JASON RICCI & NEW BLOOD Source: Erie Times - Record   Date: 01/2008 Writer: Dr. Rock

Jason Ricci and New Blood. "Rocket Number 9." Three and a half stars. 

He looks like a punk rocker with his dyed hair and tattoos. But when Jason Ricci and New Blood take over Docksider this Saturday, you'll find yourself in the company of a fiery, thrilling and boundary-smashing rock band that also happens to include Erie's Ron Sutton on drums. 

Ricci plays harmonica, and electric blues pretty much informs everything he does. But it's how he does it -- and the breadth of his vision -- that'll floor you on this sprawling, 74-minute CD. 

Ricci writes with unflinching honesty about his demons -- past drug abuse, jail time -- and that openness gives "Rocket Number 9" a gritty, lived-in feel. It's as if he's transmitting his soul directly into you. It's not always a prettiest picture, but as the Stones proved on "Let It Bleed" and "Sticky Fingers" -- a time Ricci occasionally conjures up -- that can also result in compelling, riveting music. 

Ricci comes clean out of the gate with the raw-boned, blood-chilling "The Rocker," a ferocious document about an addict's love/hate relationship with drugs and himself. From there, "Rocket Number 9" careens wildly on the musical map, dipping its blues toes into funk-jazz instrumentals, pensive, soulful jams ("Loving Eye" is a knockout); swingin' blues ("Mr. Satan"); and even out-there, interstellar space jazz on the title cut, a Sun Ra cover. 

Ricci takes the harp into terrain with squonks and squalls that sometimes sound more like horns or guitars than harmonica. His impassioned vocals also stand out, especially the devilishly scary performance on "The Rocker." Guitarist Shawn Starsky is equally stellar, and he wrote or co-wrote many of the CD's best, most-jammin' cuts. 

"Rocket Number 9" is so densely packed with good, deeply felt songs you need multiple listenings to absorb it all. When you do, a new favorite will emerge each time because it takes so many stylistic detours. 

Some CDs feel so real, so honest, they smack you in the face. This is one of those, and it makes Saturday's Jason Ricci and New Blood show at Docksider a don't-miss event.