He’s been kicking around longer than most as a guitarist-for-hire up and down the East Coast, working the stage shadows between fiery solos. But Richmond-based Andy Thomas, whose credits include his own Trongone Band as well as the Americana staple Yarn, had an epiphany one day while in the parking lot of a Home Depot: It’s time to step forward. With help from Widespread Panic’s Dave Schools, an old friend, he’s crafted a compelling album, Highway Junkie, that’s slated for release early next spring. As evidenced by “Long Gone,” it’s a rollicking and rockin’ odyssey that bends southern rock back to its honky-tonk origins.
The Old Grey Cat 