On Blues In My DNA, second-generation blues man Ronnie Baker Brooks continues the legacy of his father, Lonnie Brooks, by retaining the blues related and recent. Funky chord work, incendiary guitar solos, common tales, and punchy manufacturing are just a few of the highlights. VG sat with the Windy Metropolis native to get the within skinny.

Your songwriting and taking part in on Blues In My DNA is stellar.
Thanks. Producer Jim Gaines received me some actually good guitar tones. It begins with the artist, however Jim is aware of how you can tweak them. I put collectively 30-some songs I’d written and introduced to Bruce Iglauer at Alligator Data and my supervisor John Boncimino. We received collectively and picked what we appreciated that match. Then, I went right down to Jim’s studio exterior of Memphis and reduce those I felt good and assured about. We ready and wrote out the preparations, however an important factor was to get with the band and catch a vibe.

You preserve a Chicago sound however with a up to date angle.
That’s all the time been my system – convey one thing genuine with one thing recent. I attempt to be that bridge between the older technology and the brand new technology. My outdated man all the time informed me to put in writing songs. He pushed that on us. He’d say, “Who’s going to put in writing the subsequent ‘Candy Residence Chicago’ or ‘Acquired My Mojo Working’?” He began working with me as a baby, after I first began taking part in guitar.

Your backstory consists of being a touring roadie in your father and interacting with a number of the biggest guitar gamers on the planet.
After I was in L.A., they’d simply began GIT (now Musicians Institute) and I used to be a tech for my dad – he would let me play one or two songs an evening with him. I used to be fascinated with enrolling, and a man who was attending stated, “Man, I’ll commerce locations with you (laughs)!” He stated, “You’re already in the correct faculty, touring all over the world with Lonnie!”

Wanting again, he was proper. It was an training that I may by no means get by paying tuition. I received to rub shoulders with the masters of guitar and a number of the biggest artists on this discipline of music. I picked their brains and even received to jam with a lot of them, all due to my father. He was well-respected amongst his friends. After they noticed his youngsters on the street, they embraced us. They knew we have been going to maintain this music going into the long run, and right here we’re.

On “I’m Feeling You,” you get such a thick guitar tone.
I had the nice Will McFarlane on rhythm guitar. He performed with Johnnie Taylor and Bonnie Raitt, and he’s superb. He stayed out of my method however elevated the music. I began the intro with a Strat – my primary, The Child. I hadn’t performed a Strat in so lengthy as a result of on my final file, Instances Have Modified, my producer, Steve Jordan, stated, “We’re leaving the Strats on the bus (laughs)!”

Why is that?
He needed the nice and cozy sound of the Gibsons. Jim Gaines as producer was large open with guitar tones. I attempted to mix the Strats and the Gibsons, and I used to be actually pleased with the sounds. I used Gibsons for the leads and Strats for the percussion sounds.

Is the lead on “I’m Feeling You” a Gibson ES-336?
It’s! They’re onerous to seek out. I used a 335 on the file, as properly. I’ve a customized Les Paul and used a Paul Reed Smith on “My Love Will Make You Do Proper.” I really like the 335, but it surely’s cumbersome, so I used to be predominately taking part in Strats. Going from a Strat to a 335 is uncomfortable so far as its feeling towards your physique. I received a 336 for myself and my dad. Then, a good friend had a black one made for me that has my emblem on it. That’s the one I exploit for all of the lead tones on the file.

Which amps are you utilizing?
I’m utilizing a Deluxe Reverb, my buddy’s Supro, and a Tremendous Reverb with a Quilter head on high; I unplugged my audio system and plugged it into the Quilter head. I additionally use a Vibro-King, however I don’t take it on the street as a result of I don’t need something to occur to it. Onstage, I’ll stack two Tube Screamers for solos.

What’s developing?
Touring! I’m going out with my man Coco Montoya!

This text initially appeared in VG’s January 2025 problem. All copyrights are by the creator and Classic Guitar journal. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.