REVIEWS: “Peace In My Time” 
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SEEMINGLY CAREFREE, BUT IT SOUNDS SIMPLY BRILLIANT!
This is the seventh release by the American guitarist, singer and composer Brad Vickers, as part of a collaboration with invited musicians whose participation in the recordings is signaled with the note "... and His Vestapolitans." The core of the group are: bassist Margey Peters, vocalist and author of some songs, drummer Bill Rankin, and Jim Davis on saxophone. The album also features a number of special guests. When I heard the first composition, my mind went to the hard rock 'n' roll of the 1960s, and the music of Chuck Berry. It turns out that Comrade Vickers also has a rich history as a session musician. Most often as a bassist, he has accompanied such legends as the above-mentioned Chuck Berry, Hubert Sumlin, Pinetop Perkins, and Jimmy Rogers. He describes his work as great American Roots 'n' roll, which is well-reflected in these musical compositions. These are original tracks and standards, arranged for large instrumentation. Violin, accordion, keyboards, a reed section, bottleneck guitar, double bass, and percussion allow for the many stylistic nuances. In addition to dance rock 'n' roll, which is the defining style of this material, there are also other interesting musical influences. You can hear the sounds of Louisiana, more specifically the music of the descendants of French settlers called Cajuns, and another French inspiration—Gypsy jazz. Both of these styles have a strong connection to country and bluegrass. As a result, the folk music of the American South becomes the second strong trend in their universe, but that's not the end…On his musical journey, Vickers also takes us to the streets of New Orleans, and to Texas, where we are rocked by the so-called Texas Swing. All of this is held together by a light, good-humored form. Seemingly carefree, because it is a bit gritty and a bit unruly, but it sounds simply brilliant! The nonchalance of the performer and the sense of humor make this music swing incredibly! It is homey, danceable and positive, because, as the hero himself says: “The Music Gets Us Thru”…just about anything! 
—Bozena Mazur TWO BLUES, Poland

THERE IS NOTHING NOT TO LIKE ABOUT THIS ALBUM. NOTHING!
“Dumb Like A Fox” is the opening number on the album. For me, it has a 50’s style vibe around it. Sort of in-between rockabilly and 12-bar blues. A very enjoyable mash-mash of style to gently ease you into the album “Take It Slow” is an old Jimmy Reed number that is brilliantly executed here. The subtle harmonies of the vocals, guitar and harmonica creep up on you. Brad’s voice is like velvet. Distinctive with a smooth mellow tone. After just a couple of tracks, this album is appealing to me on every level.  What makes this album different is the twists and turns that it takes musically without losing direction...This whole band ooze charisma...The whole album is so warm and friendly. Nothing harsh or brash, just a fine bunch of musicians that are tight and on the same wavelength...Not only does Vickers have an outstanding vocal in his repertoire, but he’s also very adept with the guitar. There is nothing not to like about this album. Nothing. This is not your typical blues album as such. It’s impossible to pigeonhole the album. It has blues, jazz, swing, and everything in-between. What is does have is class, in spades. “When I Am Drinking” is a nod and a wonk to the blues legend that is J.B. Lenoir. He wrote this tune and I’m certain that he would be very happy with the version that adorns this fine album. “The Music Gets Us Thru” has hit the right note here.
—Stephen Harrison, BLUES MATTERS UK

BEST ENJOYED START TO FINISH!
"Guitarist/songwriter Brad Vickers describes his style as "Great American Roots 'n' Roll." It's an apt label for the sounds he and his band, The Vestapolitans, create on "The Music Gets Us Thru". Vickers boasts and impressive track records performing and touring with some of the blues' elder statesmen. His resume includes stints with Pinetop Perkins, Bo Diddley, and Hubert Sumlin. Vickers' time spent working with blues elders has given him a great appreciation for the art of restraint. His smooth, understated vocals and The Vestapolitans' gentle swing generate the kind of warmth one would feel after a sip of fine bourbon.

The Vickers original, "Dumb Like A Fox" is a good introduction to his low-key approach. Bassist Margey Peters and drummer Bill Rankin keep a rolling backbeat behind Vickers' guitar and vocals. The two-piece sax section of Jim Davis (tenor) and V.D. King (baritone) fatten up the sound. The band performs a lively cover of Jimmy Reed's "Take It Slow", with Mikey Junior's harp and Vickers' wonderfully old-school guitar leads getting plenty of room to shine. 

In the liner notes, Vickers indicates that he usually includes a Tampa Red cover on each of his albums. The band's reading of Whittaker's "I'll Never Let You Go" is anchored by Vickers' vocals and always tasteful guitar work. Peters sings some sweet harmony vocals and Davis brightens up the arrangement with a clarinet solo.

As the term "Roots 'n' Roll" implies, Brad Vickers and The Vestapolitans' repertoire goes beyond the blues. The title track, written by Peters, owes a strong debt to Chuck Berry. Vickers' vocals and Davis' sax overflow with joy and Dave Keyes' piano channels Johnnie Johnson. "I'll Be Sittin' I'll Be Rockin' " is a perky slice of rhythm and blues that's livened up by V.D. King on accordion. 

Brad Vickers' laid-back style is best enjoyed start to finish, with the laptop and smart phone safely out of reach. Vickers' music is a refuge from today's overstimulated world, and for that, we can all be grateful.
—jon Kleinman, LIVING BLUES  US

A DELIGHT FOR BLUES FANS
"A new release from Brad Vickers and his Vestapolitans always brings a smile to my face.  His brand of blues always gives a loving nod to the blues of the past, updating it nicely with a mix of new songs and interesting, sometimes obscure covers...It’s always a pleasure to hear these guys make music.  Their sound is based in the traditional blues, but their creative musical arrangements and instrumentation, as well as their inspired songwriting, makes each Vestapolitan recording a delight for blues fans.  The Music Gets Us Thru is no exception."
—Graham Clarke, BLUES BYTES, US

MOST GRATIFYING!
"Between blues, rock, folk, boogie, jump, cajun, Texas swing, this album, which sounds like a production of the 60s, features 12 songs made from original compositions and covers like “Take It Slow” by Jimmy Reed, “I'll Never Let You Go” by Tampa Red and “When I'm Drinking” by JB Lenoir. And this brilliantly executed variety of styles is most enjoyable to listen to...This dive into the depths of American musical heritage is most gratifying."
—Gilles Blampain BLUES AGAIN, France

WITHOUT A DOUBT, FUN!
“Veteran of the American blues, guitarist, bassist, singer and songwriter, Brad Vickers has collaborated with many leading artists (Pinetop Perkins, Jimmy Rogers, Hubert Sumlin, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry ...) and was part, as a bassist, of the Little Mike's Tornadoes. At the helm of his Vestapolitans he pursues a personal project as a band leader, and “The Music Gets Us Thru” is the fruit of their most recent recording sessions. As in the cover of the previous “Twice As Nice” (2019), the protagonist is a typical vehicle of the 1950s, specifically a truck, a sort of visual preview of the musical content. The main nucleus of the band is composed, in addition to Brad Vickers (guitar vocals, bottleneck guitar), of Margey Peters (vocals, bass), Bill Rankin (drums) and Jim Davis (sax, clarinet) assisted in some pieces by other proven and renowned musicians, Dave Gross (guitar), Charles Burnham (violin), Mikey Junior (harmonica and vocals), Dean Shot (guitar), and Dave Keyes (keyboards and piano). “The Music Gets Us Thru” contains twelve songs, two thirds of which are authored by Brad Vickers or Margey Peters, plus some covers, among which “Take It Slow”, borrowed from the repertoire of Jimmy Reed, and “When I Am Drinking” by J. B. Lenoir, stand out. Vintage sound, the use of horns, the alternation of solo voices—the masculine of Brad Vickers, the feminine of Margey Peters—rockabilly blues, and rock & roll characterize the spirit of the album that could be the ideal soundtrack of a cinematic remake of American Graffiti. Very distinct is “Big Wind”, a sort of ragtime, with Charles Burnham's violin in the foreground, anomalous, compared to the other songs, because it is closer in sound to the 1930s. If we had to choose just one adjective to define “The Music Gets Us Thru”, it would, without a doubt, be fun. But fun that does not come at the expense of quality, but is a complement to it, that contributes to making an album of remarkable level.”
—Stefano Tognoni, IL POPOLO DEL BLUES, Italy

A JOLT OF SHEER JOY
"Every time I get a new Brad Vickers record, I get a jolt of sheer joy. It is a given that it will not disappoint. I’ve featured several of his albums in Blues News, but still the versatility of the man and the band comes as a surprise. Whether it's rock and roll, swing jazz, or plain blues, everything is held with the same devotion and piety. If the operation of this machine were able to be analyzed, then one could say there is only one conclusion. “Everything that swings”, fits Vickers & His Vestapolitans better than well.

I haven’t made any statistical mathematical comparisons, but this singularity plays an exceptionally big role in the blues, at least in terms of the covers. Jimmy Reed is a clear and natural role model for the group, so “Take it Slow” swings and sways with ease. Tampa Red's original “I’ll Never Let You Go” has been adapted very surprisingly. The clever and witty approach could even be called old-timey rock and roll, I didn’t come up with a better term, and the cut is crowned by a rollicking clarinet solo. There’s “I’ll Be Sittin’, I'll Be Rockin’”, which doesn’t live up to its name because the playing now is so crisp that no one can sit down. Likewise, tempo choice makes a nice rough version of J.B. Lenoir “When When I’m Drinking”.

Brad Vickers is a great singer, but at the same time Margey Peters, who also plays bass, and has some solos, and has such a personal voice that she stands out from the crowd. Written by Margey herself, “Big Wind” exudes a mix of Western swing and Gypsy jazz, and the end result is a nice sound painted with vintage strokes. By the way, Margey is a producer of the album.

“Now It’s Time For Me To Sing The Blues”, on the other hand, showcases Margey’s skills on a timeless ballad. The most original of Margey's performances is the somewhat blues-like hit “Grab My Car Keys”, on which she plays bass with a slide (Slide bass). “Birds on My Family Tree” also washes over you with a handsome medium swing, which in itself does not contain anything surprising, but which works handsomely.

The fun opening rally “Dumb Like A Fox” goes back to the peak of old time rocking. The title track “The Music Get Us Thru” works as an idea on many levels, but this bustling cut actually takes place in the on-the-road setting. Don’t get exhausted by the momentum of “What In The World”, where goodwill is the most important element. “Please Don’t Say”, on the other hand, is a stylish R&B two-beat that is crowned by a tasty saxophone solo.

If any of the readers still feel Brad Vickers & His Vestapoltians is a weird name, then I recommend a quick look. Those familiar with the subject, on the other hand, know how to anticipate the group's musical unpredictability."
—Mikke Nojd BLUES NEWS, Finland

AN ENJOYABLE SATURDAY NIGHT!
The gentle swing of the Vestapolitans and the sober, unadorned singing of Brad Vickers, as unadorned and frugal as that of his guitar, evoke an unusual old-time warmth. Their musical style, self-described as "Great American Roots 'n' Roll", whatever that means, seems to mean the right thing for what the ear hears: a clear devotion to Chuck Berry, testified by the title track and to the classic blues...as well as the love for sound, the atmosphere of the 50s, the boogie and an undisguised sympathy for rockabilly .

The sound compass is covered here in every cardinal point, even with the addition, as needed, of violins, accordions and even clarinets, just to give a hint of Cajun or Dixieland..gives a generous serving of fat to the sound, all helping to define a musical framing of the past. Even the tone of voice of bassist Margey Peters who, occasionally conquers the microphone, helps to make the clock turn backward, and fast. Lastly, the guests of Mikey Junior on the harmonica and Dave Keyes on the piano are added to make the picture of an enjoyable Saturday night believable! 
-Giovanni Robino, MACALLE BLUES, Italy

BLUES IN ALL ITS RICHNESS AND BRILLIANCE
"Brad and his company perform both their original songs and well-known blues standards deeply, honestly without any pretense, and deliver their blues in all its richness and brilliance. If you love acoustic-electric traditional blues, which is deeply involved in the traditional richness of black American music, this is the right choice for you."
—Mladen Loncar, THE BLUES CORNER, SOUNDGUARDIAN, Croatia

NEVER STOPS ENTERTAINING
"As versatile as they are talented, they draw on Cajun music, blues, roots rock, jazz, pop, and folk. The result is an album that features many twists and turns but never stops entertaining."
—Jeff Burger, JEFFBERGER.COM, US

PLEASING AND AMAZING FROAM START TO FINISH!
“Final of the summer in blues. What a satisfaction is the return of Brad Vickers & His Vestapolitans who never misses a beat with his old friends. The Music Gets Us Thru, (Man Hat Tone) is pleasing and amazing from start to finish. In addition to the jumping and danceable title-track, the cover songs such as "I'll Never Let You Go" by Tampa Red and "When I Am Drinking” by JB Lenoir arouse enthusiasm, as do those penned by the dual leaders such as "Grab My Car Keys“ and "Dumb Like A Fox”.”
—Gianlucca Diana, MOJO STATION, Italy

GOOD NATURED...PLUS WITTY SONGWRITING
New York-based Brad Vickers and His Vestapolitans' good-natured The Music Gets Us Thru (Man Hat Tone) does exactly that with Louisiana-flavored blues and rock plus witty writing from vocalist Margey Peters. Her “Birds on My Family Tree” sounds like she's versed in the 1930s-40s Golden Age of Songwriting.
—Bruce Sylvester, GOLDMINE US

ANOTHER ENJOYABLE, VERY ENTERTAINING RELEASE
Singer/guitarist/bandleader Brad Vickers, bassist and vocalist Margey Peters, and a reliable crew of drummer Bill Rankin and saxman Jim Davis (plus some fine guests) continue their tradition of making very listenable albums of blues and roots music with this release, their seventh. There are plenty of fine originals, ranging from the rocking sound of “What In The World” (nice slide, Brad!) to Margey’s soulful, torchy “slowie”, “Now It’s Time For Me To Sing The Blues”. There is the obligatory Tampa Red cover with “I’ll Never Let You Go”, and excellent versions of Jimmy Reed’s “Take It Slow” and Larry Darnell’s “I’ll Be Sittin’, I’ll Be Rockin’”, and J. B. Lenoir’s “When I Am Drinking”, the latter a fine, tightly-controlled way to finish of another enjoyable, very entertaining release.
—Norman Darwen, BLUES & RHYTHM, UK

ROOTS AND ROLL TO THE MAX; Encapsulating the Entire Stars & Stripes with Taste, Touch and Passion
"The Music Gets Us Thru is a thoroughly enjoyable album that delivers a diverse mix of great American music. What did tickle me though, there are no deep throated growls or screams, no “y’all’s” or “baby done left me’s,” with everything under perfectly lovely control with crystal clear annunciation too. Brad Vickers & His Vestapolitans sure can play ‘Roots & Roll’ to the max; encapsulating the entire Stars & Stripes with taste, touch, passion and enthusiasm. I’m now going back in search of their back catalogue of 6 previous releases and I strongly suggest you ought to consider the same."
—Jack Kidd, THE ROCKING MAGPIE, UK

A FINE ALBUM!
"“The Music Gets Us Thru” traverses the entire palette of variants of the style. There is no string racing here, just musicians who all play at the service of the song, and perform in a very tasteful way. In short, a fine album." 
—Martin Van Der Velde, BLUES N ROOTS CORNER, Netherlands

INDISPUTABLE PROOF
" “The Music Gets Us Thru” by Brad Vickers and His Vestapolitans is indisputable proof that music helps everyone feel good through dark days…”.
—Eric Schuurmans, ROOTSTIME, Belgium

A FOOTSTOMPING COLLECTION
"Guitarist and warm toned vocalist Brad Vickers delivers blues and boogies along with vocalist/composer Margey Peters for a footstomping collection of mostly originals. Peters belts out a gospel inflected “Now It’s Time For Me To Sing The Blues” and is a hoot on “Birds On My Family Tree” and “When I Am Drinking”. The team of Bill Rankin/dr, Peters/b, Dave Gross/g, Dave Keyes/p-org and Jim Davis–VD King/reeds mix and match as Vickers sings along to his Chuck Berry riffs on “What In The World” and the title tune. Some nice Delta work by Vickers on the bottle neck teams with Peters on the swampy folk of “Grab My Car Keys”, and Charlie Burnham brings in his violin for some western swing on “Big Wind”, while Mikey Junior blows a Lake Michigan wind on his harp for “Take It Slow”. Two stepping the blues on this night out."  —George W. Harris, JAZZ WEEKLY, US

NOT ONLY FUN, BUT INVENTIVE AND SKILLFULLY RENDERED!
"They have a great feel for the vintage sounds and the album succeeds on the merits of the varying instrumental configurations that are not only fun but inventive and skillfully rendered."
—Jim Hynes, MAKING A SCENE, US

GREAT TOE-TAPPING FUN!
"It’s all great, toe-tapping fun, both musically and lyrically, the sort of album that leaves you with a smile on your face. The album, Brad says, is “in memory of those we lost, in honor of the front-line and essential workers and in gratitude for all the great music that got us thru.” That’s a fine sentiment, and as the pandemic lingers, we need as much of this sort of good, positive music as we can get."
—Gary Burnett, DOWN AT THE CROSSROADS, UK

ALL SOUNDS GREAT! 4 1/2 STARS!
"As an accomplished guitarist, Brad opens with the swinging rocker 'Dumb Like A Fox'. Blazing, his incendiary guitar riffs and a swampy accordion feeling color the song. A Chicago blues inspired harmonica tune diverges with loads of Chuck Berry guitar riffs in songs like “Take It Slow”. Time for an early-sixties [style] soul ballad with “Please Don't Say”. The saxophone arrangements are again a constant in the song. They harmonize with the swinging bluegrass songs “Big Wind” and “I'll Never Let You Go”. Berry's famously-influenced guitar riffs also color the title track, “The Music Gets Us Thru,” and that sultry tenor sax gives stature to the swinging rockers “Now It's Time For Me To Sing The Blues” and “What In The World”. We go to the Delta for the acoustic “Grab My Car Keys”. The jazzy tracks “I'll Be Sittin', I'll Be Rockin” and “Birds On My Family Tree” continue with the closing “When I Am Drinking”. The record “The Music Gets Us Thru” is an album that is full of many blues sub-styles: Blues, swinging rock songs, some Chuck Berry-inspired guitar riffs, some bluegrass, jazz, and a rare ballad. So, That all sounds great..! 4 1/2 stars!"
—Philip Verhaege, KEYS AND CHORDS, Belgium

SHOULD BE A GREAT SUCCESS!
"The guitarist continues to distill his beautiful notes for an audience fond of blues, roots ’n’ roll, and American music, offering a subtle mix of original pieces and neat covers in which he strives to infuse a little of his personality and his particular style. Brad Vickers put this new cake in the oven just before the first lockdown and has endeavored to offer an anthology of pieces in which he pays homage to an entire, very wide artistic palette. Looking from time to time to the other side of the Delta, but also regularly towards the rhythms coming from Louisiana in general, and New Orleans in particular. We are easily carried away by [original] compositions like “Dumb Like A Fox”, “Big Wind”, “Now It's Time For Me To Sing The Blues” and “Birds On My Family Tree”, but also by classics like “Take It Slow” by Jimmy Reed, “I'll Never Let You Go” by Tampa Red, “I'll Be Sittin', I'll Be Rockin'” by Larry Darnell, and of course, “When I'm Drinking” by JB Lenoir. We appreciate the duality of the voices, Brad Vickers' masculine vocals contrasting with the feminine vocals of Margey Peters, and finally, bringing to "The Music Gets Us Thru" the little cachet [(style)] that suits him so well. Strolling between joie de vivre and melancholy, this new work by Brad Vickers And His Vestapolitans should be a great success upon its release on September 7th!"
—Fred Delforge, ZICAZINE,  France

JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED
"Good music has certainly made the last couple of years bearable for many of us, and Vickers’ brand of old school boogie-woogie is just what the doctor ordered if you’ll pardon the pun.  A mix of originals and covers of long time favorites, this disc is splendid company...Like Brad himself notes, “as always we celebrate the music that we love, and the styles that have influenced us; blues, folk, jump and great American roots ‘n’ roll”, and that’s the secret to the success they’ve enjoyed thus far: making the music that turns them on...The blues is, by and large, a simple, honest and straightforward art form, and the humanity found in the songs on “The Music Gets Us Thru” is a treat. Let the joy and conviction that these tunes are played and sung with wander into other areas of your life, and I bet you’ll have more good days than bad."
—John Kereiff, The Rock Doctor, GO, GONZO OKANAGAN, Canada

A FUN NIGHT OUT!
Guitarist and warm-toned vocalist Brad Vickers delivers blues and boogies along with vocalist/composer Margey Peters for a foot-stomping collection of mostly originals. Peters sings a gospel number that says "Now It's Time For Me To Sing The Blues" and she is a hoot on "Birds On My Family Tree" and "When I Am Drinking". Some nice Delta work from Vickers on the bottleneck teams with Peters on a swampy folk from "Grab My Car Keys" and Charlie Burnham brings in his fiddle for some western swing on "Big Wind" while Mikey Junior blows a Lake Michigan wind on his harp for "Take It Slow". Two step the blues on this fun night out.
—Freddy Celis, ROOTSVILLE, Belgium

THIS ALBUM IS A MUST HAVE
"The Music Gets Us Thru" by Brad Vickers And His Vestapolitans is a very pleasant and varied album. For the music lovers who still crave the music of the fifties and sixties, this album is a must have.
—Walter VanHeuckelom CONCERT MONKEY, Belgium

TRUE TO THEIR ROOTS...A FUN SET OF TUNES
"He’s got a new old time sound, blending the sounds from days of yore with new songs and interesting covers. Vickers fronts the band and plays guitar and occasional bass. Margey Peters shares in fronting the band and handles most of the bass duties. Bill Rankin is solid on the drums. Jim Davis is super as saxophonist throughout. V.D. King helped produce the album and adds many an instrument throughout. Vickers’ vocals are probably delivered here as well, if not better than, any of their albums. These guys and gal are dedicated to their craft."
—Steve Jones, BLUES BLAST MAGAZINE, US

A LOVELY MIX OF BLUES, RAGTIME, ROOTS 'N' ROLL
Brad Vickers is back with his Vestapolitans with a new release, following 2019’s “Twice As Nice”, with the apt title, “The Music Gets Us Thru”.Recorded just before lockdown, the album brings us more of the camaraderie and good vibes of its predecessor. The core group of Vickers on guitar & vocals, Margey Peters on bass & vocals, drummer Bill Rankin on drums, and Jim Davis on saxophones is backed by an assortment of friends and musical cohorts, playing a lovely mix of blues, ragtime, hill country, and roots ’n’ roll. Jimmy Reed’s “Take It Slow” features some nice work from guests Mikey Junior and Dean Shot on harmonica and lead guitar. Margey Peters’ “Big Wind” sounds like a favorite old standard, and is supported by V.D. King’s upright bass, wrapped with Charlie Burnham’s violin and Dave Gross’s fat-toned but old school guitar flourishes. The title track might be assumed to be about current events, but is actually describing the tribulations of playing on the road, behind some classic honky tonk piano by Dave Keyes. “What In The World” features Vickers playing slide throughout in “Vastapol” tuning, commonly known as open tuning. As in “Twice As Nice”, Margey Peters’ songs and vocals play a large role enabling Vickers to lay back in the comfortable role of side-man. Alternating between the two different vocal style of Vickers and Peters creates a nice contrast for the listener. On Tampa Red’s “I’ll Never Let You Go”, Jim Davis ditches his sax in favor of the clarinet, lending an even more old-time feel to the number.Listening to “The Music Gets Us Thru” is like getting together with some nice old friends for a pleasant evening after not seeing each other for a couple of years.
—Bob Monteleone, BIG CITY BLUES, US

I HAVE NO DOUBT...A FRESH TAKE!
Brad Vickers a veteran of the modern blues community, brings us another helping of rhythm, blues, and vintage rock ’n’ roll. The title of the album, “The Music Gets Us Thru”, stands especially poignant during these unusually blues-y times. Throughout the album, Vickers remains true to the necessities of an essential blues record. The rhythm section screams of authenticity with wife [sic] Margey Peters on bass alongside Bill Rankin on drums (with V.D. King providing the upright bass on tracks four and eight). The guitar work by Dave Gross, Dean Shot, and Vickers himself provides a down-home top layer to the solid under-workings of the band. Many blues enthusiasts would argue that keys are a necessity for the best of blues recordings, and as such they are present on select tracks performed by Dave Keyes and King. Finally, a funky horn section rides above the air space of several songs throughout the album, providing a city slickness to an already clever album....Vickers excels is in his arrangements and songwriting.

Vickers continues to contribute more range to the album with early rock ’n’ roll styled tunes. “What In The World,” and the title track. On both, the listeners is provided with a candid rock ’n' roll experience. On “The Music Gets Us Thru,” the rhythm section gives the feeling or a tour bus constantly rolling on, without breaks, detailing the taxing life of a musician on the road. As Vickers assures us, however, the music gets us through.

Vickers’ band will not disappoint any passionate listener of the blues. The album displays a variety of sounds, all the while allowing his influences to show unreservedly. Vickers dips deep into the common blues canon that we have all come to love and comes out with a fresh take reflection the goings-on in the current political and social landscape. I have no doubt “The Music Gets Us Thru.” —Max Kaplan, BLUES MUSIC MAGAZINE, US