The Drive-By Truckers create solid music. You would be mistaken to take “solid” as a generic way to describe their music. When I say DBT creates solid music, I am saying that they are making some of the realist real music out there. Their sound is deeply rooted in the southern rock and alt-country genres. The sound is raw and the lyrics are honest. Basically, it is solid.
DBT
There are a lot of under appreciated bands out there, and Drive-By Truckers would be one of those. They have put out a lot of music since the mid 90′s, but it wasn’t until their recent release of The Big To-Do, that they finally got some mainstream media recognition. Appearances on David Letterman and Jimmy Fallon’s late night gigs shined the spotlight on a band that needs to be listened to. If you are looking for music that combines smart storytelling with gritty delivery, well, DBT is for you! Not looking for that sort of thing in music? Well, I would suggest putting a conch shell up to your ear.
KC’s Personal Picks: “This F@*!&%$ Job”, “Drag the Lake Charlie” and “Birthday Boy”
Not digging your current employment? “Working this Job” is for you!
Buy The Big To-Do
We here at FreshScouts loves us some JJ Grey. We’ve been following his albums since his first release with Alligator records in 2007, have been to numerous festivals to see his amazing headlining southern blues shows, and have essentially been stalking his whereabouts online (in a completely non-creepy way.) So of course, when we saw he was coming out with a new album in August, we were ready. We set up shop outside our local record store and slept there for weeks waiting for the arrival of Georgia Warhorse. After numerous scuffles with the locals and run-ins with the law, we realized that waiting outside a record store weeks before an album comes out is NOT a good idea. You live an you learn I guess.
But the waiting was worth it. JJ Grey & Mofro’s latest release is a soulful blend of down-home raspy vocals, heart-wrenching organ licks and some serious slide guitar. I’ve always said that this man’s albums never do justice to his live shows, but this album definitely gets closer with its more intimate moments. Of course, there may be none more intimate than the track “Slow, Hot & Sweaty”, but I’ll let you be the judge of that.
JJ Grey & Mofro have come a long way since Country Ghetto, but one thing I appreciate is that even though their sound has continued to evolve, they have not strayed away from their original style. They continue to be the same gritty blues band they were 3 years ago (and before.) They form the industry instead of the other way around. Props JJ Grey. Props.
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You won’t see Black Stone Cherry on the menu at your local ice cream shop. Although, that does sound downright tasty. I digress. Please understand that these guys aren’t soft, pleasant and served in a dainty little cup. Black Stone Cherry serves up a heaping scoop of hard southern rock music that will will blast your face off. These Kentucky boys know how to rock and they delivered in a big way with their 2008 sophomore release of Folklore and Superstition.
If you rock out to The Black Crowes and Lynyrd Skynyrd on the regular, well…for starters, you’re awesome. I feel safe in saying that you will become mega-awesome if you add Black Stone Cherry into the mix. Their music has a pulse pounding blend of deep south rock fused at times with hard rock and metal. It is not all about wailing guitars though. But don’t fret, there are plenty of wicked guitar solos to go around. In addition to the high octane instrumentation, you are also treated to a solid and meaningful lyrical display, all lead by front man Chris Robertson. There is even some slower stuff in their collection. The end product inspires me to run around neighborhood streets karate kicking every trash can I see. Yeah, I am a badass thanks to Black Stone Cherry.
Currently the boys are touring the globe playing every festival out there and supporting a ton of bands. This is all setting the stage for their anticipated third album, which is rumored to be in the works. So, head on down to your local ice cream parlor and demand some Black Stone Cherry. When they say they don’t have it just turn right around and kick over their trash cans. Yeah, now you’re the badass.
KC’s Personal Picks: “Blind Man”, Devil’s Queen”, and “Soul Creek”.
Check out the video for “Soul Creek”
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There’s nothing better for my money than when Michael Bolton sings “When A Man Loves A Woman.” I pretty much celebrate the guys’ entire collection. And Taddy Porter…well Taddy Porter is NOTHING like Michael Bolton. I don’t even know why I made the comparison. In fact he’s the exact opposite. Imagine a super badass blues/rock guy that (I imagine) smokes cigarettes and puts the butts out on his arm. That is Taddy Porter. Although all of that badass stuff isn’t actually confirmed.
His voice is very similar to that of the southern stylings of Marc Broussard and the music definitely holds the same southern flavor. Add slide guitars, wicked guitar riffs and catchy choruses and you have a recipe for a great album. Add in the fact that when you Google “Taddy Porter”, a majority of the search results are for a Porter beer from Samuel Smith. How badass is that?
The album really is a mix of blues and rock with the opening track “Whatever Haunts You” sounding closer to that of Audioslave, whereas songs like “Railroad Queen” are heavy on the slide guitar/blues sound and light on the weak sauce. Check out his self-titled album for a heavy dose of solid rock. And if you want something completely not that, check out Michael Bolton.
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As a kid I am sure I would have been allergic to Cross Canadian Ragweed. The name just sounds itchy. Growing up I was allergic to milk, peanuts and the air. Childhood was not so fun. Thankfully, as an adult, I am not allergic to the music of Cross Canadian Ragweed. The band is certainly one of my top 10 favorite band names. The name comes from blending three of the band members’ names, Grady Cross, Cody Canada, and Randy Ragsdale. Bassist, Jeremy Plato, was not included in the naming. Today I will honor him in the naming with…Cross Canadian Ragweed-Plato. There we go. That just rolls off the tongue.
These guys embody the American Red Dirt sound. The Red Dirt genre was birthed in Oklahoma and is not only a style; it is a way of life. Red Dirt blends country, blues, rock, and folk together for a rockin’ good time. The release of Happiness and All the Other Things celebrates 15 years of Cross Canadian Ragweed music. 15 years strong, and yet they have remained a hidden gem in mainstream music. Their fan base is ginormous and when they all come together for a show it is a raging party. Fans of country music may be more familiar with CCR as they often tour with acts like Dierks Bentley. What I have always loved most about these outlaws is that their music is a mix of everything. No one genre truly can define them and each album is a musical testimony to their creativity and talent.
The summer of 2009 brought us CCR’s Happiness and All the Other Things. The album is a great representation of CCR’s music and style. It was welcomed in by devoted fans and is a great welcome to those just coming across the guys. My personal favorites are “51 Pieces”, “Drag” and “To Find My Love”. Do yourself a solid and take a look back at CCR’s entire catalog of music. And for those with really bad allergies, just make sure you have some Benadryl near by. Just in case.
The guys perform “51 Pieces” in a live jam session.
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