Those who are looking to satisfy a vintage rock sweet tooth need look no further than Murfreesboro-based power trio Candy’s Riverhouse. This ’70s rock resurrection leaves little to be desired with its recently-released EP, KAF.
Lead vocalist and guitarist Jordan Young and drummer Ryan Christensen have been playing together since their high school days in Utah, meeting bassist Daniel Gassetts later on in Murfreesboro. While Candy’s Riverhouse may have formed in Tennessee, the vaguely hippie feel of the music joined with a hard rock edge produces a sound more reminiscent of the west coast circa ’75.
Not unlike Caleb Followill’s rough vocals, the gruff, dusty-throated voice of Young echoes amidst heavy layers of blazing guitar and mean bass lines from start to finish in a bluesy, soulful rock soup.
Blues-ridden “Black Sugar” opens the EP with trademark mellow yet gritty riffs, followed by “Falling in Love,” which begins as laid-back as the first, then grows harder with peals of electric guitar and Christensen’s pulsating percussion.
“Across the Ocean” is another standout, its lyrics dominated by the harmonization of a single word, “oh,” and for a second, the guitar in “All I’ve Got” provides another momentary flashback, almost sounding like the famous riff of Iron Butterfly’s “In-a-Gadda-da-Vida.”
Fitting for a massive summer festival or a sweaty dive bar, Candy’s Riverhouse is a classic melding of every hard rock band leading the way 40 years ago, with pieces of Nazareth, Skynyrd, Cream and Deep Purple coursing through its veins. KAF is textured yet soulful, crafted by three musicians who have a true understanding of the sound they create, and for something designed to be rough around the edges, this EP is sweet and seamless.
These guys are playing all of the stuff everyone is trying to remix. We all know this is the “real” music that will never die. Candy’s Riverhouse does it right, plus some great new tunes they bring to the table. LOVE IT!
How can I share this article on my FB for friends and family?
Comment June 13, 2010 @ 5:31 pm
Jennifer, I’m sure you could copy and paste this link on facebook if you want to share it. Thanks for reading!
Comment June 14, 2010 @ 11:50 pm