Pontus J Back
Mikko Rintanen and Lelle Törnqvist (keys and drums, respectively) join Rockpastor Pontus J Back (vocals, guitar) in raising Blues-marinated Rock'n'Roll too few play in 2026. Should you find yourself stomping a jig, clapping uncontrollably, and shouting joyfulness - well, that ain't nothin' but the spirit.
Back in the Day, 2003
Sister Rosetta Tharpe
The Gospel of Blues
(Geffen)
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Rock'n'Roll had no fixed starting point, gradually forming from disparate impulses. But resplendently enraptured Sister Rosetta was way back there: A guitar and voice so filled with Divine resonance as to shake away temporal trepidations, blending 1930s jazz, 1940s blues, and other rustic musical idioms into a new creature, delivering up a gospel-trimmed horn of plenty from which joyful belief spake. Only the faithful can rock like this.
Recommended: "This Train," "Sit Down," "Trouble in Mind," "Shout, Sister, Shout!," "God Don't Like It," "What is the Soul of Man?," "Singing in My Soul," "Strange Things Happening Every Day," "Two Little Fishes and Five Loaves of Bread," "Jonah," "Didn't It Rain," "The Natural Facts," "Down by the Riverside," "Up Above My Head I Hear Music in the Air"
Videos: "This Train" "God Don't Like It" "Strange Things Happening Every Day" "Two Little Fishes and Five Loaves of Bread" "Up Above My Head" (live)
Pontus J. Back
"Be en bön för mig" "Saliga visshet"
(Talking Music)
Finnish 'Rock Pastor' Pontus occupies an especial category, that of indefatigable guitar-rocker with eyes focused only on Eternal reward. While all of his efforts merit attention, these tracks work particular wonders in easily rolling vintage manners. The attractive melody of "Saliga visshet" may seem familiar; know that it is a brisk retelling of 1873 hymn "Blessed Assurance." There is crooning, there is bopping, and there is praise - one gets the whole package.
Videos: "Be en bön för mig" "Saliga visshet"
