Description
GA-20 – Lonely Soul – Vinyl Record
Lonely Soul, released in 2019, is the debut full-length album by GA-20, a Boston-based blues trio that quickly made a name for themselves with their raw, stripped-down sound, steeped in the gritty, electrified blues of the 1950s and early ’60s. From the very first track, Lonely Soul establishes itself as a no-frills, high-energy blues revival record—one that honors its influences with deep respect but refuses to sound like a museum piece. Instead, GA-20 injects this vintage aesthetic with a garage-rock edge, making the old feel urgent, alive, and distinctly their own.
The lineup on Lonely Soul consists of Pat Faherty on guitar and vocals, Matthew Stubbs (longtime guitarist for Charlie Musselwhite) on guitar, and Chris Anzalone on drums. The band’s minimalist setup—two guitars, no bass, and drums—pays tribute to the tough, lean sound of artists like Hound Dog Taylor, Otis Rush, Buddy Guy, and Magic Sam, especially those from the Chicago blues scene. The group also draws inspiration from the rawer textures of early rock ’n’ roll and rhythm & blues, creating a tight, urgent sound that’s at once nostalgic and revitalizing.
The album’s title track, “Lonely Soul,” exemplifies this approach. It’s a slow-burning, minor-key blues number that showcases Faherty’s plaintive vocals and the band’s ability to create mood and tension with minimal elements. It’s brooding and emotionally resonant, with a dark, smoky vibe that lingers.
Elsewhere, tracks like “Naggin’ on My Mind” and “You Know I’m Right” bring a more upbeat, boogie-infused energy, filled with sharp guitar lines, gritty distortion, and relentless groove. The band isn’t interested in modernizing the blues with pop polish—instead, they lean into the genre’s dirt and soul, letting the imperfections add to the authenticity. The sound is analog, tape-saturated, and intimate, giving the listener the feel of being in a sweaty basement club as the amps hum and the solos cut through the smoke.
One of the standout features of Lonely Soul is its clarity of purpose. GA-20 doesn’t overplay or overproduce. They let the simplicity of the format do the work, relying on tight rhythm, sharp songwriting, and a deep understanding of blues history to carry the album. Their dynamic interplay and reverence for the roots of the genre shine through on every track.
The album was warmly received in both blues and rock circles. It reached #2 on the Billboard Blues Chart and helped launch GA-20 onto the festival and club circuit with strong momentum. The band was praised for reviving traditional electric blues with both passion and bite, proving that there’s still plenty of room for innovation within tradition.
Lonely Soul is a strikingly confident debut—gritty, soulful, and laser-focused. It captures the raw energy of early electric blues while injecting it with a fresh, modern urgency, making it a must-hear for fans of blues, garage rock, and classic R&B. It’s the kind of record that doesn’t just recreate a sound—it reinvigorates it, reminding us why the blues, in its purest form, never goes out of style.
Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Naggin’ On My Mind
You Know I’m Right
One Night Man
Got Love If You Want It
Happy Today
My Soul
Crackin’ Up
I Feel So Good
Greene Boy
Lonely Soul
