Martin Harley

You may say he's got a bad case of the dirty blues. Opener to ZZ Ward at Soho, singer and guitarist Martin Harley delivers a punch through a strong set of songs that are reminiscent of open spaces, hot summers, and dimly lit bars.  Raised in England, Martin Harley has elements of the greats like BB King and Junior Kimbrough in his music, offering to the audience the ultimate ear candy. With a rough approach to his guitar, Harley releases something primal and attention grabbing the moment his fingers strum the first chords. His album "Mojo Fix" is full of foot tapping and jaw droppingly good riffs that leave you lusting for more. Songs like "Outlaw" begin with a kind of muted guitar sound and a folksy twang that meet together in perfect harmony. Harley's voice glides over his guitar like distressed leather, with the wear and comfort you crave in a good blues singer. With a glass of bourbon in his hand, Harley made quite the appearance at Soho; the moment he starts playing you find yourself watching with delight as his hands skillfully caress the guitar that compliment his tough aesthetic; his lyrics touch on what a lot of blues talk about; going against the man and working hard, except Harley has a pleasantly surprising sensitive approach, as songs like "Cardboard King" are as romantic as they are sentimental, yet with an underlying toughness that gives it a boldness that is unique to him. Harley's "Ball and Chain" showcases his exceptional sliding skills, something that is not only difficult to master but is a large part of most of Harley's music. Delicate folk elements and the hardness of the blues coming together give Martin Harley's style an individual flavor that makes you have the urge to get on a motorcycle and go on a road trip. Barren landscapes and good whiskey seem to come to mind when you listen to him; its singers like Harley that makes the blues so sexy. Thanks to artists like Jack White and the Black Keys, blues has made a comeback, and Harley is not far from those talents- his sincerity, and possibly that charming English accent make his music irresistible. Completely acoustic at Soho, you could really hear the intricacies of his melodies and the glorious improv riffs that he goes into; Harley's album simply adds a couple layers that are definitely worth a listen. Harley is incredibly in tune with his music and you can really hear him feel every note that pours out of his guitar and he fully radiates that to his audience. Martin Harley was the perfect opener for ZZ Ward, and I most definitely look forward to what comes next from him.

Check out "Mojo Fix"

I recommend "Ball and Chain" and "Outlaw"