Volk “Average American Band” 2018. 7″ EP, Limited to 50 copies: Arnold Palmer variant, filled with “half Lipton Tea and Half Country Time Lemonade, Half Rock-n-Roll, half Honky Tonk,” Romanus Records. Volk released this EP late last year but I just got my amazing custom vinyl last week. Volk is a two-piece out of Nashville that mixes garage rock with classic country; their influences run from ACDC to Queen to The Gories to Patsy Cline. Guitarist Christopher Lowe has killer rock-to-rockabilly shreds while drummer and vocalist Eleot Reich pounds her heart out while wailing high and clear. I haven’t seen them live but I have a feeling they put on an absolute killer show.

There are just four tracks on this EP – really wishing for more! – the hard-rock goes a little country “Hat & Boots” and the stompin’ garage-punk “Land of Toys” are on Side A. On Side B is “January” (a little country, a LOT of rock-n-roll) and my absolute favorite, the contagious barn-burner “Honey Bee,” which features Brother O’Brother’s (and Romanus Record’s) Chris Banta on an impassioned solo vocal – his trademark white boots also make a cameo in the lyrics and on the video. Chris has been talking about how great Volk are for awhile and I completely agree – they are the whole package: tight, rockin’, ass-shaking, totally exhilarating. I hope they come around our area to play soon.