Alrighty, then. This is some fun stuff. Not sure of Jinx’ background, but he sure can play the heck out of a Gretsch. Elements of country, rock, blues, and everything in between make up this killer guitar record.

Jinx, along with Joe Kyle on bass and Jamie Lease on drums, shows nice respect to styles that have come, and are just hanging on by their fingernails. The title cut is a tour de force instrumental that has Jinx mixing single-line work, great chordal soloing, and low-string twanging into a rowdy rockabilly treat. And Jinx shows throughout the album that he can do more than just spit old licks back at you. The very clever, “I Need a Good Girl Bad,” has him flying through some jazzy changes using chords, great double-stops, and even octaves. A song that could easily be just another Stray Cats clone comes alive on its own. Same goes for “Break the Devil’s Heart.” It’s a revved-up boogie in the style that Setzer and the boys used to eat alive. Jinx’s solo has incredible runs and a great section of open-string hammer-ons that keeps everything interesting.

One thing that really sets him apart is his obvious knowledge and love of jazz and chords. Almost all the solos feature a section that’s a trip through chord city. By the time the single notes start to fly, you’re really impressed by his know-how.

The songs are cool, too, with most of them being originals. If you like roots rock with a bit of twang, and guitar players who are original and fun, this one’s for you. Contact Red Rogue Records, 1592 Union Street, San Francisco, CA 94123.