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I’m expecting a bit of an adventure for this brief road trip. It’s Memorial Day weekend and we have to drive through Chicago (always a bit of a nightmare, even on a non-holiday). While trying to find a hotel around Indianapolis – and being completely unsuccessful – I figured out that it’s also the Indy 500 this weekend (me=not a race fan, obviously). While having driven through Indianapolis hundreds of times on my way to wherever, I’ve never actually stopped so I have little knowledge of the city or what to expect. But the show itself should be AMAZING. BoB puts on an incredible show wherever they play, but this one will be in their hometown with lots of friends and family (I’m guessing) in the audience. The guys will have some sweet swag available: some tasty crazy vinyl treats, shirts and posters. And to top it off, S-E-R-V-I-C-E is one of the opening bands and Russell Simins from Jon Spencer Blues Explosion plays drums so that’s the happy cherry on top of my rock-n-roll-blue-garage-punk-gospel sundae.

The sweet swag (Photos via Brother O’Brother’s Instagram).

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I’m already on my third listen to Neon Native and it’s blistering awesome, in a save-your-soul-by-rock-n-roll bluesy garage tornado of fuzzed-fury. The first thing I noticed is that Chris Banta’s vocals are beefed up, a definite asset to showcase his intense fervor, and his guitar solos have a virtuosic edge that are always the perfect length (see “I Confess”). Warner Swopes’ drumming is always hard-hitting and probably even stronger. In yesterday’s review of Neon Native in The Huffington Post, Randy Radic wrote “Swopes takes care of business like a gaudy old whore at a teamsters convention” (this without, I’m guessing, having seen Swopes perform in his amazing fur vest and stellar WWE moves).

Leading off the album is “R.O.S.E.,” a track I’ve written about before (it was released on a split single in 2016), and it’s a slow burning heavy blues rocker that builds into an explosion of fury. “16 Flowers” is scorching blues, with a decidedly punk attitude. “Sunshine” is full of T.Rex swagger, churning fuzzed out angry guitars (and one of my favorites). “Grab the Rope” has a grungy-headbanging tempo with a scathing political message. “I Got It” is another favorite on Neon Native; I’m totally partial to ass-shakers and this one does not disappoint with its locomotive rhythm guitar that breaks into an infectious hook at the chorus. “I Confess” showcases Banta’s gospel preacher-intense delivery to the music of deep humid Southern blues inspiration. “Cardinal” is bluesy via Zeppelin guitars. “Fever” is the longest track on the album and it burns slowly like a, well, fever, eventually building into a bonfire so hot you can feel Banta’s sweat seeping through the speakers. “White Noise” takes the listener on a completely different journey, heading down to mountain country with a stomping acoustic beat, a little bluegrass infused into Brother O’Brother’s blues rock. “Take Me” starts with a traditional blues guitar lament while Banta admonishes, cajoles and pleads “If you love me, you gotta take me as I am.” OK! “Life on Mars” is sparse, lots of space for the lyrics to shine, and then gravity takes shape into a fiery explosion at the chorus; this track is another great example of Brother O’Brother’s ability to build beautiful tension into their songs. The album concludes with “Widow Maker” which has a lilting 50′s/60′s pop rhythm and 3-chord punk melodic sensibility while Banta contemplates the nature of life.

Do yourself a favor and listen to Neon Native, buy it when it is released in a couple of months, and for goodness sake, GO SEE THEM LIVE!

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