In all walks of life, those who make successful comebacks have always been admired. They become figures of resilience with a commendable never-say-die attitude; think Muhammad Ali or even Bill Clinton.
Two American singer/songwriter/guitarists have recently made impressive comebacks. Dan Hicks and Geoff Muldaur have turned their careers around and shown themselves not to have lost any spark of their past mastery. If anything, their time out has given them an extra edge, as if any ideas that might have been fermenting in their minds over the years have perfectly matured and are ready to uncork.
Dan Hicks began his musical career as a drummer with San Francisco psychedelic pioneers the Charlatans, before emerging from behind his kit to play guitar, compose songs and form Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks in 1969. Over four albums, the group became a cult phenomenon with a quirky blend of folk and swing, drawing on country and '30s vocal jazz, and with Hicks' deadpan humor completing a nostalgic yet flourishing, idiosyncratic style.