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“Modern Blues does not get any better than this”
Blues Magazine
An ever evolving music community of friends and guests that’s aimed to bring the crowds a true “one of kind” music experience, just like you could have lived as an active music lover & concert goer at the end of the 60’s or early 70’s!
After touring as the rhythm section of the jam band Goodfellas (side project of legendary guitarist Steve Lukather), Italian born (but American naturalized producer/writer/bass-player) Fabrizio Grossi (Steve Vai, Steve Lukather, George Clinton & P-Fink, Billy F.Gibbons, Alice Cooper, Joe Bonamassa, Eric Gales etc.) and New York native (but Indiana raised) drumming legend Kenny Aronoff (John Mellencamp, John Fogerty, BB King, Paul McCartney, Dr. John, Smashing Pumpkins , etc.) wanted to continue and expand the Goodfellas concept. Cementing their rhythmic chemistry with lots of live performances, and studio projects featuring recordings with artists such as Leslie West, Joe Bonamassa, Slash, Zakk Wylde , etc., their determination to create something more than just a “session ensemble for hire” grew exponentially.
It was when living legend Billy F. Gibbons (of ZZ TOP fame) contacted Fabrizio to collaborate on the writing/production of a song for an up-coming commercial, that all pieces came together. The song didn’t become a commercial after all, but had Gibbons giving Fabrizio the suggestion to write “9 more songs” and start a band, with whom he would have loved to jam with whenever ZZ Top’s schedule would allow it. Kenny Aronoff immediately tracked drums to it, and the song “Running Whiskey” ended up becoming the first single of Supersonic Blues Machine’s . Several other legendary musicians such as Warren Haynes, Eric Gales, Lance Lopez, Robben Ford, Walter Trout and Chris Duarte joined the party, very successfully narrated in the band first release.
“Formidable…a modern day super-session which manages to hang on to the heart and soul”
The band’s first record, “West of Flushing, South of Frisco,” (produced and mixed by Fabrizio Grossi and released in February 2016) was very well received by critics, media, and fans alike and over exceeded the band and the label’s expectations as well.
Even though taking on the road such a large flamboyant ensemble of talents, it wasn’t an easy task.
Supersonic Blues Machine managed to perform almost exclusively as a headliner in a series of very prestigious Festivals and events around the world (Holland, USA, Russia, India, Norway, UK , etc.). Noticeable were the band's “legendary” performances at the Notodden Blues Festival 2016 and a “Take no Prisoner” Soul/Funk/Rocking Extravaganza at the 2017 edition of the Rambling Man Fair.
After hosting on stage iconic staple names such as Billy F. Gibbons, Steve Lukather, Jonny Lang, Walter Trout, Lucky Peterson, Robben Ford, Eric Gales, Guitar Shorty, Shemekia Copland , etc., Supersonic Blues Machine entered the studio to finalize its sophomore record, a California teamed monster house titled “Californisoul," again produced and mixed by Fabrizio Grossi. The record was released once again on Mascot/Provogue Worldwide on October 2017 debuting at# 7 on the Billboard top 10 Blues Charts. Just like its predecessor, “Californisoul” has been featuring a lot of guests appearances by the band closest friends (this time with the addition of Steve Lukather) collecting unanimous boasting reviews from the press, great support from critics and fans worldwide, and its draw doesn’t seem to slow down any time soon.
In January 2018 Supersonic Blues Machine parted ways with Lance Lopez, who had been handling lead guitar and vocal duties with the band, and he was immediately replaced by UK Rock-Bluesy emerging star Kris Barras.
In what it could sound like a movie plot, Fab calls the band’s UK label office to verbally give them the news about Lopez departure. Before he could even say “hello”, he was met by the label’s enthusiasm about a new signing, a successful MMA fighter champion, turned guitar hero by the name of Kris Barras, who was taking the UK by the storm. Fab, who was already familiar with the bearded & tattooed artist from Devon tells the executives “ well , then I might need that dude’s phone number, before he gets bigger than Clapton , I’ll tell you why later…”
A couple of calls was all that it took to get Kris on a plane to LA, where he was met by Fab and none other than the band’s Godfather : Reverend Gibbons. After a Tequila fueled night and 3 days of jamming , he was “made” Supersonic’s new front man !
“rootsy compositions, stellar playing, and some of the in the finest guitarists in blues”
The new found excitement proved the band right, with a successful Tour alongside Billy F. Gibbons, that was immortalized on the band 3rd album “Road Chronicles LIVE” , recorded in Italy, on the last night of the Tour , almost by mistake and without the band’s knowing it.
Very well received by media and fans, the record showcases how well the new line-up glued together in spite of being together for just a couple of months. The band has just completed recording its 4th album (first studio album with Barras) and is currently scheduled for release in 2021.