Ghost Riders
Fortune Teller
(Mira Vista Records)

I am elated to announce to you fine folks, Southern rock is alive and well and one of the primary reasons for this is the new band Ghost Riders. Ghost Riders is made up of Steve Grisham (The Outlaws), Barry Rapp (Henry Paul Band), Jimmy Bennett, Pug Baker and Phil Stokes, and the 11 song debut album simply rocks.There are obviously comparisons to be made with The Outlaws, but by no means are Ghost Riders a copycat band. No way, bucko.
The album kicks off with Bary Rapp’s “Gone South,” with amazing slide guitar, and it doesn’t let up. Every song is a winner, especially “G.R.I.T.S.” (“Girls Raised In The South”), a radio hit waiting to be discovered. But is doesn’t stop there, the band turns out some mighty sweet sounding Southern rock in “Ballad of a Ghost Rider,” “Shotgun Run,” and “Roots,” and they show their versatility in churning out an outstanding blues tune, “I Want The BluesTonight.” As a special treat, there is a cover of “There Goes Another Love Song,” with more of Grisham’s smoking guitar work.
“Fortune Teller” is without a doubt one of the very best Southern rock albums of the year.

-Michael Buffalo Smith [courtesy of http://www.gritz.net/]