Words By Joey Rochert.
After years of waiting, The Boneshakers have finally given us something to get excited about. Their 11th studio album “Live To Be This” hits shelves July 18, 2025 through Gulf Coast Records, and honestly, it feels like the band we fell in love with all over again.
I’ve been following The Boneshakers since their Virgin Records days, and while their recent work has been solid, “Live To Be This” captures that raw energy I thought might be gone forever. Jenny Langer’s voice absolutely commands every track here. Since joining as lead vocalist in 2020, she’s brought this incredible depth to their sound, and her International Blues Challenge win for Best CD suddenly makes perfect sense when you hear her pour everything into songs like the upcoming single “I’ll Kick A Brick (For My Man).”
Randy Jacobs proves once again why he’s one of the most underrated guitarists around. His work with Was (Not Was) prepared him well for this moment, and the chemistry between him and Langer feels completely natural. When they tackle originals alongside reimagined versions of classics from Screaming Jay Hawkins, Betty Davis, and Ike & Tina Turner, it never feels forced or like they’re just going through the motions.
The guest list reads like a who’s who of blues royalty. Charlie Musselwhite’s harmonica work adds this perfect gritty texture, while Don Was brings his production genius as a bassist this time around. Three-time Grammy winner Bobby Rush shows up on “Salty” (dropping June 6), and his presence elevates an already strong track into something special. Coco Montoya, Jimmy Carpenter, John “Papa” Gros, and Ron Holloway each contribute their own flavor without overwhelming the core sound.
What really strikes me is how producer John Wooler managed to capture that ’90s “Book of Spells” magic while letting the band move forward. The production feels warm and lived in, not polished to death like so many modern releases. You can hear the room, feel the musicians feeding off each other’s energy.
This album succeeds because it doesn’t try to be everything to everyone. The Boneshakers know exactly who they are: a band that understands Detroit soul, Memphis groove, and Muscle Shoals heart. “Live To Be This” represents 11 albums worth of experience distilled into 45 minutes of pure musical joy.
Their previous album “One Foot In The Groove” topped the US Soul Blues charts and hit number one in the UK, but this feels like the real statement. It’s messy in all the right ways, confident without being cocky, and most importantly, it sounds like real people playing real music.
If you’re looking for something to remind you why you fell in love with blues and soul in the first place, “Live To Be This” delivers exactly that. Pre-orders are available now at www.officialboneshakers.com in digital, CD, and vinyl formats, and trust me, you’ll want to hear this one the way it was meant to be heard.
Photo Credit: The Boneshakers.