Over the years there have been plenty of mainstream artists who have talked and written about their Christian beliefs: Lenny Kravitz, Sufjan Stevens, Kings X and Tim Tebow, just to name a few. Add to that list The Jondo Trio. These Midwestern blues rockers tout that they’re “Lovers of Jesus, the blues and bacon” on their website, and the first two are prominent on Jondo Trio’s debut album. On album opener “Homesick” smokin’ hot blues riffs and the wailing blues growl of Nate Mosley heat up the speakers enough to fry, well, bacon. Drummer Paul Osborn and bass player Stu Way hold the bottom end down just fine. With a mid-song acoustic solo, “Homesick” gets the album off on the right foot. “Dealin’ With the Devil” is up next and keeps the blues rock comin’ with lyrics like, “Ain’t no use in crying, ain’t no need to beg / I’ll be dealing with the devil, until my dying bed” and a nice slide solo and repeat. “Desire” comes in to cool things down a bit with almost a Hootie and the Blowfish vibe. “I’m a codependent, non-repentant, convoluted mess / Non-committed bystander is the title I like best,” Mosley sings over a light, flowing track. Then it’s back to a slow blues dirge on “Eye On The Prize.”

The Jondo Trio pull from a long line of blues rock influences: from ZZ Top, Beck, Bogert & Appice and Cream, to more modern bands like Nickelback, Seven Mary Three, 3 Doors Down and even Creed, with Mosley’s Scott Stapp-like leaning voice. They take all of these influences and throw them in the blues rock pot, mix it up with a tasty dose of 12-bar blues, Southern soul and boogie woogie. The final ingredient is a message, a message of “faith, failure and forgiveness.” Throw in some tasty hickory-smoked bacon and you’ve got a recipe for musical success.