About 12 years ago I caught a Charlie Musselwhite show at Blues Alley, DC’s great jazz club (that occasionally features blues artists lately). Musselwhite of course was great, but the young lead guitarist, Matthew Stubbs, piqued my intrest so much I sought out his early solo albums – Soul Bender and Medford & Main.
What impressed me the most about Stubbs’ playing was his crisp, twangy retro rock ‘n’ roller style most evident on Soul Bender from 2008. His instrumental work on those albums reminds me of Danny Gatton’s legendary work. His outstanding work as a sideman can be heard on Musselwhite’s I Ain’t Lyin’, a 2014 release that featured live performances.
Now, Stubbs’ exceptional guitar is one of the centerpieces of the Boston-based GA-20 trio, which also features Cody Nilsen on vocals and guitar and Josh Kiggans on drums. The band has released several previous LPs and EPs, including collaborations with Musselwhite and North Mississippi Allstars frontman Luther Dickinson. In 2021, the band released Try It … You Might Like It! GA-20 Does Hound Dog Taylor, which leaned into the dirty “houserocking” style of the great six-fingered Chicago slide guitar legend.
With Orphans, Stubbs’ guitar work, and Nilsen’s vocals, mark a return to the clean, retro style evident in Stubbs’ earliest work. The eight songs feature some great licks and lyrics that feel like they could be from a 1950s electric blues or rock ‘n’ roll record. Some of the highlights include “Cryin’ & Pleadin'” (check it out below), “My Baby Sweeter,” and the instrumental “Chicken Picken’.” It’s a great album, and it’ll be available Dec. 5.
About the author: Bill Wilcox is a roots music enthusiast recently relocated from the Washington, DC area to Philadelphia, PA and back again.