm of those early British adapters of blues like Rory Gallagher or Humble Pie. Anthony has said that his audience extends from blues aficionados to fans of Metallica.
