Rich Hopkins and Luminarios
(San Jacinto Records)
It's long past time Tucson's Rich Hopkins got a little bit of credit. He's been at the helm of two great combos, the Sand Rubies and the Sidewinders, and for the past 20 years or so, he's led a third, the Luminarios. Yet sadly, his work remains all but unnoticed beyond a handful of devotees mostly based in the Southwest and, ironically, overseas. Arizona may be getting slammed for a lot of things, but if the state boasts any outside appeal these days, beyond the Grand Canyon of course, it ought to include the resolute efforts of this native son. His latest effort provides further proof he's deserving, and given the fact that it boasts a bilingual title and at least a couple of tracks sung in Spanish, it suggests that Hopkins and his compatriots may be the ones to help smooth over the state's ethnic divide.
Okay, maybe that's too grand a gesture, but the fact is that El Otro Lado/The Other Side proves one more example of Hopkins' authentic Americana output. With their ringing guitars and an anthemic-like surge, the Luminarios echo the sound of McGuinn, Springsteen, Petty and all those other icons who took root in an intrinsic roots rock sound and fortified it with restless ambition. Opening track "Love Is a Muse" offers the first hint of that propulsive intent, one which is maintained by the steadfast deliberation of "Breathe In Breathe Out" as well as the breezy harmonies and heartfelt homage of "Lou Reed," the reassuring refrain of "U R Not Alone" and the south of the border mélange evidenced in "Guajira" and the sweeping "El Otro Lado Suite."
"Good intentions ain't good enough anymore," Hopkins and crew coo on the chorus of "Good Intentions." Sad but true, but then again that's all the more reason to give them their due.
DOWNLOAD: "Love Is a Muse," "Lour Reed," "El Otro Lado Suite" LEE ZIMMERMAN
