The confident, muscular Eyes of the City testifies to Vince Agwada's experience as a musician, songwriter, and producer. It's a back-to-basics slab of modern Blues with a gritty Chicago edge. The slick (but not too slick) album opener "It's a Shame" gives listeners an idea of what to expect. Agwada's rhythm section is top-notch, particularly on "Does it Really Matter?" where perky music contrasts with gloomy lyrics, and "Bottle," where drummer Brian Jones plays a curiously timed shuffle that almost sounds backwards. Agwada's guitar work is another strength, and he can be forgiven for getting showy at times: He's been in the business long enough to have earned it and is good enough to pull it off. The simple structure of the instrumental "I'm Coming Home" gives Agwada plenty of room to cut loose, and he stretches out on the slower numbers too, especially "Ellie" and "Hard to Cry". Most of the lyrical themes run in time-honored courses: finding love, losing it, pretending to have it, and not wanting it. Agwada does get slightly political on "Tubed Out," in which an aural collage of recent news broadcasts serves as a backdrop for a complaint that the world has become too complicated -- possibly the first ever Blues song about information overload. The title track is the exception to this album's overall tone; with programmed rhythm tracks and a bowed upright bass backing a somber, reflective meditation on an urban night, it's both a love song and a plea in a sadder, quieter mode than the rest of the satisfying Eyes of the City.

--Genevieve Williams - Blues Revue January 2009

"Eyes of the City” is the impressive debut release from veteran Chicago-based musician Vince Agwada. The guitarist/singer/composer/producer provides an electrifying collection of self-produced songs covering many styles including Blues, Rock, Jazz and R&B. Agwada’s sound is defined by his signature blistering guitar work, husky vocals, and crafty arrangements. The aptly titled “Confidence Man” encapsulates his highly-original, driving, aggressive sound. His noteworthy blues guitar is on full display with the swampy “Car Wash Blues” and the slow-moving but deliberate “Hard to Cry.” “Come on In” introduces us to Agwada’s ferocious slide work and further illustrates his mastery of the blues guitar. Agwada also shows his versatility with the upbeat shuffle tune “Bottle,” the contemporary jazz feel of “Ellie,” and the title track “Eyes of the City,” which features a lush string arrangement and soprano sax melody. “Eyes of the City” is an exciting debut release where Agwada shines not only in his artistic and musical abilities, but in his production capabilities as well. This release has a lot to offer to the fans of Rock and Blues in the style of Albert Collins and Buddy Guy.

-Rodney and the RadioIndy. com Reviewer Team

 

The world is still a very small place, my review of the CD "Finally" by Harmonica Hinds is, so to speak, still warm, and here is another artist who is from right around the corner and is connected to some of the same artists. These gentlemen have total isolation from one another yet coincidentally in the same week we received CDs from both. Only after discussing each shortly after the other did I notice the similarities. Like Hinds, Blues guitarist Vince Agwada is from Chicago, played extensively in a club owned by Buddy Guy, though it was not "Legends" but instead the "Checkerboard Lounge" and between the names of friends and influences listed by each, we find many musicians in common including John Primer and Lefty Dizz. Yet the music of Vince is in many ways very different from that of his fellow townsman. Vince makes more modern, contemporary blues with light rock influences. The sound of Vince Agwada is in line with what we have come to expect from groups like Michael Hill's Bluesmob and Michael Burks. Modern, funky blues songs with razor-edged guitar solos. Vince also debuts with this outing his knowledge and skills as an engineer and producer. In his home studio he recorded all of the vocals, keyboards, horns and of course the vast majority of the guitars, and this completely on his own. That being said, you will be stunned by this perfect first production. If you're not afraid of harder contemporary blues, you will not only fully enjoy Blues songs like "Car Wash Blues", "Bottle" and "Hard To Cry", but also the more rock-oriented songs such as "Tubed Out". The wonderful, relaxed "Come On In" with its slight JJ Cale influence, and a wonderful slide and Dobro solo is among my favorites, but nothing can beat the masterful "Ellie", an atmospheric guitar instrumental which rivals Santana or Gary Moore at their best. This ode to his deceased grandmother is pretty wonderful. The only cover on this album is the unexpected, and completely reworked "Confidence Man" by John Hiatt. Vince Agwada with this debut has immediately created a very nice introduction to his music. (translated from Flemish)

-- Freddy Celis RootsTime September 13th 2008

 

NEW RELEASE PART 2 – CARRYING IT ON: The answer to Buddy Guy’s musical question above can be found in the new release Eyes Of The City (Rocketnoodle) by master guitarist/vocalist/songwriter/ producer Vince Agwada.

Agwada is an exceptional guitarist who combines technical prowess with soul. Eyes Of The City is a blast of modern and contemporary blues, blues rock, R&B, funk, jazz, and pop that will take you back to the 1975-90 hotbed of live blues in Chicago. From the opener, “It’s A Shame” (a funky groove featuring Agwada’s flawless fretwork and dead-on lyrics, including a rap), to the closer, the title track (a sophisticated jazz/pop tune reminiscent of a smoky ’70s film noir soundtrack), Agwada and company smoke and burn through 12 originals and one cover, John Hiatt’s “Confidence Man.”

I first heard Agwada play in Toronto in the early ’80s when he was on tour with Guy. Once a staple on the worldwide scene, Agwada retired from the road for a number of years to work in the studio, where he honed his technical chops at Chicago Trax. He has returned to performing with a vengeance on this, his first solo album, where he is accompanied by the best musicians of his generation. Harp guru Sugar Blue (who lives in Milan) guests on rocker “Rain,” and Bill McFarland And The Chicago Horns appear on the jazzy, “Does It Really Matter?”

Agwada is a fully realized musician who brings his creativity to whatever genre he plays. He came of age at heady time in American music, when various musical styles co-existed. Eyes Of The City is at once an homage to this musical potpourri and a welcome return to the present of this gifted artist.

– Beverly Zeldin-Palmer Illinois Entertainer August 29th 2008

 

Vince Agwada - Eyes of the City

Eyes of the City is a very enjoyable album and gives a clear picture of Vince Agwada as an artist in his own right, not just the summation of those that came before him...

by John McCormick Illinois BluesBlast August 28, 2008

 

VINCE AGWADA
Eyes Of The City
2008 Vince Agwada

www.vinceagwada.com

Singer and guitarist Vince is from Chicago where he was born in 1959 and got his start playing at Theresa’s and The Checkerboard; he jammed with such esteemed figures as Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Lefty Dizz, Sammy Lawhorn and others. He has contributed to numerous albums and videos, either as a musician or composer, in his 25 years on the Windy City blues scene, but this is his debut CD under his own name. He describes his music as ‘new millennium blues’ and I won’t argue with that. This is generally loud and brash, post-Alligator ‘high energy blues’, guitar based and often using funky rhythms behind Vince’s muscular vocals on a programme of 13 original numbers – some of which are quite notable and stay long in the memory.

There is a variety of modern styles too – ‘Blooze’ and ‘Tubed Out’ are heavy, ‘Does It Really Matter?’ is a jazzy strut, ‘Bottle’ is a fairly traditional slide guitar shuffle, the title track is a moody, jazzy, spacey, sax-led piece, and ‘Had To Cry’ is Albert King styled; ‘Come On In’ has an unusual rhythm and slide guitar – the nearest (but not that close) comparison I can come up with is the Beatles’ ‘Come Together’! Working from a promo, I cannot tell you just who plays what on this album, but rest assured, they are all top-notch musicians – as is Vince.

Any lover of modern blues will find plenty to enjoy here.

----- Norman Darwen - Blues Art Journal