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This year has been a great year for introduction of new, more underground musicians in the rock genre. I have two more in bands in addition to the few that I have already mentioned this year that I have been quite impressed with.
I love simplicity when it comes to rock. I like bands that focus on the music they love instead of how much tail they plan on getting when they “make it big”. Some bands may become huge in the mainstream, but in the long run they are forgettable. A lot of mainstream acts don’t have the impact that some of the bands of yesterday do. They catch a records execs. “Green eye” and they are thrown in the spotlight, showered with pr, and when they stop selling albums they are discarded like a used battery. The ones that really touch us in our hearts and deep down in our souls are the bands that we never forget and still sell records 30 years after they disband.
I like the blues but not enough to go buy up records every chance I get, I dig the genre, but I’m not a blues connoisseur per se . What I love about the blues is the same thing I love about soul music. It’s deep and passionate. Both genres are unique as the musicians that write and perform blues or soul music have a deep passion for what they do. They put their everything in to it. I found the fusion of rock and soul music an extravagant thing. I don’t habitually listen to soul, but I enjoy it when I hear it. Soul and blues mixed with rock and roll and I’m feeling at peace with myself and everything around me.
With that said, let me introduce to you D’Haene. D’Haene, pronounced d’Hain, was formed on 2003 in NYC and consists of 5 members. Bob D’Haene, for whom the band is named after is the songwriter, vocalist and rhythm and lead guitar player. Backing up Bob on rhythm and lead guitar as well as the lap steel is Riley McMahon. Sammy K handles the percussionist duties while Tim McCracken covers keyboards and backing vocals. Let’s not forget Rick Guetschow on Bass guitar.
D’Haene’s latest release entitle Vinyl is such a great mix of rock and soul. I would almost venture to say that it’s more of a soul sound with a mix of rock at times. Vinyl makes me wish there were more band out there that made music like this. It’s a mixing pot of late 60′s and 70′s soul, jazz and rock but modern enough to make it as relevant as any other album being released.
I’ve had this album in my possession for a couple of weeks now and I started listening late one day but didn’t get through the opening track before getting side-tracked by something else. Today I went to search on my iPod for Derek Jordan and I saw “D’Haene” and something sparked in my mind, so I gave it a spin and it made my day so much better. D’Haene have been added to my list of bands that are slowly restoring my faith in modern rock. Listen for yourself at http://www.dhaeneband.com/, and just click on the “music” tab. D’Haene’s Vinyl will be available in April.
And now, Tongues. Remember when I said that I liked simplicity a minute ago. Tongues is what I was talking about. When I first saw the album art to Tongues I thought it was going to be the typical modern rock of today. I was completely wrong. Born out of various other Chicago based bands, Tongues brings a raw edged traditional rock sound with enough hard rock and hardcore punk influenced sound to keep it interesting. Tongues also has catchy modern sound with a slight pop/rock and at times, grunge bite to it that has you reminiscing a little about the 80′s and 90′s. Simplistic, edgy and catchy songs keep you listening through the 12 songs that stretch out over 45 plus minutes.
Tongues is Todd Pat on vocals, Sean Shipley and Frank Gilbert on lead guitar, Andy Peterson on drums and Erik Bocek on bass. Look for Tongues on Couchhouse Collective.
Tongues image via Coachhouse Collective
D’Haene Image courtesy of Bob D’Haene
