This is one of those discs that needed to play in the background
\na couple of times before it clicked with me. But when it
\ndid\u2026 pow.<\/p>\n
Solid blues-rock with just a hint of Texas twang (Kahanek is a
\nDallas native transplanted to LA),
\nReal Life<\/i> at first struck me as more workmanlike than
\nspectacular. I dug the sincerity behind the music, but didn’t find
\nthe groove right off. And then about the second or third time
\nthrough, I stopped what I was doing and paid full attention as
\nKahanek — a decent singer, but an outstanding guitar player — lit
\ninto the solo on the slow-building third track “Little Things”
\n(perhaps a semi-conscious nod to Hendrix’s “Little Wing”)… and
\nknocked me on my ass. As my son likes to say,
\noh damn!<\/i> This boy can flat-out play.<\/p>\n
And so he does. Whether on funked-up blues numbers like the
\nopening “Sign,” lilting Southern roots-rock like “Love Deluxe,”
\nthoughtful midtempo cuts like “Tomorrow,” or stinging instrumentals
\nlike the closing jam “Gemini,” Kahanek lets loose with one vivid
\ndemonstration after another of the pure joy of playing the electric
\nguitar as if your life depended on it. When I dream about playing
\nguitar (can’t play a lick, folks), I dream about being able to do
\nit with this much passion and fluidity and innate melodic
\nsense.<\/p>\n
I have to say that the vocal side of
\nReal Life<\/i> wasn’t a big focus for this listener. While I
\ndidn’t find Kahanek’s vocals especially appealing, what they might
\nlack in polish he makes up for with commitment, giving an honest
\nhundred percent to every one of these songs. Plus, his lyrics have
\nan emotional intensity that’s perfectly in sync with the passion he
\npours into his playing.<\/p>\n
It’s hard to imagine this disc finding a mass audience —
\nrealistically speaking, today’s mainstream music scene doesn’t even
\nmake room for 10-second solos in a four-minute song. But for
\naficionados of rootsy blues-rock that lets the lead guitarist
\nstretch out a bit a la vintage Stevie Ray Vaughan or Eric Clapton,
\nthis album might be the sweetest find you stumble across all year.
\nBe sure to check it out.<\/p>\n