ALBUM REVIEW: "California Heat"

By Frank De Blase

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Cold Sweat Roc

"California Heat"

Self-released

Facebook.com/coldsweatroc

Seen around town making the scene and playing the blues in assorted gin mills and dives, Cold Sweat Roc forgoes the histrionics of other blues bruisers to deliver "California Heat," a well-balanced collection of blues burners and rockers. Laid-back and rootsy in spots, and balls-to-the wall in others, this is the soundtrack for pointing the jalopy westward and not stopping until you see palm trees and tube tops.

What keeps it exciting is guitarist Steve Casilio's flirtation with wizardry and sonics that go way beyond the standard bump and twang. The trio swings smooth on cuts like "Discovery" before awakening the ghost of Gary Moore on "Broken Promises," while bassist and lead vocalist Ray Sciarratta intones stories of nights spent with a hundred cigarettes and even more broken hearts. It's an overall groove — locked in by the nimble rat-a-tat-tat of drummer Dave Gardner — that'll be there when you're going down slow. Cold Sweat Roc awaits you there. Hell, it's the blues. What else do you want? What else do you need?