What’s the 4-1-1?
Debut release for the Los Angeles-based power trio.

Genre
Blues rock / roots rock

The Good
Johnny starts things off with a twangy guitar riff on “Walden’s Pond.” Hawthorn’s vocals are less about melody and range and more about storytelling. That’s not to say that he can’t sing, because his smooth tone is the perfect match for his guitar playing. Hawthorn pays homage to Earl King with his cover of “Come On.” You have to love that ‘wicka-wicka’ guitar sound. Johnny breaks out the old acoustic for his emotionally charged ballad “Sorry.”

If “Mercy” isn’t a perfect example of a great blues track, then I don’t know what is. It has lots of piecing guitar bends to go along with its steady drum beat. This track switches immediately into “Mercy Jam,” which showcases the band at its improvisational best. It is a sharp contrast to the predecessor. “Hey Baby” tosses in some piano key smashing on top of a classic blues progression. “Shadow Man” uses a little Hammond B3 organ to add depth to the upbeat tempo.

The Bad
Nothing notable

The Verdict
Nothing fancy, nothing over-the-top, just some great rock and roll blues music.

Did You Know?
The CD was produced by Todd Nichols from Toad the Wet Sprocket.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Originally posted by author at Rock-Is-Life.com