Album Review of
Hot Chicken Wisdom

Written by Joe Ross
July 17, 2019 - 3:15pm EDT
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Nashville-based singer/songwriter/guitarist Rich Mahan’s sophomore release is an energetic, crowd-pleasing disc with kick-up-your-heels grit. He serves up eight originals and three new arrangements of favorites (“Loose Lucy,“ “To Love Somebody” and “Open Up Your Heart”) in his shows. Mahan’s country rock vibe has bar-hopping swagger as he sings about drinking, smoking and loving.  While Mahan is an accomplished enough singer and picker, his real strength is wily and witty songwriting. “Tick on My Taint” has a hook that would be well received by a group of imbibed folks partying around the campfire.  Original songs like “Daydrinking,” “I Smoke Pot,” “Hot Chicken & an Ice Cold 40,” “Stoned as a Roman Slave,” and “Coffee in the Morning” present plenty of adventurous alt-insight from the self-professed “Hippie in the City.” Mahan is carving out his own niche with some help from fine Nashville musicians like PT Gazell, Bekka Bramlett, Chelvis Childers, Eric Stroud, David Roe, Mark T. Jordan and Grayson Downs.  (Joe Ross, Roots Music Report)