In the 1960s, Patrick Flynn led the band Father Grumble, which got pretty big on the San Francisco scene, playing at such top venues as the Ark, the Avalon Ballroom and the Fillmore; they shared the stage with Canned Heat, Quicksilver Messenger Service and It's a Beautiful Day, among others. When the band members went their inevitable separate ways, Flynn continued to play music in the Bay area until family and business took over his time, causing him to take a long sabbatical from music.

Now for the Good News: At the age of 58, he has gathered together a group of old friends like Charlie Musselwhite, Ron Thompson and Mardell Stickley to make this CD announcing his return. Flynn doesn't rock out the way he did when he was a kid, but instead substitutes taste and maturity and some solid blues-rock playing. He also has a nice way with a ballad; "You're the Dream" offers some touching lyrics and a solid arrangement.

Flynn doesn't seem to have any need to overpower his music. He doesn't hit you over the head with it as much as he comes up beside you and starts a conversation. Even if you've never heard him before, listening to Patrick Flynn is like talking with an old friend.