Rock music has its roots in blues music, especially blues guitarists like Lead Belly and Memphis Minnie. Given how rock music has evolved over the years into many different subgenres, it is a surprise to see a modern song evoke the spirit of classic rock n' roll. This is the case with Brooklyn blues duo Baker and Cas' newest single "My Sug". Check it out on YouTube here:
Featuring guitar and vocals by Emmanuel Casablanca, the song immediately hooks the listener with its harmonica and chug-a-chug rock rhythm that defined early rock and roll songs like Chuck Berry's "Roll Over Beethoven". The first and second verses of the song are as catchy as the rhythm.
"My sugar don’t like it when I walk in the door too late
My sugar don't like it when I walk in the door too late
Sug don’t got to say a word, I can tell by looking at her face."
Speaking of Chuck Berry, it is his spirit that Casablanca evokes in a fabulous guitar solo that takes place after the second verse. He keeps up this momentum for the rest of the song, as he smoothly continues the chug-a-chug rhythm.
Through classic rock n' roll, Casablanca wrote an upbeat song inspired by love. He states, "My Sug was tasked to be based on positive outlooks of our relationship, or rather just regular relationship milestones."
Listen on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/track/0oSorScq35mFe72VXSdshs
Emmanuel Casablanca is multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, painter, and actor and released his debut LP, Blood on My Hands, in August 2022. The album featured many notable musicians including, Grammy Nominated musician Eric Gales, world renowned guitarist Paul Gilbert, and Blues Music Award Winner Albert Castiglia.
Additionally, Casablanca has worked with an array of A-list performers over the course of his career, among them such luminaries as bassist and producer Bill Laswell, drummer Daxx Nielsen, and bassist Doug Wimbish of the Grammy-winning band Living Colour. His sophomore album, Strung Out on Thrills, with a planned release date of January 2024, is currently underway.
Signed under Sony Music with Bad Jeu Jeu Records, Kelli Baker brings a song like no other. Known in some circles as “The Phoenix”, Kelli was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona.
Her show-stopping track, “Blood on the Nile” was met with critical acclaim, landing on Spotify’s coveted editorial playlist, “Blues Roots”, receiving commercial airplay, and a headlining feature in Guitar Girl Magazine.
Now performing with The Kelli Baker Band, she appears consistently at iconic music houses such as NYC’s The Bitter End, taking the stage at The Cutting Room, Rockwood Music Hall, and some of New York’s most discerning venues. The Kelli Baker Band is booked nationwide throughout 2023.
Meeting at the “Road to Memphis” Blues Challenge in 2022, Kelli Baker and Emanuel Casablanca knew immediately they were a musical match. Both featuring powerhouse vocals, commanding stage presence, and stylistic swagger, they conspired to work together on what would eventually manifest into Baker & Cas, “Hooligans”, an album due out October 2023.
