Seth James “Motormouth”

Sometimes it only takes a few seconds to understand who you are dealing with when the first notes of a record begin to resonate. A guitar teasing the left ear, a groove settling comfortably in the right, and a voice arriving head-on with the confidence of someone who knows exactly where the music is going. With Motormouth, Seth James delivers all of that at once. The result is an album that plays straight through… no pun intended with the cover artwork.

Long established on the American blues scene, Seth James is no newcomer. A guitarist and singer with a slightly rough edge to his voice, he has built a solid reputation among fans of Texas blues. With this album, he also confirms that he knows perfectly how to keep this style alive without ever drifting into overly academic blues. And that’s a good thing.

With Seth James, blues comfortably brushes against rock and rhythm and blues. The riffs are measured and always placed perfectly between too much and not enough. Never showy, always relevant, his playing reminds us that the best bluesmen are above all storytellers. The rhythm section moves forward with assurance, while Seth James’s guitar glides elegantly across this solid musical foundation. You can hear a musician who knows his roots perfectly but refuses to be locked into a formula. And once again, that’s a good thing.

For this project, the Texan surrounded himself with a truly first-class team. On keyboards and production is Kevin McKendree, a key figure in Nashville studios. Alongside him, guitarist Rob McNelley, bassist Steve Mackey, and drummer Lynn Williams form a remarkably efficient rhythm section, accustomed to backing some of the best artists on the American scene. Added to that is a horn section featuring Jim Hoke, Vinnie Ciesielski, and John Hinchey, bringing a very deliberate rhythm and blues flavor to several tracks.

What makes Motormouth strong is this constant balance between power and fragility. The more electric tracks release a contagious energy, while the more laid-back numbers allow the arrangements to breathe and highlight the singer’s voice. A voice filled with character, giving the songs an immediate sense of sincerity.

In Motormouth, the blues naturally converses with its musical cousins. It is a signature approach that the Tulsa-based Oklahoma label Horton Records has consistently supported by highlighting artists such as Paul Benjaman, Carter Sampson, and Jesse Aycock. Within that lineage, the album by Seth James moves forward with ease, driven by polished production and strong musical coherence.

Motormouth is a solid, deeply groovy album that should work just as well in the living room as it does on stage. Direct, inspired, and impressively effective, it confirms that Seth James belongs to those artists who keep the blues very much alive (and that’s a good thing!).

Technical details

ARTIST: Seth James
ALBUM: Motormouth
LABEL: Horton Records
RELEASE: March 21, 2026

MUSICIANS:

• Seth James (vocals, guitar)
• Kevin McKendree (keyboards)
• Rob McNelley (guitar)
• Steve Mackey (bass)
• Lynn Williams (drums)
• Jim Hoke (saxophones)
• Vinnie Ciesielski (trumpet)
• John Hinchey (trombone)
• Alice Spencer, Nick Jay, Etta Britt, Miss Jackie Wilson, The Time Jumpers (backing vocals)

FOR FANS OF: Jimmie Vaughan, Anson Funderburgh, Doyle Bramhall II, Charlie Sexton