He’s been mentored by Billy Gibbons and Johnny Winter, but just thinking about the backwards guitar solo laid down by Jimi Hendrix on “Are You Experienced?” is enough to make Texas bluesman Lance Lopez feel like a kid again. Such innovation floored him instantly and came to shape his own sound once the decision to dedicate his life to music was made.
Like the BBQ that the Lone Star State is known for, his latest album, “Trouble Is Good,” is packed with deep, smoky flavors that are amplified by Lopez’s commitment to getting the most out of each note he plays. He brings guests such as Gregg Bissonette, Brian Tichy, and Peter Keys along for the ride, so the end result puts him squarely in position to have one of the premier blues-based albums by year’s end.
I caught up with him recently to discuss the project and find out what kind of gear enables him to get those searing tones.
MNOD: Your latest album, “Trouble Is Good,” dropped on July 14. How did all of the pieces come together for this one?
Lopez: I did most of the recording at home and it definitely leans more toward the rock side of what I do. I was on a break between 2018 and 2019, which was longer than I would have liked yet I was able to refocus on things in the process. I moved to Nashville to get away from a lot of stuff, as well. We actually began sessions during the pandemic and had to stay far apart in the studio until things opened up later on. There were so many phenomenal artists contribute to this album such as Brian Tichy and Gregg Bissonette to name a couple. Working on this album really helped me through the difficult early days of COVID.
MNOD: What is it about Cleopatra Records that attracted you as an artist?
Lopez: They’ve been pretty great. They came to see me live years ago and just got me right away. They were able to dissect my influences and ended up putting out my ‘Live in NYC’ record in 2016. This is my first studio album for them, so I’m excited.
MNOD: What kind of gear did you use for this record?
Lopez: So much. I have a ’65 Firebird Reissue from the Gibson Custom Shop. I also used Teles, a Voyager, and a Michael Landau Stratocaster. I’ve always wanted to pay homage to Richie Blackmore and Rainbow, so there’s definitely a lot of that in my approach. Tube amps are my main go-to, as well, because they pull everything out of my guitar that I want.
MNOD: How did your collaboration with Gregg Bissonette come about?
Lopez: He was brought in to play on ‘Jam With Me,’ which was just tremendous. He’s also out with Ringo Starr’s All Starr Band alongside my good friend Steve Lukather, so we had that connection right away.
MNOD: How did you try to differentiate yourself from the other Texas legends before you?
Lopez: I wasn’t really trying to differentiate myself. I was actually trying to absorb as much as I could from them. I remember seeing Stevie Ray Vaughan and not even knowing he was at the time, but being totally mesmerized by his style. Another guy that changed things for me was Hendrix, because he was only active from 1967-1970 and I’m still discovering things in that music. I practically levitated the first time I heard ‘Are You Experienced?’ My playing is an amalgamation of that, funk, NOLA blues, and other things.
MNOD: As a lifelong blues player, what are your thoughts on the overall health of the scene?
Lopez: It comes and goes. There are always ebbs and flows to any scene, but, as long as there are corner pubs and bars, there’s always going to be blues music to be heard. It’s working class music. It’s music of the common people who like to have a strong drink after work. I think there’s definitely a healthy scene for those who appreciate it.
“Trouble Is Good” is out now wherever music is disseminated, but do us all a favor and pay for a physical copy.
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