Jon Rauhouse
Jon Rauhouse's Steel Guitar Air Show

The college music scene is very familiar with John Rauhouse's guitarwork via the recordings of singer/songwriter Neko Case. But Rauhouse shows his full potential with his new solo release, Jon Rauhouse's Steel Guitar Air Show (Bloodshot Records). The album features several of Rauhouse's notable musician friends, including Case, Tommy Connell, Joey Burns, Kelly Hogan, and Nick Lucia, among others. Boasting 16 tracks that range from Western Swing to jazz to rockabilly, Air Show is a real treat.

"The Glow Worm" opens the collection with straightforward steel guitar riffs and blends perfectly with the next track, "F86." "The World is Waiting for a Sunrise", the catchiest song on the disc, features the mesmerizing vocals of Case, and is strangely reminiscent of the now-defunct New York band The Camaros. And "Circle The Wagons Babe", a Rauhouse original, evokes the urge to dance the night away to the boogie-steel guitar.

Other highlights include "Hula Blues" with its soft-shoe style riffs and Haole Choir vocals, and the rockabilly-lite version of "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive", featuring the sexy voice of the legendary Kelly Hogan. Hogan also provides the vocals for the lounge classic "The Lonely Bull", while the beautifully arranged big band love song "Perfidia" is topped off with the sultry vocals of Sally Timms. The second half of the album focuses on instrumentals, including a loungey Western Swing rendition of "Choo Choo Ch' Boogie", and the Rauhouse originals "Homie's Parade", "Agent Burns", "Can O'Corn" and "Million Dollar Baby."

Bloodshot Records now has another quality performer to brag about, and listeners can look forward to Rauhouse's follow-up recordings. There are no stunts to hear in this Air Show, just quality music.

—Joe Wood

Visit the band online at www.bloodshotrecords.com/bands.php3?bandid=34

Order yours—click here.