It is always great to see a new band playing old school rock and roll.

 JJ Thomas were entertaining a good sized crowd at the Slice, Feb. 4. Unfortunately I missed Edmonton’s Hungry Hollow, who opened the show.

They played a brief, and energetic set of gritty blues infused rock and roll which had a strong ’70s groove which were reminiscent of Joe Cocker and more modern blues/rock funk acts like the Boogie Patrol,  in  a large part to keyboardist/rhythm guitarist and saxophonist Ben who added all sorts of extra musical flavours to JJ Thomas’s gumbo of rock and roll, southern rock, soul and blues music.

 Thomas ’s voice was impressively ragged and soulful and he played some hot guitar solos.

 One highlight was “Pink Cadillac,” one of several songs they played from their self titled EP, as was another one which sounded like John lee Hooker’s “ Boom Boom.”
 they ended an excellent set with an original called “Ride.”