If this week has been one Monday after another, you should click play on Jono Manson’s song “Rough and Tumble” and just rock out for a few minutes. The song details Manson’s coming up through the New York City bar scene in the early 1980s when, “You had to have the chops and hold the crowd. It was sink or swim.” Those chops come through loud and clear on this track, with screaming guitar solos and great juke-joint piano. The song is reminiscent of a gritty Rolling Stones style of blues–loose and fun, but at its core full of precision and excellent musicianship.
“Rough and Tumble,” co-written with Chris Barron, is from Jono’s new album, Slight Variations, which will be released on October 14. The album is really worth your time. It includes a wide variety of musical influences and styles, representative of Manson’s decades of experience and contribution to the music industry. You can catch Jono live in Rockport at The Shalin Liu Performance Center on October 14.