Hailing from Scarborough, Ontario, one-man blues-band Broke Fuse drops the 5-song EP Splashdown on June 10. This collection of harmonica-driven instrumentals is the third release from Broke Fuse in as many years.
Jay Moonah is the man behind Broke Fuse. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, he has recorded and released two LPs: Why Should I Be Blue? (2020) and Rocket Ride (2021). Both albums were well received, garnering stellar reviews, chart-topping success on the Roots Music Report Canadian Top 50, and a 2021 Maple Blues Award nomination in the New Artist category.
Splashdown features five distinctive all-instrumental tracks. Two take their inspiration from different beers from Scarborough’s Common Good Beer Company: “Caught In A Eddy (For the Common Good part 2)” is a surf music tribute, while “Solace (For the Common Good part 3)” recalls a mellow style of blues rock instrumental, with harmonica taking the role ordinarily assumed by pedal steel or bottleneck guitar. Appropriately, Common Good will also be the site for Splashdown’s release party on Saturday, June 11.
Two new pieces grace the EP: “South Scarborough Hoedown”, laced influences of southern rock, traditional folk, and a bit of psychedelia; and “Big Noodle Boogie”, a 12-bar blues rave-up with a few turns and twists. Rounding out the set is the quirky “Rabbi From Texas Too”, which actually has its origins 20 years earlier with Moonah’s band at the time, roots-rockers Uncle Seth.
