Hamilton Loomis - Kickin' It (2003)

Young Texas guitarist Hamilton Loomis' first disc for Blind Pig, Kickin' It, is a mixed bag of modern blues, modern funk, and slick soul. As a young man getting started in the blues, Loomis was mentored by Lone Star State legends Albert Collins, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, and Johnny Copeland. He seems proud to use those names in interviews and press releases, and rightfully so! You sense he is genuinely honored to have been taken under the wing of these elder statesmen. So, it comes as a bit of a surprise in the Kickin' It liner notes when Loomis brags, "This ain't yo' Grandpa's blues record," and how he's going to take "blues out of the box." If you associate Loomis' mentors with "grandpa's blues record," you probably won't get much enjoyment from Kickin' It.