Robert Randolph

Jason Landry, contributor

 

Robert Randolph’s Preacher Kids, released June 27, 2025 on Sun Records, is a triumph for blues guitar enthusiasts like myself, showcasing his virtuosic pedal steel guitar playing in a raw, genre-blending tip to gospel, rock, and the blues. 

 

As a fan of the gritty wail of blues guitar, I found this album to be thrilling, to say the least. Not only is it a masterclass in pedal steel guitar playing, but it also conjures up a mixture that hints toward rebellious, barroom swagger. Recorded in Los Angeles and Nashville with Randolph in the conductor seat and produced by Shooter Jennings, the ten tracks start with a bang!

 

I dropped the needle on the vinyl and out poured “Big Women”, the first track on the album—it absolutely floored me. From the opening crunch of the lap steel, the song is a bold celebration of strength and confidence, with a chorus that hooks you instantly: “Big women got me riding high! Big women make me feel alright!” It’s the kind of song that reminds you why you fell in love with blues guitar in the first place.

 

Other tracks like “I’d Like To Love You Baby” feels like a love letter to someone, with a little rock ‘n’ roll temptation sprinkled in. Randolph sings to his lover, “I’d like to love you, baby, And keep my other baby too”. The track “Choir Woman” surprised me. I thought it was going to be this melodic track based on its title, and it turned out to be this raw, rock song reminiscent of something I’d hear out of Lenny Kravitz. Randolph’s slide riffs feel like a confession.

 

“Sinner” keeps the momentum high, with Randolph’s pedal steel weaving through swampy riffs and haunting melodies. During the bridge, the bass kicks in, then the rock n’ roll guitar and slide ultimately elevating into a thunderous chorus. It’s classic blues rock 101.

 

The album’s cohesion is remarkable, balancing gritty rockers with sensual slow-burners like “All Night Lover” and the slinky “Roosevelt Pool”, which is as close as you’ll get to a raunchy traditional blues track. Each song feels like a chapter in Randolph’s life journey from preacher’s kid to blues innovator.

 

As a blues guitar lover, Preacher Kids feels like a record that honors the genre’s roots while pushing it into electrifying territory. From playing sacred steel in church to stages everywhere, Robert Randolph’s ability to make his pedal steel sing, wail, and growl—sometimes all in the same time is quite inspiring. It’s a must-listen for anyone who craves the soulful sting of a great blues guitar riff and the storytelling that makes the genre timeless.