August 9th, 2026 - The Big Blackfoot Exclaims: "Siogo" With an ESB in Hand

 

Hey there rockers, rollers, and craft beer freaks!  Happy Sunday!  The Meista here today with one more pairing for you today... "Siogo", the killer 6th album by legendary southern rockers Blackfoot and a tasty and smooth Bewilder ESB from Bewilder Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Blackfoot
• Title: "Siogo"
• Recorded: 1983 at Subterranean Studios and Solid Sound in Ann Arbor, Michigan and The Recording Connection Mobile in Cleveland, Ohio
• Release date: May 1983 (6th studio album by Blackfoot)
• Record company: Atco
• Production: Al Nalli 
• Album cover art: Gary Heery and Bob Defrin (photography, design and artwork)
• Personnel: Charlie Hargrett (lead and rhythm guitars), Ken Hensley (keyboards, slide guitar on "Drivin' Fool", and backing vocals), Rickey Medlocke (lead and rhythm guitars, and lead and backing vocals), Jackson Spires (drums, percussion, and backing vocals), and Greg T. Walker (bass and backing vocals)
• Additional musician: Lala (backing vocals) and Michael Osborne (backing vocals)
• Musical style: Rock and roll, hard rock, heavy blues rock, southern rock
• Sound: Although more commercial and poppier than earlier efforts, the sound on "Siogo" is still that heavy-hitting Blackfoot sound.  
• Major themes: Rock and roll, love, loss, frustration, life, desire, lust, the blues, race relations, etc. 
• Tracks: 

1. "Send Me An Angel"
2. "Crossfire"
3. "Heart's Grown Cold" (Nazareth cover)
4. "We're Going' Down"
5. "Teenage Idol"
6. "Goin' In Circles"
7. "Run For Cover"
8. "White Man's Land"
9. "Sail Away"
10. "Drivin' Fool"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Bewilder Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: https://bewilderbrewing.com/
• Brew: Bewilder ESB
• Style: English-style Extra Special Bitter (ESB) Ale / Traditional English Amber Pub Ale
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• IBUs: 35
• Ingredients: English yeast
• Pour: The Bewilder ESB pours a bright copper-amber hue with a light tan, 2+ finger, frothy head with great retention and lots of sticky, sudsy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is bready, malty, and floral.  There are aromas of light roasted barley, freshly baked bread, crackery biscuit, a hint of bitter hops, wildflowers, and light clover honey. 
• Taste: The taste follows the nose with malty, bready, grainy, and herbal flavors.  There are notes of bready malt, roasted barley, walnut, a splash of caramel, and light bitterness.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Bewilder ESB is crisp, yet creamy and smooth with a dry, slightly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The hearty flavors and aromas of the Bewilder ESB is perfect for the rock and roll punch of Blackfoot's underrated "Siogo" album!  Those crisp, grainy flavors enhance the precision and depth of Medlocke's and Hargrett's melodic, yet fiery guitars and Hensley's amazing keys, while the malty and bready notes are perfect for the powerful rhythms and grooves of Spires and Walker!  'Nuff said!

Make sure to check out my interview with legendary Blackfoot bassist Greg T. Walker here: https://youtu.be/bMYjlAMwDoc

Cheers!  Rock on!