Music Blurbs, Vol. 8

More of my capsule commentaries.

Louder Than Hell
Remember the ‘80s? Louder Than Hell certainly does. Drawing from a variety of popular styles – hair metal, power balladry, mainstream rock, hard rock and more – Louder than hell takes concertgoers on a trip back to the days of teased hair, spandex and other sartorial affectations. More importantly, the group immerses listeners in a wash of sound that evokes warm memories of when FM radio and MTV ruled supreme, when men (and women) with loud guitars, chorus pedals and big voices roamed the Earth. Louder Than Hell describes its performances as “night[s] of decadence and debauchery,” but the band’s sound suggests something with a wider and more timeless appeal.

Thee Sacred Souls
Chicano soul – sometimes called “brown-eyed soul” – is a subgenre that gained traction in 1960s Los Angeles. Based in part on rhythm and blues and Latin rock, the style was a rich mix of styles that resonated with Latino communities and beyond. Chicano soul’s heyday persisted into the 1970s, but the sweet soul sounds of the form never really went away. At the forefront of the current Chicano soul revival is San Diego’s own Thee Sacred Souls. Launched in 2019, the trio – vocalist Josh Lane, bassist Salvador Samano and drummer/guitarist Alejandro Garcia – made its recorded debut with “Can I Call You Rose?” a standout track that would feature on the group’s self-titled debut album in 2022. Widely acclaimed by critics, Thee Sacred Souls ended up on many best-of album lists for the year. The band’s performance on NPR’s influential Tiny Desk Concert exposed Thee Sacred Souls to an even wider audience, Part of the roster of tastemaking Daptone Records, the group released a followup, Got a Story to Tell in October. Joined by a powerhouse backing ensemble, the group is currently bringing its 21^st sweet soul to audiences across America and beyond to Europe.

Tank and the Bangas
One of the most intriguing and compelling musical acts to gain national attention in recent years is Tank and the Bangas. The New Orleans-based group combines spoken word, hip-hop, gospel and other styles into a unique sound all its own. Tank and the Bangas won the prestigious Tiny Desk Contest in 2017, and has released three studio albums, a live set and no less than seven EPs to date. Their latest, the vinyl Floating EP was released in November. Slam poet Tarriona “Tank” Ball started the group in 2011; her approach of alternating sections of spoken word, freestyle rap and spirited vocals earned the group a strong following in New Orleans and beyond. A breath of fresh air on NOLA’s musical scene, Tank and the Bangas offered up a modern alternative to the city’s jazz traditions. With wide exposure has come even more recognition: the group scored Grammy nominations in 2020 (Best New Artist) and 2023 (Best Progressive R&B Album). They were nominated yet again in 2024 – this time for Best Global Music Performance – for “Todo Colores,” the group’s collaboration with renowned trumpeter Ibrahim Maaalouf and Havana-based singer-songwriter Cimafunk.

Futurebirds
There’s a distinct Southern character to the music of Futurebirds. That shouldn’t be surprising, as the group founded in 2010 comes from Georgia. In fact Futurebirds began in Athens, the college town that gave the world R.E.M., Pylon and B-52s. But Futurebirds doesn’t quite sound like Southern rock, nor does it make edgy “college rock” (as it was once known). Instead, the group serves up an amiable, psychedelically-tinged brand of country rock. Yet even that label doesn’t quite get to the heart of the band’s musical style, one informed by pop and jam band culture. Futurebirds came on the scene with 2010’s Hampton’s Lullaby, but the group truly found its footing with its second full-length, 2013’s Baba Yaga. The large group – currently featuring seven members – has been quite prolific: since its start, Futurebirds has released two live albums, five studio full-lengths (2024’s Easy Company is the latest) and no less than eight EPs. Futurebirds is fond of collaboration as well: My Morning Jacket’s Carl Broemel has worked with the group on select recordings.

Travis
Taking their name from a character in the 1984 Western film Paris, Texas, Travis is in fact a Scottish pop group. With a deeply melodic and accessible sound, the group cultivated a strong following in Great Britain. Their breakthrough album, 1999’s The Man Who went 9x Platinum in the UK. Nine of their ten studio albums top-tenned in the UK; the other won still made it to #20. Fronted by singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Fran Healy, they’re a critics’ darling as well: Travis won three Brit Awards (the British Phonograph Industry’s GRAMMY equivalent) and three Q Awards. Somewhat mystifyingly, Travis’ success in the U.S. has been more measured, though the band had a dedicated following here. To be sure, their music has all the hallmarks of surefire hits: emotionally resonant lyrics, evocative vocals, rock-solid instrumentation and top-notch songwriting. The lovely “Why Does it Always Rain on Me” (1999) and “Sing” from 2001 did both creep onto the U.S. Top 40 singles charts. Their latest album is the well-received L.A. Times, released in 2024.