Tug of War, recently debuted by blues artist Gina Sicilia is quickly on the rise becoming one of the most notable modern-day blues artists. Based out of Nashville, her humble music roots are becoming within her homegrown sound. The album begins with “I Don’t Want To Be In Love,” I was immediately drawn in with the simple guitar riff, but stayed due to her deeper register. She has a strong pair of lungs with a wide vocal range which makes me want to continue listening to what she has in store for the rest of the album. “Damaging Me” follows the opener, slightly more upbeat than the one before. Her vocal inflections are more apparent within the song with a catchy chorus. “He Called Me Baby” is the third song on the album, introducing a slower beat than the songs before. Keeps enough energy throughout to not put you to sleep, but is not one of the albums high points. “I’ll Stand Up” is a lovely departure from the songs before, my favorite on the album. Sicilia truly showcases the power in her voice within the first verse. She is truly magical with the strength behind each note. “Never Gonna End” transitions from a sadder melody to a happier beat. A chorus joins Sicilia shortly into the song, something I wasn’t expecting. It was nice to break up the tension building from the song before. She mentions the said “Tug of War” in the second verse, always a happy moment when the album title is mentioned. “I Cried” is also accompanied by a chorus, starting to make the soulful feeling incredibly strong throughout. The electric guitar at the beginning remains thoughtful throughout, but for me, isn’t one of the better songs on the album.
The lyrics within “They Never Pay Me,” are more than just money. “The respect I deserve, for what I have given…” stretches this song into many meanings within. A powerful woman coming to showcase her worth is highlighted within the song. “Abandoned” starts off simpler but builds into a fuller song, which is expecting with the previous songs. It ends on a lower note with strong vocal inflection. “Tell Him” is one of my top favorites on the album. Sicilia sang the song earlier on in life, and it brings me back to a time when I was younger and was wronged by a boy. It reminds me strongly of a youthful up approach to an older song, but it can still ring true throughout your life. “All My Loving” has a profound emotional centered feeling through the song. Sicilia poured her heart and soul into it, much like the rest of the album, but can truly be felt within the beginning chords. For me, it was one of the top winners on the album.
Last but not least, the album ends with “Heaven.” For me, the song seems to be lacking compared to the last emotionally charged power ballad. Overall, the message of finding heaven and being saved was well distributed. Overall, the soulful blues album struck a few chords with me, but a few also fell flat. Sicilia has truly grown as an artist and will continue to grow throughout her career. She is not going anywhere, as she is on the forefront of being one of the stronger blues female vocalists. She is truly talented in her vocal talent, however, the lyrics don’t stay with me as much as the power of her voice. Personally, I am not one to listen to just any type of music on average, especially blues music. Depending on my mood and setting, the type of music I vibe too can change. However, the soulful feel I find within Tug of War brings warmth into my playlist. Luckily for singer-songwriter fans throughout the United States, Gina is embarking on a tour for her fans to see. If you are interested in catching Gina on tour, she may be heading to a city near you. Check out the concert dates below, but make sure you give Sicilia’s album a listen for yourself.
6/21/17 – Ruthie’s BBQ – Montclair, NJ
6/22/17 – Stanhope House – Stanhope, NJ
6/23/17 – 9 Wallis – Beverly, MA
6/24/17 – 89 North – Patchogue, Long Island, New York
6/26/17 – Rockwood Music Hall (stage 3/7:30pm) in NYC
6/28/17 – Grain Craft Bar + Kitchen – Newark, DE
7/1/17 – Isis Music Hall – Asheville, NC
7/18/17 – Rhythm Room – Phoenix, AZ
7/19/17 – Harvelle’s – Long Beach, CA
7/20/17 – Harvelle’s – Santa Monica, CA
7/22/17 – World Records Showcase Theater – Bakersfield, CA
7/23/17 – Moe’s Alley – Santa Cruz, CA
7/25/17 – The Big Easy – Petaluma, CA
7/26/17 – Boom Boom Room – San Francisco, CA
7/28/17 – Poor House Bistro – San Jose, CA
8/2/17 – Steve’s Guitars – Carbondale, CO
8/3/17 – The Gold Room – Colorado Springs, CO
8/4/17 – Ziggie’s – Denver, CO
8/5/17 – Knuckleheads – Kansas City, MO
8/6/17 – Des Moines Social Club – Des Moines, IA
8/8/17 – Zoo Bar – Lincoln, NE
8/10/17 – Corner Bar – Fremont, NE
8/11/17 – The Flatted Fifth – Bellevue, Iowa
8/13/17 – BB’s Jazz, Blues and Soups – St Louis, MO
8/19/17 – Gray’s On Main – Franklin, TN
8/20/17 – Daniel Day Gallery – Birmingham, AL
10/6/17 – The Blue Note Grill – Durham, NC
10/15/17 – Cafe 9 – New Haven, CT
10/17/17 – Capitol Ale House – Richmond, VA
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Coverage By: Allison Wyrsch |Instagram: allisonisthecooliest Exclusively for @Music, Why Not! – All Rights Reserved-