California Man - Love Is Where Your Life Begins

I first came across John Aguon around 1992 after hearing the incredible Heads EP from his band Dead, White and Blue, and then having the chance to see them live.  They were getting ready to head into the studio to record their debut album Sonic Medicine For A Sick Nation for MCA Records, which unfortunately ended up being shelved by the label.  Having finally been able to hear that incredible album years later I firmly believe the band and album would have been huge (check it out here - Dead, White and Blue).  While they were recording that debut, he met Stephen DeBoard, drummer for the band Slammin’ Gladys, who was living in the apartment upstairs from him.  Over the ensuing years the two of them worked together in different bands, including a later incarnation of Dead, White and Blue, the alt country rock band Gypsy Sons and now California Man.  The roots of California Man started in approximately 2017 when Aguon called up DeBoard and said he’d been listening to songs Stephen had written over the years and wanted to know if they could record some of them with John singing.  He also wanted the freedom to do them in a way that worked for him stylewise and as a band with Thomas Ross Johansen on keys and Thom Arthur Richards on bass.  The resulting EP, Love Is Where Your Life Begins, contains three originals and a cover of Dylan’s “Like A Rolling Stone”, and is outstanding from start to finish, with well-crafted and arranged songs and great sounding production.  The musicianship is top-notch and John’s guitar work tends to give the songs an element that really sets them apart.  Kicking the EP off is “Positive Flow”, a strong rock track with an infectious psychedelic groove that is not so unlike a heavier version of the best of Enuff Z’Nuff.  There is also a really cool bass line that pops up at times through the song that gives it an unusual, yet catchy, thump.  “Eternal Dynamite” is a solid straight-ahead rocker with a bouncy, head-bopping beat, and the acoustic “Hey Man” has some killer vocal harmonies that give it a bit of a King’s X feel with some nice guitar flourishes and gentle piano (DeBoard also released a somewhat different version of this on his 2019 solo album).  They close the EP with their take on “Like A Rolling Stone”, which maintains the vibe of the original but gives it a bit of an edge, highlighted with Aguon's distinctive vocals and some great guitar work.  While only four songs, there is plenty of diversity here to keep thing fresh, which gives them unlimited potential for future releases.    

(California Man - Facebook)