By Chyrisse Tabone, Rock At Night Tampa
Album Review: Mike Vernon & the Mighty Combo’s Beyond the Blue Horizon-Manhaton Records-Release date September 7, 2018
Sometimes you want to get away from it all and go back to a simple, happier time. Listening to Mike Vernon & the Mighty Combo’s debut album Beyond the Blue Horizon captures the essence of the simple time of the 50s and the joy of swing.
There are plenty of cool sax solos, honky tonk piano, and lead guitar in 50’s style swing songs like “Heart & Soul” and “I Can Fix It”. If you like crooning and a great melody, listen to “I Don’t Know Why I Love You”. The album has plenty of songs to satisfy blues fans with “Old Man Dreams” and “Love Affair With the Blues”, with really cool percussive beats, Daddy-O! Maybe you can picture yourself in a dark, smoky bar while listening to “Kiddio”?
One of my favorite songs is “Be On the Train” with its twangy rockabilly feel, call and response chorus “be on that train”, and clapping. A really clever swing song is “Your Mind Is On Vacation” and kick on your dancing shoes for “We’re Gonna’ Rock the Joint”.
Overall, it’s the perfect uplifting album to listen to if you want to take your blues away and escape the Millennial drudge.
Track List
We’re Gonna Rock the Joint
Kiddo
Heart & Soul
I can Fix It
(I Don’t Know Why I Love You) But I Do
Be On ThatTrain
Your Mind Is On Vacation
Old Man Dreams
Jump Up
Red Letter Day
A Love Affair With the Blues
Hate To Leave (Hate To Say Goodbye)
You can catch the band on tour soon!
MIKE VERNON & THE MIGHTY COMBO UK & EUROPEAN 2018 TOUR
Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival, UK Sunday 22 July
Old Bakery Studio, Truro, UK Friday 17 August
Blues at Broom Hill Festival, UK Saturday 18 August
The Hope Tavern, Market Rasen, UK Sunday 19 August
Wrotham Arms, Broadstairs, UK Tuesday 21 August
Haven Club at The Bulligdon, Oxford, UK Thursday 23 August
Bluefunk, Poynton, UK Friday 24 August
Darvel Music Festival, UK Saturday 25 August
Great British RnB Festival, Colne, UK Sunday 26 August
Venue 77, Ipswich, UK Friday 7 September
Market Lavington Music & Comedy Club, Devizes, UK Saturday 8 September
Borderline, London, UK Double Headline with Sari Schorr Friday 14 September
Forest Arts Centre, New Milton, UK Saturday 15 September
Keighley Blues Live, Keighley, UK Friday 28 September
Carlisle Blues Rock Festival, UK Saturday 29 September
Discovery Centre, Winchester, UK Wednesday 3 October
Festival Blues des deux rivières, France Saturday 5 October
Blues de Cerdanyola Festival, Barcelona, Spain Saturday 6 October
I grew up in a household full of rock music, studied journalism in college, and then became a scientist.Although my science career has served me well, music has always played a major role in my life. I grew up reading "Creem" magazine; I play several musical instruments as a "hobby";and it seems a camera has always been in my hand. Now, I am combining what I love the most--music and photography--serving as editor of Rock At Night. I travel between the US and UK seeking my dream! My motto: life is short...no regrets. Chyrisse
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