Greg Koch
4 Days in the South
© 2005 Greg Koch (880059002022)
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Greg Koch has been called a "twisted guitar genius" to " an eclectic virtuoso" by guitar pundits but in fact these are just descriptions of someone who loves what he does has found a way to make a living doing it on his own terms by being able to sound like just about anyone to just about no one, all delivered with the irreverence of a "plectrum-wielding skullduggarist" (to use his verbiage). As a result he has successfully moved beyond his local hero status in the upper Midwest to becoming an internationally renowned recording artist and guitarist, session player heard on everything from car commercials to Nick Jr. soundtracks, author of some of the top-selling guitar instructional books and dvd's in the world, magazine columnist in publications around the globe, radio personality, comedian and one of the most in-demand guitar clinicians in the world for Fender® Musical Instruments and Hal Leonard Publishing.
Koch, Greg - 4 Days In The South
The material on 4 Days in the South represents a coming to grips with my true love of vocal-oriented bluesy tinged rock with elements of funk, country and jazz thrown in for flavor. The maniacal guitar and fiendish musical humor prevalent on my recent Favored Nations’ releases is still represented here although subdued in comparison and in the context of vocal ditty’s. This has always been the material I have gravitated to and certainly my period of writing instrumental guitar music happened for a reason but it was the real deviation from the path and this is a return to it.
Greg Koch
4 Days in the South
Rhymes With Chalk Music
Greg Koch is one of those players with chops to spare. But he’s also got a wonderful sense of humor and despite his talent, doesn’t take himself too seriously.
Examples of his attitude abound on this album, on tracks like the slow blues “The Love Contractor.” Brilliant, soulful playing highlight the cut. Any fan of the wah-wah will eat this up on first listen. And the lyric is hysterical, even if it’s pointlessly obscene at some points. The scary part is, if you’ve ever had any work done on your house, there’s a ring of truth to it. You have to hear his version of “Folsom Prison Blues” with every form of lick imaginable... Attitude-wise, while some may think it scorches sacred ground, Johnny Cash would love it. “Bored to Tears” is a great shuffle with a solo that absolutely kills. Check out the run that finishes it off. Not your standard by-the-book blues soloing. “When Were the Good Old Days” has a bit of a Little Feat feel with chunky chords and fine slide. “Can’t Get There From Here” features fine funk-rock. “Your Face” is a boogie that avoids clichés and has a very clever lyric about someone who is, shall we say, untrustworthy. “Thems the Breaks” is a tour de force for Greg on both acoustic and electric. “JSK” is an atmospheric instrumental that features some imaginative soloing throughout.
It’s easy to love this disc and Koch’s playing – great chops, great imagination, and again, his sense of humor. It doesn’t get much better than this.
This article originally appeared in VG’s April ’06 issue. All copyrights are by the author and Vintage Guitar magazine. - John Heidt