JT and the Agnostics: Yes More Blues (digital outlets)

This will be quick because this Waikato band have an album release coming up (see details below).

First, they are honest: the album title, the band name with reference to the opener God's Mind.

The band are as follows, and there are some familiar names here enjoying themselves on these originals: John Thomson (bass, vocals), guitarist Maciek Hrybowicz, Ben Gilgen (keyboards), drummer Mickey Ututaonga, saxophonist Bill Forrest and trumpeter Grant Mason.

There's some humour going on, like on the title track and I'm Nobody Blues which skewers the idea of feeling worthless when others are posting about their wonderful life on social media or having a story to get on the news: “I’ve got the I’m Nobody Blues cause I’ll never get to choose when to have my 15 minutes of fame. Nobody knows just who I am - have to get on Instagram and do a dance on TikTok for a change. I’ve got the I’m Nobody Blues cause I’m never in the news. And hardly anybody knows my name.”

The lyrics are sometimes the least of the deal because the tight playing by the band is the superior element.

Real nice keyboard parts and arrangements (Better the Question with a tasty guitar solo, But I Am) but vocalist Thomson comes up a bit short on power and projection.

A standout among the eight songs is Hōhā Blues which largely sidelines the humour for a more straight-ahead ballad where Thomson's fragility suits the lyric.

The launch should offer a splendid time for all.

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You can hear and buy this album at bandcamp here