Taken off his new EP, Two Sides to the Story, “The Game” is a smoky slow-blues burner with plenty of soul. The track was recently added to Spotify’s “Blues on the Rocks” playlist and it’s easy to hear why. The throbbing groove and down-and-out vocals from Lightnin’ Ray have that classic weathered vibe that makes you want to go out and drown your sorrows. It’s a song simmering in whiskey, cigarette smoke, and a veritable lifetime of somber reflection.
The topic at hand, of course, is living. Or, more to the point, what living is like when everything is rigged against you. Chasing money and fame is all well and good until you realize the powers that be aren’t interested in playing by the rules. What remains—at least according to Lightnin’ Ray’s hard-earned wisdom—is the sort of warped system that leads rich men to beg and good men to steal. The only thing that really matters in the end is how you play the game.
Filmed and edited by Tyler Shook, the video was shot at Diamond Street Studios where Lightnin’ Ray recorded the EP. It features the bandleader and his mates performing and occasionally hamming it up for the camera. That bit of levity helps temper the track’s downtrodden mood adding a silver lining to the otherwise stormy affair.
Watch/listen above.
More Info
Web: lightninray.com
Bandcamp: lightninray.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @lightninray
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Twitter: @lightninray