GASFOODLODGING
  • Home
  • Bio
  • Media
  • Shop
  • Pics
  • Gigs
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Forum
  • LINKS

Gasfoodlodging: Blue Collar Rain LP - Review by Alexander Gregory.

2/28/2017

5 Comments

 
Picture
One British band in particular that has consistently leaned towards Americana and all of it's sub-genres resulted in huge popularity. Surely you have heard of The Rolling Stones?. West Midlands band Gasfoodlodging may not have Mick Jagger at the forefront, but the frontman, guitarist and songwriter of the band, Dave Griffiths certainly knows how to handle and deliver a Keith Richards guitar hook or two and and can definitely put pen to paper and deliver a quality original song!
Furthermore, Griffiths must surely have the satisfaction that it's his own 12 original songs that form this forthcoming LP "Blue Collar Rain". What's evident when listening to this LP is the continual high quality songwriting that runs solidly throughout from start to finish, we have corporate domination anger with the infectious punk pop of "Corporate Disease" through to tender tales of loss and loneliness with the beautiful melody of "Wherever". Griffiths also shares with us his humorous side with tracks such as "Another day gone" and "All for your country". The latter track suggesting that we are all doing our bit for our individual countries even though some of the mentioned activities are not the most productive or legal. 
Bands such as the Artic Monkeys who have themselves delivered their fair share of sarcasm would more than likely raise a wry smile listening to this track. The Rhythm section give a steady backbone to the songs as Griffiths leads them through constant rhythmic guitar hooks and very impressive bursts of his distinctive lead playing. This brings me nicely to another of my favorite tracks off the LP, "Play it from the Heart" A song which name checks the former iconic US comedian, Bill Hicks. A song filled with angst towards the hideous mediocrity of purposely built pop bands for young people consumption. Griffiths sings "I will turn my speakers loud if what you say sticks out from the crowd" "But I will turn my speakers down if I hear your familiar sound", as he makes reference to commercial music that gets produced without an ounce of soul within it's foundation. "Blue Collar Rain" is an impressive initial stamp on the musical landscape as Griffiths is clearly capable of writing clever lyrical content. The wonderful seductive rock & roll of  "Daniella Delray" comes to mind as does the tragic road trip theme of another impressive track, "Under The Texas Sun". 
It's a debut LP that certainly manages to entertain. In a drab and sunken UK guitar music scene, it's nice to see good songwriting is still going on out there. We just have to find it.


​
A.Gregory. © 2017
andrew.force10media@gmail.com / www.outpostmedia.co.uk




5 Comments

GASFOODLODGING - BLUE COLLAR RAIN REVIEW BY HEATHER J WILLIAMS  

2/26/2017

4 Comments

 
Picture
*Photo courtesy of Dave Griffiths
If you type "Gasfoodlodging" into Google you will find this 3 piece West Midlands based group at the top of the first page. Bands worldwide would be more than happy with that result. However this is not a band who have gained overnight popularity, after all with the steady demise of record sales over the last decade and the ever decreasing support for original acts it's a tough old slog out there for any original unsigned band regardless of their status on Google's search engine. Getting established quickly is nothing more than a urban legend within this modern musical world that bands  now participate in.
What becomes apparent after a first listen to "Blue Collar Rain" is the memorable nature that many of the the songs have. I'd first played this advanced copy that was sent to me containing no artwork in my car on my commute home from work. Later that evening I found myself still humming the melody of several of the songs.
The beautiful ballad "Wherever", was one of the tracks that really cemented itself as did the marvelous infectious punk pop of "Corporate Disease" which reminded me of "The Clash" in parts. Dave Griffiths, the singer/songwriter/guitarist of the band, pulls off the vocal requirements of each song with ease. Songs such as "Play it From the Heart" a really nice indie rock track reminiscent of early Neil Young & Crazy Horse days demonstrates this perfectly as he drifts in and out of melody changes with great execution. 
Although the LP doesn't contain that top of the tree professional production that professional bands have at their disposal this is by no means weakly produced. Each track comes through warm and clear with some really effective dynamic touches.
There really are some great tracks on here, "Under the Texas Sun" "Another Day Gone", "Banging Drum", "It's Good To Be Back" "Moving Along" "Solitudeville" are others that I really like. I think the distinct advantage this band could easily have over some other original bands is their unique style and most certainly the quality of the songwriting. 
​Gasfoodlodging are a band that merges the influences of Americana with splashes of retro punk and Indie influence and they do it in a highly impressive way as this LP demonstrates. I think people across the age spectrum who enjoy guitar music would really enjoy the music of this band if they manage to get heard to a wider audience.
Their LP "Blue Collar Rain" is due for release on the 27th February 2017.   



Heather Williams.  
​
© 2O17 
heatherwpromotion@earthlink.net



4 Comments
    Picture

    Archives

    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    June 2016
    July 2015
    June 2015
    February 2015
    August 2013
    May 2013
    September 2012

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.