· CRAIG ERICKSON - Big Highway (GYR030) ·

::T R A C K S::

01. River Keeps On Rollin'
02. Take Me Home
03. Big Highway
04. Matter Of Time
05. In The Sky
06. Through With You
07. For Your Love
08. Miracle
09. Midnight Light
10. Driverless Train
11. Stratus


FORMAT: Audio CD / Digipack
GYR030 - $14.99

"Big Highway", the remarkable sixth solo studio disc from outstanding blues/rock axeslinger Craig Erickson features 11 awesome tracks (59 minutes) of top-shelf, world-class, bluesy, soul-powered, heavy guitar rock that burns brightly and is definitely his most complete, accomplished and satisfying disc to date. A classic, timeless bluesy heavy guitar masterpiece. Craig Erickson is an amazing, gifted blues/rock guitarist who is a certifiable fretboard axeripper supreme. He is one of the best, most underrated bluesy heavy guitar axemasters on the 3rd stone from the sun. On "Big Highway" (his second disc for GROOVEYARD RECORDS, an indie label dedicated to outstanding TOTAL GUITAR music), Erickson spotlights his songwriting skills, using his fluid and fiery guitar work to get the blues/rock point across. Right from the killer opening track: "River Keeps on Rollin’" (a ballsy roadhouse stompin’ bluesy heavy guitar riff groove) on thru to the last awesome track: Stratus (a mind-blowing, bad-ass, over-the-top "live in the studio" tribute to brother Tommy Bolin), the "Big Highway" disc cuts deep, hard & bluesy and never lets the listener down. It’s no secret, there is something for everyone on the "Big Highway" disc. It is an incredible, focused, solid, dynamic musical document from this amazing, prolific axemaster and is an awesome follow-up to the excellent "Shine" disc released on Grooveyard Records several years back. All the way from Cedar Rapids, Iowa straight to your cd player, Craig Erickson really delivers the blues/rock guitar goods on the "Big Highway" disc.

"Big Highway" is a phenomenal bluesy heavy guitar disc that is HIGHLY recommended to fans of HENDRIX (long live the musical spirit of JIMI), ROBIN TROWER, FRANK MARINO, TOMMY BOLIN, S.R.V., JOHNNY WINTER, RORY GALLAGHER, ERIC GALES, LANCE LOPEZ, JOE BONAMASSA, WALTER TROUT, WARREN HAYNES, ERIC JOHNSON, INDIGENOUS, DOYLE BRAMHALL, BUDDAHEADS, TONY SPINNER, SKY HIGH, MICHAEL KATON, JEFF HEALEY, CHRIS AARON, VAN WILKS, and other killer blues/rock axemasters who know what time of day it is when it comes down to serious heavy guitar riffage. Fans of Craig Erickson’s many previous discs and guest spots will be blown away completely by the deep, bluesy heavy guitar magic found on the amazing "Big Highway" disc. And if you have never heard of Craig Erickson, "Big Highway" is the perfect place to start.

If you love killer bluesy heavy guitar music and need a new fix, do yourself a favor and get on the boogie train & dig in deep, musical brothers and sisters. With twin barrels burning and a six-string shotgun full of groove, take a ride with Craig Erickson down the "Big Highway" of life. This is one outstanding bluesy heavy guitar trip you won’t soon forget.


MP3 Sample Clips

01. River Keeps On Rollin'
02. Take Me Home
03. Big Highway
04. Matter Of Time
05. In The Sky
06. Through With You
07. For Your Love
08. Miracle
09. Midnight Light
10. Driverless Train
11. Stratus

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· reviews ·

A string shaker of the first order, Craig Erickson pulls from a thick book that's buried deep in his soul on his latest release, "Big Highway." This cat has quite a pedigree - a constantly in-demand session ace (check out his smokin' riffs on ex-Trapeze/Deep Purple bassist Glenn Hughes "Blues", among countless others) and an established artist in his own right (his incredible "Shine" must be heard to be believed...if you don't have it, shame on you).

This CD defines what emotive, soulful guitar playing was meant to be. Mr. Erickson is at once a lyrical dream spinner; tone king; master of the groove; superkiller chopmeister, slinky slide shaker; a true deep-feel soul-filled riff machine. And if that isn't enough, his smoky single-malt smooth vocals complement the grooves perfectly.

On "Big Highway," every tune stands on its own, but there's something unique and different about this disc that hit me really hard...each track is a separate yet connected piece comprising a much broader vision. There's a resonance between tracks on this release unlike anything I can remember (Pink Floyd's "The Wall" comes to mind in spirit, NOT in feel) - every tune is one thread in a musical loom, each interwoven with the others to create a cohesive tapestry of grooving soundscapes and deeply felt lyrics with one unified message - a musical picture of life lived, of experiences shared. The penultimate liner notes sum it up this way: "Part fact, part fiction...loves found and lost, loneliness, addiction, hope and redemption, moonlight, rivers, apocalyptic visions, night trains, stars and seasons, raging storms and faith for survival...always searching, through the country and the cities, for love and music and meaning...riding through space and time...on the Big Highway."

Check out "In The Sky" - a hypnotic down and dirty pulse groove with a searing...yet dreamy...wah solo that screams out a plaintive plea that complements the compelling lyric, "I'm looking for you in the sky." "For Your Love" is a morphed-up bluesy, funky oil-slick of a groove that should be up for "Rhythm Guitar Figure of the Year." It features a great lead tradeoff between Craig and fellow fretman Jason Leroy that's must be heard to be believed - fabulous, inspired riffage. Unreal. On "Midnight Light," it's goose bump time - this one has a mean, low down pulsegroove with an incredible Hendrixian-inflected chorus that displays Craig's wonderful mastery of silky chordal nuance...the solo that takes this track out weaves a psychotronic minor-major melodic web that is true musical joy. Just when you thought the ride was over, a one-off "live in the studio" version of Billy Cobham's "Stratus" takes us to the end of the Big Highway...whoever decided to press "Record" should get some kind of award for perfect timing. On this 7+ minute slice of melodic mayhem, Craig unleashes some pretty fierce demons in this improvisational smackdown of a jam. He's all over the place...inside, outside, over, under, sideways and down. WAY down. Inspired and spontaneous, this track is like graduate school for improvisational musical expression. Very powerful stuff.

The Art Of The Guitar is alive and well and on display...on the Big Highway. It's a musical journey not to be missed...and like any great trip, it's something you'll remember and treasure long after it's over.

JIMMY RYAN (TRUTH SQUAD) (10.07)


Craig Erickson's guitar playing sends us back in time to when the guitar ruled supreme and guitar gods were the order of the day. Many may have forgotten Erickson's contribution to Glenn Hughes' 1993 "Blues" album (co-writing 10 songs). He later toured with Hughes on the reformed '94 Trapeze tour and in 1998 on the Tommy Bolin tribute tour. Erickson has too many influences to count, though he sticks primarily to blues rock legends Clapton, Hendrix, Beck and Page. On Big Highway, his sixth solo studio record, he mines heavily from the '70s, crossing trails with Robin Trower, ZZ Top and The Allman Brothers. Big riff numbers include "River Keeps On Rollin'," the southern-fried "Take Me Home" and Texas-baked "Through With You". Erickson is supported by bassist Fred "Fingers" Benson, drummers Jeremy Ackley and David Morgan with guest guitarist Jason Leroy on the scratching "For Your Love". The strong backbeat section lays low in the pocket while Erickson fuels it up with solo spurts layered over his rhythm runs.

Title track, "Big Highway", is the kind of mid-tempo barnstormer Canadian rocker Tom Cochrane would be proud of. The road song has an inflectious thump and gliding solo that extends the entire track, landing it somewhere between country pop and retro rock. His vocal is subtle and engaging when storytelling. It complements his playing but never overpowers. Erickson pulls back the amplification and locks in on his side to get the textured "Matter Of Time" and the melodic electric build of "In The Sky". Darker progressive numbers "Miracle" and the 7-minute "Stratus" are tailor-made Trower English blues that find Erickson slowing down and stretching out. His ability to add color with the guitar and orchestrate jazzy bits is stunning. Two of the more exciting numbers arrive toward the end of the album in the form of the swamp ballad "Midnight Light" and blues-soaked "Driverless Train". He gathers the full energy with passion and emotion that are key to the success of each of the record's eleven cuts.

Todd K. Smith (Cutting Edge) (11.07)


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