Mike Zito: Make Blues Not War Review

Royal Southern Brotherhood alumnus Mike Zito has a new record called Make Blues Not War. Despite that cutesy political title, Make Blues Not War is far from some kind of serious political statement.  Audiences can rest easy that this is the fun southern tinged blues rock that they have come to expect from Mr. Zito.

This latest set from Zito  produced by Tom Hambridge (Buddy Guy, Joe Louis Walker, George Thorogood etc…) kicks off with the rocking “Highway Mama” and also features blues legend Walter Trout on guitar keeping pace with Zito’s screaming vocals. The next couple of tracks keep the rocking blues thumping in much the same vein. The title track is a more traditional blues with Mike on slide guitar. The slow blues “Bad News is Coming” features organ and piano, and “One More Train” has some interesting boogie piano work. “Chip Off the Old Block” tells the story of  Mike’s son who grew up listening to the blues and features him playing guitar with his father. The album closes with boogie piano infused “Route 90,” with Zito riffing away like a modern day Chuck Berry.

Make Blues Not War seems like a natural progress from Zito’s work with the Royal Southern Brotherhood as well as his other solo material. If you are a Mike Zito fan then this is definitely a record that you will want in your collection.

The Review: 8/10

Can’t Miss Tracks

– Make Blues Not War
– Highway Mama
– Bad News Coming
– Chip off the Old Block
– Red Bird

The Big Hit

– Red Bird