Not many people seem to write love songs for their guitars anymore. Vick LeCar’s “My Guitar and I” is probably the first song of this nature I’ve really enjoyed since Dash Rip Rock’s “String You Up” a couple of decades ago. Like that one, it’s full of hot licks and double entendres, with a suitably climactic solo at the end.

LeCar is a traditionally-styled hard rocker with an interesting backstory. Born in Santiago, he wound up in New Jersey when his family came here to escape the dictatorship—and probably absorbed a lot of classic rock radio in the process. He played for a spell with ex-Deep Purple singer Joe Lynn Turner and moved to New Orleans eight years ago. He never got to play with Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore but he’s the clearest influence; LeCar’s solos on the rockers “Riding High” and “Dead on the Inside” have a similar manic quality (though the latter is way too lively to suit the lyrical sentiments). He’s absorbed some local styles as well; the “When it Rains” and “If Heaven Takes You First” are both solid gospel-soul ballads that are well handled by the band’s singer Reuben Williams.

It’s a familiar sound but the flashy solos and LeCar’s tunesmithery make this five-song mini-album worth the time. It sounds like he could make hay in Nashville if he turned the volume down, but he probably loves that guitar too much for that.