Brit blues is alive and very well as evidenced by Mick Clarke’s current offering.  The well-traveled guitarist/vocalist has packed this lively set with solidly played originals, each brimming with personality, and some nicely handled covers.  The rockin’ boogie-blues “Dry Road Blues”, the lumbering rocker “Noodle Bar” and the slide shuffle  “Hard Hat”, with lyrics evoking early electric Dylan, provide a telling cross-section of the varied fare present.  Clarke’s vocal persona is strong enough to take on Howling Wolf’s “Smokestack Lightning”.  Sprinkled throughout are some very tasty instrumentals, including an unexpected, and most appealing, take on the Patsy Cline hit, Don Gibson’s “Sweet Dreams”.