AuthorTrixie Rasputin There is almost nothing cooler than the guitar solo on "I Hear Her Singing," one of The Helltones' many bangers on their 2023 full length album 'Medusa'. Like the mythological creature this album was named after, The Helltones make beautiful but formidable noise on every track. Blending surf, soul, rock, and a little bit of jazz, this band gives the Bay Area music scene a well deserved boost of musicianship, talent and heart that rivals any of the classic Motown artists. Founded in 2016 by frontman Darwin Siegaldoud and drummer Paul Bowman, the live band features Nathan X Moody on guitar, Shane Lawton on bass, Cairo McCockran on drums, Victoria Sepe on organ, and Kristin McReddie singing backup. Together this group of highly trained (and well practiced) musicians makes music that will transport you to a dreamy yesteryear where broken hearts find solace in the dark corners of the night, and every teardrop is the bitters in a top shelf martini. In other words, this band is classy.
The opening track 'Mike and Laura' kicks off with the wistful plea "let's go back to Copenhagen," followed by a wish list of romantic requests ("won't you be my anesthetic, let me feel no pain, be my candle in the dark, my shelter from the rain..." and on it goes. The longing oohs and aahs in the background set the stage for an album full of highly personal storytelling that end up revealing a great love story. Sometimes it's sultry (I Hear Her Singing), sometimes it's sad (Nothing Compares to You), sometimes it's sassy (Don't Waste My Time) and sometimes it's just plain fun (Blackstar Pirate BBQ, an absolute standout written by drummer McCockran). I especially like the final track of the album, aptly titled 'Jealousy'. Much of the songwriting throughout the album paints the picture of two hopeless romantics stuck in a "break-up to make-up" whirlwind. The effect is a breathless ride on a sea of complicated love. 'Medusa' summons up the old school sounds of the late sixties greats like Marvin Gaye, The Supremes and the Temptations in a purposeful way that pays homage to the canon of great rock n roll music from the Motown producers. Accomplished musician and frontman Siegaldoud knows his craft and understands the lineage that he and his troupe of musicians come from. Not a note is wasted to achieve their signature blend of surf-soul music. And they give it just enough blues and rock 'n' roll to keep almost any type of listener engaged. Not to mention that Siegaldoud has a voice that stands out among the best singers of our scene (and it is rumored he even teaches voice in his spare time!). The backup vocalists (McReddie and Sepe) add a nice helping of sugar to his acerbic delivery in songs like 'Every Time You Pick a Fight' and 'All My Heart'. You won't find a single song on this album that doesn't achieve a perfect sonic balance to match the tempos and tone of the music. And for the aficionados among us, there are oodles of impressive drum, sax and guitar solos that underscore the lyrical content. This album is wonderfully sophisticated and would work in the background of a dinner party as easily as it would at a late night kickback where everyone came to cut a rug. Groovy, sexy, fun and funky, 'Medusa' is one of my favorite albums of the past twelve months! 5/5! 🍸 Trixie's Note: You can see this band playing live at the SF Eagle on 6/13. Bring your dancing shoes! 👠
1 Comment
zelda soutine
6/5/2024 08:58:04 am
This article is great for TheHelltones and I'd like to put it on theirwebsite (Thehelltones.net) but Shane Lawton (bass player) is not mentioned. Can it be edited to include him?
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