Interviews with independent artists and news from the world of international indie music.
Older country, folk and rock'n'roll vibes in the upcoming album by Drew Kiddoo and the Blackouts
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Drew Kiddoo and the Blackouts
Drew Kiddoo And The Blackouts is a honky tonk country band based out of Ithaca, NY. Their unique blend of traditional country western, folk, and early rock and roll has captivated audiences across the region since they formed in 2018. Drew's songwriting is the heart and soul of the band. He writes from personal experience, and his lyrics are infused with love, whiskey, the open road, and that old "crying over an empty glass of booze" style of melancholy. The Blackouts are a misfit collage of local musicians who bring Drew's songs to life with that boot stompin', barn-burnin' energy.
The album "Giddyup and Go" will be released on June 14th, in accordance with the release party set for the same date at The Range in Ithaca, next to Cornell University. I had the opportunity to listen to the full lenght album in advance, and I can't wait to share my personal take on it! "Giddyup and Go" is a collection of songs with a 'skippin town, on a road to nowhere, not belonging, drinkin to pass the time' vibe, with elements of love and heartbreak sprinkled in. All the tunes were recorded at Electric Wilburland in Newfield,NY and mixed by Grammy award winner Will Russell.
The 10 tracks album features impeccable country instrumentals, pleasant vocals, and a rare ability to represent places and states of mind with sounds and lyrics and some edgy attitude. The sound is derived from older country, folk and rock'n'roll (50s,60s,70s) - everything from Jerry Lee Lewis to Texas roadhouse to John Prine influences to name a few. The album instantly conquers the listener with the pre-released song "Barstool": the captivating rhythm and flawless vocals are just the beginning of what Drew's music has to offer in this musical journey. While waiting for the full album, you can start enjoying a glimpse of it with the "Barstool" video:
The second tune of the album is the title track "Giddyup and Go", that features clear 50s rock'n'roll vibes - you can imagine a multicolored crowd of teens frantically dancing in a ballroom while listening to it. With the third track "Whole Lotta Trouble" we go back to a more serious note, with masterful guitar work and warm vocals, while "Killin Time" - a song about killing time missing your significant other - conveys happy Jerry Lee Lewis vibe although the melanchonic meaning. The honky-tonk track "Working Man", with a touch or barn dancing and fiddle sounds, is followed by "Walked Down to New Orleans" that features harmonies and background vocals, and an hauntingly repetitive rhythm that perfectly reflects New Orleans' early sounds.
From the East Coast, we move to the West Coast with "1000 Miles from Vegas", a echoing love country melody, that reminded me of the desert and the endless American roads. If you're an Elvis Presley enthusiast like me, you surely will love "Missin You" and "Waiting for My Chance To Say Goodbye", another couple of danceable rock'n'roll tunes. The vibe changes completely with the deep warm vocals and creepy sounds that accompany the unsettling lyrics of the closing track "Beast Of Another Kind". Although I'm Italian, I have a strong background of early American rock'n'roll music thanks to my mum, who introduced me to different music genres at a young age. The fact that there is still someone who is able to create such high quality catchy tunes remaining faithful to those early stages of American music is what makes me enthusiastic about Drew's album. Looking forward to the official release on June 14th!
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