Description

Hoosegow – Mighty – Compact Disc

Mighty is the debut album by Hoosegow, released on November 11, 1996, through Homestead Records. The band, consisting of guitarist Elliott Sharp and vocalist Queen Esther, presents a unique blend of modern electric blues with experimental and alternative rock influences. Known primarily for his avant-garde work, Sharp showcases his versatile guitar skills on this album, while Queen Esther delivers powerful and dynamic vocal performances. The album features tracks like ‘Dead Or Alive,’ ‘Trouble,’ and ‘Is It Any Wonder?,’ blending traditional blues themes of hardship and resilience with a restless, impressionistic sound. The combination of Sharp’s innovative guitar techniques and Queen Esther’s commanding voice results in a fresh and unconventional take on the blues genre.

Guitarist Elliott Sharp is most known for experimental outings that are characteristic of the late-20th century ‘downtown’ New York scene, but he has also expressed a deep love for the blues. Even so, Hoosegow, which features Sharp on guitars and Queen Esther on vocals, will surprise much of his audience. Queen Esther and Sharp wrote all but one of the songs on their debut Mighty, which is rooted in the classic Chicago electric blues sound, although there is no instrumentation except for Sharp’s guitars and Esther’s vocals.

Sharp proves himself to be quite the virtuoso on stinging blues guitar, and Esther a capable and thrilling) singer. The material is more restless and impressionistic than much contemporary blues, refusing to fall into good-timey cliches. It’s just off-kilter enough to confuse traditional blues fans, and may be too traditional and accessible for Sharp’s usual constituency.

Mighty has been praised for its originality and its departure from typical blues clichés, offering a more modern and experimental approach. Fans appreciate the album for its unique fusion of styles, highlighting the versatility and depth of both artists. The album reflects the adaptability of the blues genre, demonstrating its capacity to incorporate contemporary influences while maintaining its emotional and thematic core.

Brand new, never played and still sealed in the original plastic seal

Homestead Records

Track Listing
1. Mighty
2. Dead Or Alive
3. Trouble
4. Junky Heaven
5. You Never Can Tell
6. Later
7. Is It Any Wonder?
8. Over My Shoulder
9. Are You Ready For Me?
10. Intuition
11. William’s Lamentation
12. Myopia
13. I’m Ready