GARY “GAZMAN” CAMPBELL
LONG TIME COMIN’ EP

2011, self released

By Shane Pinnegar

As something of a journeyman around the West Australian blues rock scene, Gazman Campbell has stuck his fingers into all sorts of pies over the years, and this debut solo EP absolutely lives up to it’s name.

Opener ‘All I Need’ betrays some tasty Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jeff Healey influences, whilst being an entirely enjoyable party boogie treat, featuring – as on the entire record – ripping lead guitar from Michael Vdelli.

Not exactly a spring chicken (Though I will preserve his modesty on that front ;o) ), Campbell’s first release may be belated, but there’s no denying he has lived rocking the blues and sports a voice redolent with life’s rich experience and a unique character to match.

Through ‘Fool For Me’, ‘It Won’t Be You’, ‘Nothin Like You’ and ‘When The Blues Come To Call’, Gaz never strays too far from the well trodden blues templates whilst making sure there is enough of himself in there to make this EP a bit special. Common lyrical themes of bad luck and badder women abound, all wrapped up in Gaz’s love of a good time and wry sense of humour, which sets “Long Time Comin” ahead of the pack.

Which brings us neatly to closer ‘Pay Attention’, a rollicking country honk that sees Gaz truly singing in his own larrikin voice for the first time. Knowing the man, this is Gaz at his rawest and most honest and heartfelt, and gives us the truest taste of who the man really is – right down to his inimitable sense of humour. Sure the song sticks out stylistically from the rest of the more “pure” blues rock tracks on the record – but what true music fan doesn’t miss the days when a release could be this diverse?