Compared to his 2018 debut EP, Biting Through, guitarist and songwriter Sean Riley does a complete artistic makeover on his first full-length outing produced by no-nonsense Zen master Dean Zucchero, who also thumped bass on these proceedings. Whereas Biting was an electric, rootsy, bluesy affair, sometimes teetering on garage rock, Stone Cold Hands showcases Riley’s acoustic side with delicate, rolling finger-picking, adroit songwriting, and a passion for country blues. Initially, he planned to build upon the baseline established on Biting, but the pandemic’s gig cancellations led to Riley and his wife jetting to Australia for an unexpected seven-month sabbatical. That’s when Riley dug into playing his 1930s National Steel Resonator guitar and penning material for this album.

With his core trio including Zucchero and drummer Mike Barras, these 10 tracks, nine originals, were recorded at New Orleans Suspects’ Jake Eckert‘s Rhythm Shack Studio. Riley plays his National Steel on most tracks for a Delta blues flavor, but there are also dollops of Americana, Southern folk and a rambunctious Nashville blues instrumental (“Rosie’s Rag”). Special guests, like fiddler Waylon Thibodeaux, keyboardist/organist Phil Breen, and background wailer Tiffany Pollack, pop in occasionally to add a little depth to some of the arrangements.

Bruce “Sunpie” Barnes is arguably the most prominent guest, playing accordion and harmonica on four tracks. The chemistry between Riley and Barnes is practically unbreakable. On “Out All Night,” Riley and Barnes cut a cool, scintillating groove on guitar and accordion. Barnes also shades in various harmonica moans and wails. On “Dance One More Time,” Barnes takes a gliding squeezebox ride on this rollicking, opening track.

Riley’s songs cover a gamut of emotions, such as celebration, “Dance Me One More Time,” revealing your insecurities on the Mississippi John Hurt-influenced “Go Easy on Me” and avoiding those who are emotionally destructive on “Jump The Line.”

The title song is the most poignant, however. The protagonist regrets losing a buddy and not being supportive when called upon. On the lighter side, “Truck Route Blues” was inspired by the steady stream of bustling trucks barreling down his historic, cobblestone street that shake and rattle his Creole cottage loose.

Everything fits together well with the alternating blues and non-blues styles and the tempo shifts from track to track, resulting in a pleasurable listen every time. All in all, Cold Stone Hands is a significant step forward in Riley’s career. Tip of the hat for this one.

Out All Night is an ode to New Orleans nightlife. The lyrics are about riding or parading around with friends and strangers until the wee hours. DeMinico directed and filmed the video. We shot the street scenes on and around Halloween night 2023 in the French Quarter. The interior shots were filmed at the Jalopy Theatre and School of Music in Brooklyn, New York.—Sean Riley