Salvation in Lights

Mike Farris' second album of gospel-inspired blues-rock drew a surprising amount of buzz from both Christian and secular media, considering its lack of commercial appeal. This was due to a tantalizing combination of old-school soul and newfound gospel influences, which came as a breath of fresh New Orleans-style air. The 36-year-old Farris had fronted the '90s jam band the Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies before backing into a lead spot with Double Trouble (any blues-rock follower is familiar with the rhythm section that lived on well after Stevie Ray Vaughan). Having heard little from him since his roots rock solo debut, Goodnight Sun, in 2002, Farris' fan base could not have predicted the warm reception given Salvation in Lights. The album was a combination of gospel standard covers and brassy originals that swept Southern influences from uptown Dixieland to the Memphis blues. What put the album in a league of its own -- besides Farris' brawny, rugged voice -- was superb rock production by Matt Martone (3 Doors Down, Skillet). The "salvation" penned in the album title referred to a moment at a relative's funeral in which Farris decided to overcome a personal battle with alcohol that had gone on and off for over a decade. One critic dubbed this "the album you wish Taylor Hicks had made," for the amount of enjoyable blues-rock that folks had been waiting to hear. ~ Jared Johnson