MITCH KASHMAR "100 MILES TO GO" Source: Big City Blues Magazine Date: 10/2010 Writer: Roger & Margaret White

 “100 Miles To Go”  is a reissue of the out of print vinyl recording from the Pontiax who were a West Coast blues phenomena during the '80s. Originally released on the Belgium label, Blue Sting Records in 1989 the re-release by Delta Groove includes two bonus tracks reuniting the original band. The Pontiax’s featured Bill Flores and Jon Lawton on guitars, Jack Kennedy playing bass, Tom Lackner behind the drums, Jim Calire on occasional sax & piano and Mitch fronting the band on harp and vocals. In the '90s Mitch went out on his own with a successful solo career and recognized by the Blues Music Awards with nominations in 2006 and 2007 and has added his soulful harmonica to the latest incarnation of War. With the release of  “Live At Labatt” featuring members of the Pontiax in 2008 it set the wheels in motion for this project. With Mitch Kashmar's success his name is added in front of the Pontiax but he's getting back to his roots and bringing his original band into the present day.

With a swaggering beat and a high register harp, Mitch Kashmar's full deep voice usher's in the “Night Creeper” setting the stage for things to come. “My Kinda Woman” brings the duel guitars front and center, one a shimmery vibrato while his partner features a deep twang with the spotlight shifting from one to the other. The organ purrs under the hot pop's of the guitar and drives the title tune “100 Miles To Go” as Mitch sings abut the women waiting for them at home. “Lip Service” kicks the band into high gear with a harp boogie blowing non stop as the drums hit the accents and the guitar swing through out. “Gonna Find Someone New” finds sax and piano added to the line up and Kashmar's harp joins the horn section during the break but it's Kashmar's smooth swinging vocals that really lead the song. West coast harp master William Clarke sits in on his song “Horn of Plenty” for a cornucopia of harp with Kashmar echoing and complimenting Clarke's lines. Little Walter's “Long As I Have You” is one of the few covers in this set, the guitars have a mournful twang followed by sparkling runs, the harp a full moan, but the heartfelt vocals sell the song. With echoy harp leading the brisk strut of “Walkin' Downtown,” the drummer picks it up and lays down a solid beat as the guitars pick out highlights along the way. A stand out number is “Let It All Fall Dead” with the guitar accenting every phrase of the vocals and a high harp crying out the final lead. A swinging jump tune “I'm Sorry About That” finishes out the original LP with the guitars playing stinging lead lines around the vocals as the drums and harmonica drives them faster and harder for this three minute finisher. As a bonus all the original band returned to record two extra tracks. The great thing is it fits so well you don't notice the 21 year time difference “When You Do Like That” continues in the Pontiax style. “The Petroleum Blues” brings them into the present with a second line drive as the harp leads the piano and horns through this slick set made even more contemporary after the BP oil mess.