Chubby by name, chubby by nature.

With his battered Fender Strat strapped across his expansive waistline, biker leathers, shades and polished skull, one wonders how Chubby can play the blues with his boxing gloves on.

But as his tattoos say, this man takes no shit. He does like a bit of blues rock though, and with albums to his name such as The Good, the Bad and the Chubby, and a Hendrix inspired Electric Chubby Land, he clearly doesn't take himself too seriously.

That is, except where blues rock is concerned. And on The Fight Is On, Chubby (aka Ted Horowitz) demonstrates that behind the tongue in cheek image there's a man with a serious habit. As Chubby says - Rock & Roll Is My Religion.

A serious player with a house full of vintage guitars, 'The Fight Is On' is what it says on the label - an accessible blues rock album. It's not original, but the playing is tight, Chubby can carry a decent gruff vocal, and the songs are solid.

In truth, The Fight Is On isn't going to make Chubby a household name, but at the same time, it will do his reputation no harm either. And the closing cover of Motorhead's Ace Of Spades suggests he's likely to be a riot live.

Chubby will be over here giving it large in March 2010. Watch out for it.

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Review by Pete Whalley