Hughes Taylor Roasted

March 27, 2025

Hughes Taylor

Roasted

The Bent Note Records

Hughes Taylor Kitchens got hooked on guitar at the age of thirteen. In his bedroom he would play along with his guitar heroes Stevie Ray Vaughan, David Gilmour, and Steve Gaines. A year later he was writing his own material and recording demos in his parents basement while simultaneously developing his performance by playing anywhere, anytime with anyone. Hughes was performing professionally before he could legally drive. By the time he started college, creating and performing music was his primary source of income. In 2016 Hughes released his first album “Hear My Melody”, and followed up with “Restless” in 2018. Hughes graduated with honors from the University of North Georgia and married the love of his life. Sandwiched in between, Hughes and his band were able to continue their live shows. Hughes and his band spent a lot of time on the road, all over the southeast, playing venues like Atlanta’s Blind Willies; Washington DC’s Madam’s Organ; Birmingham, Alabama’s The Nick; and others.

This newest released recording is Hughes’ sixth overall. He has written or co-written all eleven new tracks. With a voice that recalls Jonny Lang and Marcus King, he slings his guitar like a shotgun. His band includes keyboardist Zach Wilson, bassist Ben Alford, and drummer Nich Gannon.

Hughes opens with “Moondance Baby”, with backing vocalist Emily Lynn, as he sings “she’s dancin under the monnlight…look at me, look at me”. On the “Ballad of Big Bill McGuire”, bassist Alford provides the harmony, as Hughes shouts “he’s got a pistol, a 32…ballad of Big Bill McGuire”. “Until It Hits”, includes background vocalist Evie Somogyi, as Hughes chants “make you beg one more time…until it hits again…why does it have to be so hard, why is it always on my mind, I need your lovin’, I need your lovin’ before I lose my mind”.

“Midnight Angel” features the lyric “can you hear her callin’ in the chill of the night, can you hear her callin’ by the trailer light”. “From The Other Side”, “it’s a better view…from the other side”. “On the Morning When It’s Over” features Hughes as he chimes “I know I’m not your first lover and I won’t be your last, on the morning when it’s over, I’ll be miles and miles from town”.

“Beautiful Stranger” includes some great bass, keyboards, and more machine gun like guitar, as Hughes chirps “a beautiful stranger it’s getting hard to take”. On “When Love Comes Home” he bursts “you never know, just what to say…never feel your not alone when love comes home…it’s not your fault, we’ll never part, your not alone, when love comes home”. “Before You Fall” again held strong by the great rhythm section, Hughes sings “not if I catch you, babe, before you fall”. On my favorite “Hangin’ On” he croons “don’t leave me hangin’, I need your lovin’ I do…love keeps me hangin’ on…my love is a two-way street”. The closer “Rochester” with more great bass and drums is a wicked instrumental.

The songs on Hughes Taylor “Roasted” are filled with greasy guitar riffs, thundering rums, and a solid bassline. When you mix in Taylor’s emotive voice, it’s like good coffee. On this new album, he mixes dark roast, light roast and possibly a shot of espresso. This is a highly recommended blend.

Richard Ludmerer

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