Kevin Bronson on May 23rd, 2013

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Johnny la Rocha knows his classic rock – whatever fertile soil he’s overturning. He does business as Ocha la Rocha, and “Ocha Scores,” his forthcoming album on JAXART Records, demonstrates the he would be equally comfy jamming with the Marshall Tucker Band, the Flying Burrito Brothers or any number of cowboy country guitar-slingers. The album was made with assists from the likes of producer Kristofer Sampson, J.T. Hall (Ponderosa), Chandler Rentz (Snowden), Milton Chapman (Barreracudas) and Lee Harraway on pedal steel.** Fans of L.A. stalwarts like Beachwood Sparks, Spindrift and I See Hawks in L.A. will want to lend an ear; over the course of the album (out Aug. 6), la Rocha doesn’t wear the same hat too often, and everything he tries on fits.

||| Stream: “Sing the People’s Song” and “Tunnels and Lines”

||| Live: Ocha la Rocha plays May 29 at the Redwood Bar and July 14 at Grand Ole Echo at the Echo.

** An earlier version of this post had an incorrect list of contributors to the album.