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by Goth Brooks
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From the off the wall name of this band, they immediately struck me as a bunch of weekend warrior lumberjacks who recorded a CD on a whim with a band they formed from musicians at their logging camp.  Upon turning the CD case over to the back cover and passing immediate judgment based on the looks of the band, the first thing that came to my mind was bands like Matchbox 20, Third Eye Blind, and The Gin Blossoms (Zoinks Scoob!!!).  From the funny name to the unconventional look that doesn’t match the music the band puts out, and all throughout the twelve songs that provoke a full-blown Rock and Roll Ruckus on Tidewater Grains debut CD “Here On The Outside,” this band is justifiable proof to the old saying that “You can’t judge a book by it’s cover.”

“Here On The Outside” is a rocker in the old school tradition through and through.  The guitars are loud and played in the classic hard rock style from before Eddie Van Halen began to dominate with all the flash and hammer-on technique that became the standard for a generation of guitar players.  Were talking huge tones and just the right riffs to compliment the band’s well written songs.  Vocalist Kevin McNamara screams a soulful kind of blues that remind the listener of David Lee Roth in a non-abysmal vocal mode, and at other times of a Graham Bonnet/Paul Rogers hybrid.  The vocal style is rich and full unlike most vocalists who fill music fans with big expectations and follow with nothing but a flat delivery.

There’s not that many bands like Tidewater Grain left these days because every new band has seemingly jumped on the nu-metal or rap-core bandwagons in hopes of cashing in on what’s popular at the moment.  Guitarists D.L.(Dave Lord) and John Daly’s guitar work on “Here On The Outside” is worthy of the highest praise if only for the reason that it’s the kind that rarely surfaces in the music business.  Their talents are undeniable and a refreshing change from the lackluster flood of recent talent.  This band sounds like they’ve been together forever; yet sound as young and hungry as any promising band that’s ever taken a shot at the Rock n’ Roll crown.  This Philadelphia quintet, which also includes Dave Fritz on bass, and James Billington on drums, piano, and other percussive instruments is also the first hard rock outfit signed to Warner Bros. Records imprint label, RuffNation Records. 

On the subject of the bands lyrics says vocalist McNamara,;“To me, you only get one chance to make your lyrics stick and sound smart, to make them mean something.  I want to be able to tell people what the songs are about and have them mean something, otherwise you’re insulting the people that really do get into the lyrics.”  The resulting lyrics range from profound expressions of coming of age in America, to the more tongue in cheek and insightful.  But any way you look at it, Tidewater Grain is a band doing something different and original and has what it takes to make a mark with their music. 

Listen to sound clips and Purchase the CD online

Photos courtesy of Tidewater Grain. All Rights Reserved by Copyright holder.