It's not very often that an old-school Croatian harp player hooks up with a West Coast guitar player and his mates, but when they do, what else could it be called but 'Nashville Road'?
Croatia-born Tomislav “Little Pigeon” Goluban (Tomi) says he owes his passion for the blues harp to the likes of Sonny Terry and Slim Harpo, which gives him a fine head start on the blues. Crooked Eye Tommy (Tommy Marsh) roars out of Ventura, CA, with fierce blues-rock intentions. Together, they create a masterful blend, pulsating with music from both their worlds, driving hard on ‘Nashville Road’.
‘Nashville Road’ comprises of nine original compositions co-written by Goluban and Marsh, with additional lyrics by Anamarija Nekić. Over 35 minutes, the material covers a lot of ground mixing energetic instrumentals with attention grabbing songs.
Kicking off the record the instrumental rocking ‘Hard Run’, sets the listener up for a joyous trip through all aspects of the blues genre.
‘Bad Choices Make Good Stories’ is a song where both artists get shine on their respective instruments, while the lyrics reach for sombre reflection on what might have been. ‘Rock Dog’ drives along with chugging beat that’s familiar, yet somehow original in the context of this uplifting blues rocker. ‘Hip Hop Shake’ is another fun packed instrumental that’s bursting at the seams with energy and passionate playing from both musicians.
The blues has had a long love affair with trains and spirituality, and on ‘There Is A Train’, co-written with Anamarija Nekić, the imagery of both is vividly put to great use. In Greek mythology Charon’s boat was the vessel that lead the souls of the dead to the underworld to meet their fate. Invoking the image of Wild West by swapping Charon’s vessel for a train, the lyrics underpinned by a brooding beat, invites the listener to not only ponder their mortality, but how they’ve lead their life and how they want to spend the afterlife.
‘Nashville Road’ delivers a sonic treat via two accomplished musicians who clearly love and excel at their craft. It’s hard to imagine a better way to kick of your musical adventures in 2025 than by immersing yourself into this bombastic bundle of joy.