When guitarist Josh Fulero and harmonica player Greg Izor join forces on stage, it is more than good timin’ blues, but the chemistry of the two close friends bound by their music. They are doing what they love. Playing the blues Austin-style and genuinely having fun. By the third song into the set Fulero kicked into the old Jimmy Reed classic I Ain’t Got You and rockin’ and continued to rock house without letting up. Next up, he performed I’m Going to Make You Mine.  A song that had a southern-soul vibe as Fulero played gentle passing notes between a slow groove Memphis-style rhythm. A song to grab your partner and sway to the beat too.

After warming up the crowd, enter harmonica virtuoso Greg Izor. With a warm Texas drawl, he is all personality who really connects with the audience. Now a Madrid resident, Izor has helped bring the band together with the help of his harmonica buddy, Valencia’s own blues master Danny Boy Sánchez. Thus bringing together bassist Fran Moreno, keyboardist David Sam, and Californian transplant turned local blues drummer, John Craver. The killer rhythm section for Fulero and Izor.

They launched in one of Izor’s chuggin’ romps Alabama.  This has the crowd hooting and clapping. Slowing the groove to a nice bounce with Izor’s Hold On was a great number. Mid-song Sam’s brilliant honky tonk piano solo preceded Izor harp. Together, they fit hand-in-glove.

A tender ballet slowed the vibe with Fulero’s well-crafted guitar solo and Sam’s barrelhouse piano solo. It was soulful and captivating. Then one of Izor’s catchy tunes. It’s a confessional plea to keep his girl with What’s It Going To… which is a bouncing shuffle.

The next jam was a slow-12 bar blues tempo. The slower the beat, the greater the musical emotion. Fulero, Izor and Sam swapped tasty solos. After paying tribute to Wee Willie Wayne the show wrapped up with Danny Boy Sánchez jumping on stage to trade harmonica licks with Izor. A real treat. A memorable way to highlight the evening.

Report by Philip Solomonson

Photos copyright Phillip Solomonson/ ‘24/7 Valencia’