The singer, songwriter and virtuoso will celebrate the release of his new album by playing the Irvine Lake Blues Festival.

By ROBERT KINSLER, Special to the Register
In an age where countless contemporary rock musicians are has-beens by age 30, Walter Trout is defying every rule in the modern-day playbook by continuing his unlikely ascent as a blues-rock guitar hero at age 57.

Trout's latest album, "The Outsider," was released by Provogue Records on June 24, and the Huntington Beach resident will celebrate its arrival when he performs at the Irvine Lake 10th Annual Blues Festival on June 29.

Produced by John Porter and recorded at Mad Dog Studios in Burbank, "The Outsider" ranks as one of Trout's finest albums. A follow-up to his 2006 album "Full Circle," Trout's new disc puts the focus squarely on all aspects of Trout's arsenal - namely his three-tier talents as singer, songwriter and virtuoso guitarist.

"After 'Full Circle,' which was really a guitar showcase jam album, I was determined on this one to really concentrate on the songs," said Trout in a recent interview. "So that's where I really put my thought and my energy. (I thought if) I'm going to make another CD, I'm not gonna' go in there and jam this time. I'm going to have songs that can live on their own whether I'm playing them or somebody else is."

So, while "Full Circle" found Trout teaming up with the likes of James Harman, John Mayall, Jeff Healey (who died earlier this year) and Joe Bonamassa, the 13 tracks on "The Outsider" showcase Trout.

Songs such as the fiery blues-rocker "Welcome to the Human Race," confessional acoustic number "All My Life" and the British blues-rock groove of "Child of Another Day" are among the many standouts on the disc.

"I'm 57 and still climbing the ladder," Trout said of his career. "I'm playing 20 major festivals (this year) and many as a headliner. I'm enjoying it really."

Just because names like Healey, Mayall, Coco Montoya and Guitar Shorty are absent on "The Outsider," there is no shortage of sonic star power. Acclaimed drummer Kenny Aronoff (John Mellencamp), bassist James "Hutch" Hutchinson (Boz Scaggs, Bryan Adams, Willie Nelson) and pianist Jon Clearly (Bonnie Raitt) serve as his band on the disc.

Trout recalled how the celebrated Aronoff came to play on the tracks.

"You know, believe or not, that guy sent me an e-mail and said 'I would really like to play on your record.' ... And you know what was funny, he sent me an e-mail and gave me his cell number. I gave him a call and we had a long talk. We became buddies over the phone. I was knocked out by his humbleness and he is just an incredible gentleman and unimpressed with his achievements."

Trout recalls telling Aronoff that he was impressed by the drummer's work with a wide range of artists, including Melissa Etheridge, Elton John, John Fogerty and Mellencamp.

"And then he said - I'll never forget it - 'I'm humbled by what I don't know.' And I thought, 'What an awesome attitude.' "

Aronoff told Trout he would be available for four days, plenty of time to lay down drum tracks on "The Outsider."

"He said 'I'm going to cancel some other stuff I have, but I have one gig on Sunday night I'll have to do, so I'll have to leave early on Sunday.' I said 'What's your gig?' He said 'I have to play on the Grammys with John Fogerty, Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis.' 'Well man, go do that gig (Feb. 11, 2008) and I'll go home and watch you.' "

Born and raised in Ocean City, N.J., Trout began his long road to fame when he was in his teens, playing in a number of area rock bands. In 1973, he moved out West.

During that decade, he scored spots playing in bands of John Lee Hooker, Big Mama Thorton and Joe Tex.

His profile was raised in 1981 when he joined Canned Heat, and he remained in that band until 1984. But it was his subsequent stint with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers that ultimately gave him the platform to launch a successful solo career in 1989.

"With John Lee Hooker and John Mayall I was sort of the lead guitar player for hire," Trout recalled.

"But all along in those years I was writing songs and I was singing and I had that band down at Perqs (in Huntington Beach) that I was doing my tunes and fronting the band and that's really - even though I wasn't making my living doing that - that's where I was having fun and utilizing whatever skills I had.

"And I kind of always wanted to be thought of as a singer-songwriter-guitar player, you know what I mean? Someone who does all of it."

Contact the writer: rockwrite@yahoo.com