A blues guitar prodigy, Conor Gains played with Les Paul at age 15, rocked the 2011 Montreal International Jazz Festival at 17 and has now recorded an album capturing the energy audiences across North America have come to enjoy from this power trio.

12 MP3 Songs in this album (42:53) !
Related styles: Blues: Blues-Rock, Rock: Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Featuring Guitar

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Details:
As Canadians were hurriedly shopping last Christmas the Conor Gains Band were tucked away inside "Studio 301" recording their long awaited debut album.

The result is âThe Junction Sessionsâ - named for the area of Toronto where the studio is located.

"Live off the floor" was the mantra as producers, Howard Ayee and Cory Blackburn, strived to capture the electrifying blues/rock sound they first heard from the trio at Torontoâs legendary Horseshoe Tavern. They have succeeded.

The decision to use little known 'Studio 301' was a logical one. Conor had laid down some slide guitar there for Shakura S'Aida's most recent CD and it was easy for the 18 year old singer/songwriter guitarist to convince bandmates Vic Freitas and Jeremy Patey that the studio was a fit. Shakura, the 2011 Maple Blues Award winning vocalist, agreed to appear on two tracks: "Let The Woman" and "Changing My World"

The opening number "Lazy Boy" is the tune with which the Conor Gains Band opened their set at the 2011 Montreal International Jazz Festival. If Conor has a signature song this is surely it. Written in response to those who accused him of not applying himself academically, and who underestimated his resolve to be a musician, the studio version epitomizes the Conor Gains Band.

Eleven of the twelve songs, all with very distinct guitar riffs, were penned by Conor. The only cover is Matthew Moore's "Space Captain.â Ironically, just as the song had been recorded an email arrived from Moore, thanking Conor for covering the song made famous by Joe Cocker on 'Mad Dogs and Englishmen.â

"Breathe" is another heartfelt tune which was written about a friend once addicted to prescription drugs while "Can't Be Satisfied", with its catchy blues riff, nearly didn't make it on the album.

It was written in haste prior to performing at the Grand River Blues Society's 'Road to Memphis' competition in October 2011. The judges seemed to like it - they won the competition. Conor reluctantly agreed to one take. Everyone loved the result. It made the cut, tipping the scales towards a decidedly blues theme.

The Junction Sessions is a fine example of the Conor Gains Band's body of work and a fine debut album.