Torn

You read it here first: Paradise bluesman Big Mo’s newest album, Torn, may just be the thing that puts him and his Full Moon Band over—from enjoying local and regional fame (Mo was “Battle of the Blues Bands” winner at the 2004 Monterey Bay Blues Festival) to becoming famous nationwide and beyond. Torn consists of 16 original songs, all of them hands-down keepers. I must have listened to “Trouble” a million times lately while driving around in my car (I’m exaggerating, but not by much). With a horn section consisting of powerhouse sax man Eric Weber and trumpet player Patrick Hilton helping back up Mo’s big vocals, “Trouble” is the ultimate in groovin’ blues driving music. “Roll Down My Sleeves” is a clever New Orleans-style romp that morphs into a slow grind and then back again. Blues icon Lazy Lester appears on “New Orleans,” playing harmonica and singing a down-home duet with Mo. Other songs are more country—like “Try to Do it All”—while some veer into pure pop. Big Mo performs at Sierra Nevada’s Big Room 2007 Celebration Ale Release Party (and dual-CD-release party with guitarist Volker Strifler) on Sunday, Oct. 29.