memphis

Eric Krasno Band live at Minglewood Hall

via Memphis Flyer

Eric Krasno, the guitarist and founding member of Soulive and Lettuce, is bringing his new band to Minglewood Hall on April 26th supporting Gov’t Mule, and it may be a case of the opener alone being worth the price of admission. 

Krasno made his name in the rock-and-roll business as a guitarist and producer, but Blood from a Stone, his first album as a singer and front man, makes a strong case that his place is behind a microphone. With Blood from a Stone, Krasno crafted an album that embraces the common ground between funk, soul, and the blues, and for good measure, he’s thrown in some cosmic gypsy-soul of the Van Morrison Astral Weeks variety. 

Blood from a Stone has yielded some stellar singles so far, amalgamations of vital elements of soul, funk, and blues. On “Jezebel,” the drums’ syncopated shuffle, light on hi-hat hits, paired with a soul-style strumming pattern give the song a sultry, tropical feel that sets it apart from the regional blues styles more common in the Bluff City. This isn’t Beale Street blues or Delta blues. Though the song’s lyrics — with mentions of both heaven and hell and of the devil and the titular Jezebel — embrace blues themes of temptation and salvation, the Biblical language coupled with the desert imagery of Blood from a Stone and the recurring motifs of smoke, fire, and open eyes in the song’s music video call to mind visions of exotic locations and ancient mysticism. 

As with “Jezebel,” the music video for “On the Rise” begins with a shot of an eye opening, set against a black background. The bass riff, pushed to the forefront, is a pulsing groove, propelling the song, and the funk and jazz influences from Lettuce and Soulive are suddenly glaringly obvious. Krasno pours his vocals over the track, a smooth stream of soulful melody, making it clear that this guitarist is equally comfortable behind a microphone. 

Get to Minglewood early on Wednesday night for a taste of soul, funk, jazz, and six shades of the blues. Before Gov’t Mule tear the roof off with their Southern-fried rock, Krasno and his band are sure to bring the groove.

Gov’t Mule with Eric Krasno at Minglewood Hall, Wednesday, April 26th at 8 p.m. $30-35.