“Keith Don’t Go” (Acoustic Live version) – Nils Lofgren

There are musicians that the general public love – usually not terribly technically proficient but they have it and that makes-up for their weakness as a musician – and there are musicians' musicians. Usually technically perfect, always visionary, they break rules other musicians would never consider breaking, and are generally considered, by other musicians, to inhabit levels of genius. And every once in a while there are musicians who are both visionary genius and have that it factor. Bo Diddley, Eric Clapton, and Jack White to name a few obvious choices, are all visionary and talented with wide general appeal. One name that should be on that list is Nils Lofgren.

I have heard him referred to as Chopin with a guitar. And his live acoustic version of “Keith Don’t Go” is a prime example of how amazing a musician he is. Although he now works primarily with Bruce Springsteen as a member of the E Street Band, Lofgren is, in my opinion, far and away the better performer and the more talented musician and songwriter. You can judge for yourself, I have included the video of his mind blowing live performance below.

“Darkest Secret” – Sons of William

Sons Of William (SOW) make bluesy, carnal, dirty rock music, filled with the influences of the delta blues and classic 70’s rock sounds they grew up with. SOW weave rich tapestries of music that contain ear-catching musicianship, purely physical vocals, and intelligent, profound and always literate lyrics. Joe Stark, the band’s frontman, has an amazing talent with a guitar which is easily matched by his mellow, smoky, make-my-panties-wet voice. “Darkest Secret” has everything that I love most about SOW. Here they combine soulful guitar, coloured with classic rock, with oh-so-hot lyrics like "with a heavy hand, and a jealous glow, you touch me so sinful and slow” sung in Stark’s lazy southern drawl that is dripping with sexual promise, in perfect harmony with bassist and backing vocalist Jen Janet’s sweeter, feminine tones. They possess the enviable ability to create passionate, sensually driving emotionally haunting music that feels like an intimate caress from a long lost lover. It melts my heart and my loins every time I hear it. You really need to own this album.