I first heard Trevor Finlay in 2005, when I received his album “Show Me What U Got” for consideration for airplay on my radio station. I didn’t have to consider it long, as his guitar playing spoke volumes about the soul of his music. I wasn’t surprised to learn that this Canadian blues rocker had three previous albums and multiple awards to his credit in his native land. That album remains one of my favorites, with a powerful version of Gene Vincent’s “Be-Bop-A-Lula” and his classic original song “Let’s Just Get Drunk.”

Cut to 2008, after he had finished a tour of Australia, when Finlay decided to conquer the states in the flesh and move his base of operations to Nashville.

Since then, he’s shared the stage with John Hiatt, Johnny Winter, Buddy Guy, Booker T & the MG's, Kid Rock, Kanye West and Chris Isaac, to name a few.

Working on a new studio album, but delayed due to a lack of time off the road, Finlay has released a live EP titled “Bootleg” to satisfy the overwhelming clamor of his fans for new music. Recorded at Norm’s River Roadhouse in Nashville in March of this year, this seven-song set represents well.

Opening with a blazing homage to his chosen genre, “Three Chord RocknRoll” sets the stage for what’s to come in fine style. But that is by no means all you’re in for with this smokin’ live set, as he deftly shows in the next tune, “Burning It In,” a funky rock number that he introduces as “a love song.” The funk continues with “Last Minute Romance,” followed by a chunky mid-tempo ballad called “What I Was Dying For.” This is followed by the autobiographical “Send My Mail to Nashville,” a jaunty New Orleans’ style boogie called “Ain’t Gonna Make It to the Dance,” and the closing rocker “That’s Gonna Leave A Mark.”

Throughout the album the listener is treated to Finlay’s exciting guitar work, which blends equal parts Texas-style blues and British guitar-god mayhem to spectacular effect. Canada’s loss is our gain, and if Trevor Finlay is half as exciting in person as this album would indicate, I’m glad I won’t have to go that far to see him!

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