BLACK CAT ROCKABILLY REVIEW - "HOT ROD BOOGIE" (JUNE 2006)

Hot Rod Boogie, The Rockets
On Stage Records OSR 012
It all began in Greece in 1992 when the "Jive Rockets" were formed and they started their adventures on the rock 'n' roll scene with big influences from the 50's era. As years went by, every "rocket" went his own way, sometimes crossing paths again with bands like "The Red Hot", "The Jitterbugs", "The Shapes" and "The Speedballs". Searching for the real thing once more they decided to arm their rockets and hit the rock 'n' roll highway again with the straight sound of original rockabilly, fitted in today's hard reality.
The Rockets previously released a 4 track 10" EP (On Stage OSR 10), one track from this EP "Rockin' Dream" was also included on the OSR compilation "White Boppin' Tower". And now the band has released their first full length CD with 12 hot rocking tracks, 8 of which are selfpenned originals. The remaining 4 are cover songs from Elvis, Sonny Fisher, Gene Vincent and Charlie Feathers. Lyrics of all original songs are included in the four-folded CD cover sheet.
The album hits off with the title song "Hot Rod Boogie", a new original with a classic sound. Full power doghouse bass and razor sharpe lead guitar riffs. Good lead vocals with a little bit of an accent, supplemented by a backing chorus. "Sweet Magnolia's Curtain" is the only intrumental track on the album, a real gone surf song in the early 60s tradition, followed by "I Wanna Rock" (all night through with you), and you can believe yours truly, these boys really do wanna rock, and they do it pretty hot as well. As you know, I'm a sucker for a cheap guitar, and this guy Nick is a damn fine Telecaster picker.
The Rockets' rendition of "Just Because" sounds good, the only problem is that I think this song has been covered way too often. My collection database reports 40 different versions of the song. I like the selfpenned "Lucy" a lot better, with cewl bass and drum solo riffs, it will surely rock your socks off. Sonny Fisher's "Rocking daddy" has always been one of my favorites, and this version got the hairs in neck straightened once again. Great lead guitar!
"You Can't Rock Me No More" and "Honky Tonk Daddy" are two more originals with a fantastic beat. Ace Moreno's voice is not quite cut out to do a cover of Gene Vincent's "Blue Jean Bop", but due to the great musical skills of all bandmembers, it's still a respectable cover. Ace does a lot better stuttering his way through Charlie Feather's classic "Tongue Tied Jill". Very well done.
The band has included all the right ingredients on this album, Hot Rods, Hot Chicks and Hot Rockabilly Blues. Fine musicians and loads of energy make this a fantastic album with good covers and fabulous new songs. Go for it!
Full tracklisting: Hot Rod Boogie / Sweet Magnolia's Curtain / I Wanna Rock / Southbound Train / Desire / Just Because / Lucy / Rockin' Daddy / You Can't Rock Me No More / Honky Tonk Daddy / Blue Jean Bop / Tongue Tied Jill
Rockets are:
Ace Moreno - Vocals, Guitar
Buddy 67s - Slap Bass, Backing Vocals
Wolfman - Drums
Telecaster Nick - Guitar

ROCKABILLYRULES.COM (APRIL 2006) - The Rockets - Hot Rod Boogie


enviado el 30 April 2006 por Alex Ruiz Enlace Relacionado: The Rockets en myspace

leído 245 veces | Puntuación: The Rockets - Hot Rod Boogie
The Rockets es una banda de Atenas, formada por Ace Moreno a la voz y guitarra rítmica, Telecaster Nick a la guitarra solista, Buddy 67's al contrabajo y voz y Wolfman a la bateria y coros.
Tras la edición de un 10", acaban de editar en Stage Records su primer cd "Hot rod boogie", con temas fabulosos como "Hot rod boogie", "I wanna rock", versiones como "Blue Jean Bop" de Gene Vincent, "Rockin' Daddy" de Sonny Fisher, el "Tongue Tied Jill" de Charlie Feathers, "Sweet Magnolia's Curtain", "Southbound train", "Lucy", "Just Because" (Shelton brothers), "Honky tonk daddy", "Desire", y el estupendo "You can't rock me no more".
Rockabilly de impecable factura a cargo de esta banda griega.


They're also making a lot of gigs at Athens and Greece generally including some legendary performances like the one with R.Gordon & Chris Spedding Reunion and the White Boppin' Tower Rock'n'Roll festivals with Black Raven, Trisonics, Ronnie & The Nightgales, Jungle Tigers among others...