Troy Gonyea – Click Click Spark
Self-Produced
CD: 9 Songs, 44 Minutes
Styles: Guitar Monster Blues, Contemporary Electric Blues Rock, Blues Covers
“We’re making a record tonight,” whispers Troy Gonyea, an electric maverick, at the beginning of Click Click Spark. “It’s a secret.” Someone else interjects, “We don’t have to hold back. We’re going to overdub the crowd noise from a concert from Bangladesh.” The aforementioned crowd noise follows. Clapping and cheering. Troy revs up. Is this approach unique? Relatively speaking; yours truly has never heard of another band doing the sort of overdub Gonyea mentions right off the bat. Does this approach let listeners know what they’re in for? Most definitely: a raw, unpolished set of nine selections from a Massachusetts guitar monster. Several of them are covers, including Magic Sam’s “That’s Why I’m Crying,” Willie Dixon’s “Bring It On Home,” and Jimmy McCracklin’s “Georgia Slop.” As for Gonyea’s original material, it’s as unpredictable as he is. Without a doubt, he does it his way, as Frank Sinatra might put it. The album’s sonic quality may not be up to studio standards, but then again, who needs polish when one has passion? Troy and his crew pull out all the stops, intending to blow out all your speakers.
Gonyea boasts a dynamite resume: featured guitarist on two Grammy-nominated Kim Wilson recordings (2001 and 2003); holder of the legendary guitar chair in The Fabulous Thunderbirds; touring with Booker T. Jones, Marc Ford, the Muddy Waters’ Blues Band, Sugar Ray and the Bluetones, David Maxwell, Kirk Fletcher, and Anthony Geraci and the Boston Blues All-Stars; nominee for Best Band at the Boston Music Awards (2010) and Blues Music Award nominee for Best Band of the Year (2019). With all this said, it’s a wonder his name hasn’t been more widely publicized. He’s been performing as a guitarist and sideman for over twenty-five years. He strapped on his first guitar at the age of thirteen, and the rest is history. Nevertheless, Troy prefers to bring his signature style to the songs of the old masters, not replicate them. Reveals Ronnie Earl: “I feel that the music Troy expresses is the true Blues. With Troy, the true Blues is in good hands for the future.”
Performing alongside Troy (lead vocals, guitar and harmonica) are Brooks Milgate on upright piano and Hammond organ, Marty Ballou on upright bass, and Marty Richards on drums.
After “A Few Words from our Charming Host” (Bangladesh crowd noise included) comes “Do the Curl Up and Die,” an original throw-down rocker that describes what we all want to do during a hangover. There’s pounding piano, growling guitar, thundering drums, and howling vocals that resemble George Thorogood mixed with Little Richard. “As I Am” tones it down quite a bit, a slow-burning ballad perfect for slow dancing. The third fresh composition is the final one, “I Am Feeling So Good (Owed T’Don),” running over seven minutes and containing the imperative to boogie, pronounced “boo-GEHHH!” Yes, sir, and that guitar…
Click Click Spark is a one-of-a-kind blues album showcasing raw talent from Troy Gonyea!
