Geminii Dragon – Equinox (2023)

Geminii Dragon is a vehicle for Thibodaux, Louisiana vocalist Jessica Harper and her song writing partner, guitarist Christian Simeon. They draw on a wide range of influences that includes the likes of Koko Taylor, Nina Simone and Janis Joplin to Albert King, ZZ Top, Jimi Hendrix, and Fleetwood Mac. Harper and Simeon stir all these elements together to create a heady mix. To simply define their music as blues-rock doesn’t do it justice. The music on Equinox powers out from the speakers and is a heady mix of blues, rock, funk, soul, and sprinkle of AOR.

All the songs on ‘Equinox’ are Harper/Simeon originals except for ‘You got it Good.’ Backing singer La La Thomas co-wrote this one and gets a chance to step forward on vocals on this roots rock flavoured track.

Talking about vocals, Harper is a powerhouse. Think peak period Ike & Tina Turner Tina, Mavis Staples, or Koko Taylor. She brings passion and fire to her performance making every track on ‘Equinox’ an experience.

‘Switchblade Sister’ kicks the album off. It’s a hard rocking track. Bass and drums, Dougie V and E Sass, set the tone on the intro. It’s a compelling mix of 70’s rock and soul. Harper nails the track vocally and Simeon adds some superb guitar work.

The first release from the album, ‘The Ballad of Willie Mae & George,’ is pure southern blues-rock. The way Harper and Thomas work their vocals together on this track is sublime. The band grooves along behind them as the song narrates a man contemplating how his cheating ways will lead to his wife killing him. Can’t get more blues than a song like that!

‘Rusty Gun’ is another highlight. Simeon guitar playing is excellent on this track, giving it a powerful hard rock feel. It’s a tale of life on the wrong side of town and Simeon’s playing gives it the grit and sleaze the tale requires.

There’re three tracks sprinkled through the album that step away from the blues-rock, funk trappings. ‘Time,’ ‘Equinox,’ and ‘Hands of Time, showcase Harpers love of AOR. There’s a sense of classic Fleetwood Mac, early Hall & Oates, Bob Seger and Boz Scaggs, to these tracks. That may seem like a big leap from the gritty blues of other tracks but there is a deeper connection to these artists. Before finding their niche and major hit making points in their careers all these artists performed to various levels of success as more pure blues/soul acts. It’s those threads that Harper and Simeon pull on for these numbers.

As the album draws to a close ‘Good ‘Thang’ keeps the standard up. It’s funky as hell and kind of gives off that early 70’s vibe again. It was a time when funk and soul were dominating US radio and rock bands were trying to get that feel too. This feels like that side of rock, think James Gang or early Bob Seger (again) releases, and you’ll get the idea.

At its climax the album throws us the one true curveball and it’s a cracker. When many acts of this nature would close out an album with a slow smouldering blues number Geminii Dragon turn into Joan Jett. ‘Bad Rumours,’ is a short sharp rocker. It’s all attitude and bite and Harper’s vocal banter is spat out with all the aggression of the punk era, US style. The song is a startling finish to the album, a wake up call and a reminder that while Geminii Dragon are rooted in blues music they are quite capable of opening up into other musical styles and still excelling.

Geminii Dragon have taken a leap forward in the short space of time between ‘Fighting Fire With Fire’ and ‘Equinox.’ I can’t wait to hear where they go next.