It would be easier to enumerate the A-listers that Jimmy Vivino hasn’t played with, than to list the ones that he has. As a band member and band leader of Conan O’Brien’s late-night shows for 26 years, a member of The Max Weinberg 7, a member of Canned Heat, and a guitar slinger and arranger for hire, he has been in the room where it happens.
Now, at age 70, he’s eschewing the “golden handcuffs” and is stepping into the spotlight with his own blues album, out now on Gulf Coast Records. Gonna Be 2 of Those Days is a synthesis of all Vivino has seen and heard. It’s the best album I’ve heard this year in any genre and one of the best original blues albums in recent memory. Jimmy V. is obviously a blues obsessive.
In our long conversation, we discussed Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, ZZ Top, The Vaughan Brothers, Sue Foley, Chess Records, Little Walter, Johnnie Johnson, Jimi Hendrix, Hubert Sumlin, and many others. Vivino is able to conjure the ghosts with old roadhouse music and provide a freshness to it with modern lyrics. The lead track “Blues in the 21st”, which features guitar ace Joe Bonamassa, bemoans the state of the world with clever Dylan-esque turns of phrase “even Jesus got a mask on, he’s gettin’ ready for the flood.” The current single “Ruby Is Back” harkens back to the humorous femme fatale blues numbers of yesteryear. The guitar and organ work and hooky chorus stand out here. Vivino’s guitar tears the house down on the title track and the piano solo gives it a 50’s feel. As discussed in the interview and heard on the record, Chuck Berry is a big influence.
Often in the blues, you can tell the artist starts with the groove and the lyrics are an afterthought. That is very much not the case here. Vivino admits that his songwriting process starts with the lyrics and they do command attention. He has a way of being angry and dismayed with the country and the music business while still keeping his sense of humor, like in “Beware The Wolf” and “Ain’t Nuthin’s Gonna Be Alright”.
Tramps like us will enjoy the conversation about playing with Bruce Springsteen, Little Steven Van Zandt, Southside Johnny, and other luminaries at the fantastic Christmas Shows at Convention Hall in Asbury Park in the early 2000’s. What was it like growing up in North Jersey with his sax-playing brother Jerry and comedian brother “Uncle Floyd”? “It was like a Three Stooges routine,” Vivino chuckled. Jimmy Vivino had no choice but to be an entertainer and he continues to do so at an elite level.
You can WATCh Dave Popkin’s full interview with Jimmy Vivino here.
Jimmy Vivino “Gonna Be 2 of Those Days”:
Jimmy Vivino “Blues In The 21st Century” live in NYC 2025:
Jimmy Vivino “Ruby’s Back”:
Conan pays tribute to Jimmy Vivino & The Basic Cable Band and “Killing Floor” live:
