Music Notion

Words: A. Murray.

Gabe Stillman doesn’t pretend to have it figured out, and that’s exactly what makes What Happens Next? hit so hard. His first record for Gulf Coast Records, this is the sound of a guy who’s done the work, on the road, in front of crowds, behind a guitar night after night, and is finally putting all of it down on tape.

If you’ve followed blues guitar over the last few years, Stillman’s name probably already rings a bell. He won Gibson’s Best Guitarist Award at the International Blues Challenge back in 2019, and his debut record climbed into the top 10 on the Billboard Blues Chart. None of that happened by accident. You hear the years of stage time in how relaxed he sounds here, even when the songs themselves get uncomfortable.

And they do get uncomfortable, in the best way. “Someone In My Mirror” is the kind of song that comes from actually sitting with yourself and not liking everything you see. “Shame Shame” leans into that same territory, but Stillman’s got a sense of humor that keeps it from ever feeling heavy handed. He can write about heartbreak and still leave you smiling, which is a harder trick than people give him credit for.

“Yesterday’s Donuts” is a personal favorite off this record, loose and warm, the kind of song that feels like it was written in a van somewhere between gigs. Then you get to “Scremin'” and the whole thing shifts gears, raw and urgent, like he’s chasing something he can’t quite name yet.

The band locks in with him the whole way through. Colin Beatty and Ray Hangen keep the rhythm section tight, Eric Roberts fills the spaces in just right on keys, and Alice Spencer’s backing vocals add a warmth that rounds the whole record out. Anson Funderburgh stepping in to produce and play guitar on “Shame Shame” gives that track its own distinct flavor, a nice touch in the middle of the album.

By the time you reach the closer, “Gentle On My Mind,” the record has earned its title. Stillman isn’t handing out answers. He’s just choosing to keep walking forward, and trusting that’s enough. For a sophomore album, that’s a bold thing to commit to, and it pays off.

This is a record made by someone who’s lived it, not someone trying to sound like they have. Gulf Coast Records picked up a real one here.