Released by: Conquest Music
Release Date: Out Now!!!
Genre: Southern Rock
Links: https://www.facebook.com/hillbillyvegasmusic/
Line Up:
Steve Harris (vocals)
Stacy Thornburg (lead guitar, vocals)
Austin Ward (guitar, mandolin, banjo, vocals)
Donnie Griggs (bass)
Troy Hollinger (drums)
Tracklist:
High Time For A Good Time
Shake It Like A Hillbilly
Little Miss Rough & Tumble
Just Say You Love Me
Living Loud
Losing To Win
I-Tsu-La / Let’s Get Together
Can’t Go Home
Hell To Pay
Long Way Back
2 Gun Town
Ring of Fire
At first sight the Oklahoma, USA based band HILLBILLY VEGAS sounds like the next new US Southern Rockband in the style of LYNYRD SKYNYRD, so slowly following the footsteps of other newcomers like ROBERT JON & THE WRECK and BLACKBERRY SMOKE, yet there is more than meets the eye for sure! The band delivered an EP sometime ago and I believe also an independent album, but The Great Southern Hustle is their official first full-length CD released outside the USA. The band consists of Steve Harris (Lead Vocals & Guitar), Stacy Thornburg (Guitar), Jason Meredith (Guitar), Marty Lynch (Bass), Troy Hollinger (Drums) and Andy Wise (Backing Vocals), and there are 12 songs on the CD. The band’s singer has a fantastic crystal clean voice, the band sounds energetic and fresh, while all of the songs are a joy to listen to.
Opener High Time For A Good Time is right from the start showing that HILLBILLY VEGAS is a sensational band with a sound that has clear similarities to late 80s/early 90s American groovy Melodic Hardrock, sorta reminding of bands like TYKETTO, TANGIER, BADLANDS, BAD MOON RISING, BANGALORE CHOIR, BEAU NASTY, COMPANY OF WOLVES, FIREHOUSE, HEAVEN’S EDGE, HERICANE ALICE, SALTY DOG, SOUTHGANG, etc. etc. Yet it also has a Southern Rock meets Bluesy Rock touch during following song Shake It Like A Hillbilly that reminds a bit of the modern day of American bands such as BLACK STONE CHERRY or BLACKBERRY SMOKE or THE BLACK CROWES for good old time’s sake. Of course then there’s also the ballad included and you can hear that during Little Miss Rough And Tumble that has a slight reference to the classic power ballads of POISON, NELSON, WARRANT, TRIXTER and early 90s BON JOVI. Also next track Just Say You Love Me has that similar feeling, although a bit more semi-ballad/midtempo based. Livin’ Loud speeds up the tempo to high class uptempo southern melodic rock like JOHNNY VAN ZANT BAND. Slowing things down to a real southern ballad like LYNYRD SKYNYRD on the following song Losin’ To Win. Halfway the album and so far so good, a real sensational band you absolutely need to check out for sure!
The 2nd part of the CD starts with I-Tsu-La/Let’s Get Together, which is introduced by a 70s soulful hammond organ part and develops into a cool straight-ahead classic rawer American Hardrock piece. Next track Can’t Go Home is a lovely groovy southern rocker in pure classic LYNYRD SKYNYRD style, Hell To Pay is a fantastic uptempo late 80s/early 90s American Hair Metal a la HERICANE ALICE and even a slight bit of SKID ROW! Long Way Back is a TYKETTO/TRIXTER ish melodic rocker with once again that early 80s US sound of melodies, while 2 Gun Town is a nice uptempo southern fried rocker, and finally closing track Ring Of Fire is a cool fast uptempo rockin’ cover of the JOHNNY CASH classic!
Concluded, this band is a total must-have, sounding really American, like a mix of the late 80s/early 80s southern fried American mainstream groovy melodic hardrock/hair metal and the current revival of southern retro classic rock. They fit in both categories and do it extremely well on their superb new album!
Written by: Gabor Kleinbloesem
Ratings: Gabor 9/10
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