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The Hopheads
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Grown Men Releasing Records
The Hopheads will release their debut album, Grown Men Singing Songs, on Saturday with a show at the 20th Century Theatre with special guests The Bluebirds.
Grown Men Singing Songs is a blissfully rugged representation of the group's untamed, eclectic and well-played Rockabilly. The album's a wild and dynamic ride, often flirting with the mayhem of so-called Psychobilly, while at other times showing a softer edge that reveals sharp songwriting skills. Groups that mix the Rock, Country and Blues ingredients together in this way usually aren't known for their deviation from the standard path of tradition, often sticking strictly to expected chord progressions. But by the first song on Grown Men Singing Songs you can tell that The Hopheads aren't staunch traditionalists. Odd, creative songs structures keep the listener always guessing, which is their strength.
Typifying the manic energy and shifting song cycles is "Sweet Dreams Mr. Dennis," which opens with a Doo Wop vibe, slips into a Country ballad feel and then explodes into a Garage Rock stomp. Elsewhere, "Slow Down" recalls the Punkabilly spirit of The Cramps, "Raw Deal" is hiccuping Rock & Twang, and the jagged but beautiful "Kathleen Said" finds the band at their most melodic, with catchy hooks and Surf-ish guitar. If you think you know what to expect from a Rockabilly band, you've yet to hear The Hopheads.
You can visit the band in cyberspace at www.infinet.com/~hopheads.
More Local Releases
A few other band's with recent releases are gigging around town this week.
· Carp Rider's first CD release, Speaking to the Outcasts, will be available at the band's show this Sunday at Sudsy Malone's, where they'll be joined by guests Michael James and Shakespeare. Describing Speaking to the Outcasts is hard because the band's sound is so unique, which is a wonderful thing. The brother/sister teaming of singers Matt and Samantha Carver add an odd ambiance to the group's fluid groove, with Samantha singing between the lines as much as she harmonizes. The group moves from heavy guitar Rock to light, bouncing Funk from song to song and each song has a dramatic and epic feel.
· Up-and-coming group Quicksand Rising -- which began as the acoustic duo Hogan & Skid -- celebrates a one-year anniversary this Saturday at Salamone's. The group's live demo CD reveals their sound as a solid, progressive Funk/Jazz/Rock amalgamation. With a strong rhythmic shuffle and creative songwriting, the band straddles the line between Modern and Classic Rock, with broad melodicism, a tight rhythmic push and great guitar work.
· Just the Band originally wanted to have a CD project out now, but the all-female trio abandoned the idea when their friend and studio engineer Roger Cadle died and another studio simply shut down. Instead, the band has released Take Me Back, a five-song cassette that showcases the band's catchy, emotive Pop Rock and is dedicated to Cadle. Gifted musicians and songwriters, the band -- which began in 1994 and is led by singer/songwriting Carol Just -- mixes Blues, Rock and Pop to great effect on Take Me Back, which will probably leave most listeners craving the full-length. For now, the tape serves as an excellent introduction. And if you want more, you can see the group at the Harlem Coffeehouse in Northside this Friday at 8 p.m.
