Before they rocked the stage in front of rock legends the likes of Queen and The Who at the Classic Rock Awards in London, Rival Sons killed it at one of the coolest and last surviving independent record stores in the heart of downtown Long Beach, Ca. As I stood in front of the stage at Fingerprints I felt like a kid that had just heard the first Guns and Roses record. To put it bluntly, Rival Sons kick ass. They play a blues based brand of hard rock that you don't hear much these days. I think it's because most bands today don't have the musicianship to pull it off. You can hear the influences from Led Zeppelin to Bad Company but make no mistake, these guys have their own sound.
Jay Buchanan, whom I've come across often in the last 15 years of addictive show attendance, is the lyricist and voice of Rival Sons; And an impressive voice he is. He has the capability and range like those of his classic rock forefathers. His lyrics are so descriptive and relatable you feel as though you've lived it and he's writing a song about your life. Isn't that what a great rock song is all about? The opening track to Pressure & Time "All Over the Road," has a lyrical feel reminiscent of the Eagles', " Life in the Fast Lane." Although, the lyrics are not so much negative as they are entertaining. The rhythm and chord progression are much more rockin', too. In fact, I know I have taken this road trip, I just don't remember Jay being in the car with us. That one factor, alone; RELATABILITY, is the distinction between a great song and a legendary one. A song that changes the face of rock and becomes a part of the soundtrack to your life.
The hour plus set included a mix of songs from the recently released "Pressure & Time" as well as a few tracks from their debut EP. Some of the standouts included "Only One" which paints a picture of life on the road. In the song Jay sings, "Another night spent alone, while I'm up on the stage, in some Midwest town refusing to act my age." This is easily my favorite track on the new record. The band also played "Burn Down Los Angeles" and "Pressure and Time." The latter is the lead single which they played recently on the George Lopez Show.
Before the Fingerprints show Rival Sons had just returned from a European tour with Judas Priest and Queensryche. With their blazing guitars, searing vocals and feverish drumming they can easily hold their own in a room full of rock vets. This gives you a clue to the caliber of talent you are witnessing when watching Rival Sons. If you yearn for the days when musicianship was the driving force behind getting your ass to a show...then do yourself a favor and look these guys up.
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