{"id":16033,"date":"2021-07-09T05:00:25","date_gmt":"2021-07-09T05:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/?p=16033"},"modified":"2021-07-09T09:06:40","modified_gmt":"2021-07-09T09:06:40","slug":"shotgun-sally-lonestar-renegades-self-released","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/?p=16033","title":{"rendered":"Shotgun Sally – \u2018Lonestar Renegades\u2019 (Self-Released)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>G.G. Sleaze and Johnny King originally came together in Texas to perform cover songs live in 2020, but, during the lockdown, they decided they wanted to start writing some original material. I recently captured an invigorating live show (my first in over a freaking year) by the band where they helped take the crowd\u2019s mind off everything that is going on in the world. I was partially singing along to songs by the end of them and experiencing a great rush of adrenaline in the process. Pulling influences from Hanoi Rocks, Johnny Thunders, 80\u2019s sleaze, and rock n roll, they have unleashed their debut EP or mini LP depending on your preference as it contains five originals and one acoustic cover to close out the proceedings.<\/p>\n

\u2018Singapore Sling City\u2019 gets things started with a cool guitar riff that sets the stage for the album. The Hanoi Rocks influence musically is present, but King\u2019s vocals recall more the likes of early Phil Lewis L.A. Guns sleaziness. The recording is down and dirty which really works to the benefit of the song here. \u2018The Road\u2019 opens with a catchy chorus and a mid tempo feel. King really gets to demonstrate some range here, and this song was awesome live. It is one of those songs that can totally lose its feel if it is overproduced and layered with effects. The gutter glam feel of the mix adds to its charm here.<\/p>\n

One of my favorites from the live show comes next in \u2018The Fringe.\u2019 The guitar work by Sleaze grabs the listener\u2019s attention as the song erupts into a hard rocking treasure. The amalgamation of influences really come into play here as different bands come to mind, but it never really feels like one certain band. There is some GN\u2019R\/ Faster Pussycat street 80\u2019s glam at play, but it feels like it is because Shotgun Sally is drinking from the same well as those bands. The band changes gear again with the 70\u2019s style nostalgia rocker \u2018Crimson Avenue\u2019 recalling the days of foolish youth where consequences didn\u2019t seem to exist. The chorus is super catchy which is something the band does very well across the board. As I mentioned at the beginning, I was singing along at the live show by the end of these songs, and it is not because they repeat the title ad nauseum. The hooks have teeth and stick with the listener.<\/p>\n

\u2018Hounds of Hell\u2019 rocks hard with Sleaze taking over the lead vocals. When I heard it live, I really liked it despite some technical issues at that time. It has a mix of Thunders, Hanoi Rocks, some snotty 77 punk, and reminds me of something that could have been perfectly at home on American Heartbreak\u2019s first release.\u00a0 The band bring us to a close with an acoustic cover of \u2018Life Loves a Tragedy\u2019 by Poison which works very well. If the first five songs serve as the main course, this is more what you might expect after the show when Sleaze and King decide to grab a guitar and knock out some acoustic covers before hitting the road for their next show.<\/p>\n

The band added some more songs to the live show which will hopefully find their way onto the next release. In the meantime, they have released a debut that keeps finding its way onto my playlist. I purposely waited a bit after the live show to review this as I didn\u2019t want to be thinking about or influenced by the live versions while writing this. I may or may not have been successful in that regard. These are the kind of releases that throw my year end results all out of whack as I have to decide for myself if I put it in with the EPs or albums. I have not had many releases this year really grab me, but this has been one of them. The music is down and dirty, gritty, and filled with hooks.<\/p>\n

\u2018Lonestar Renegades\u2019 is available now.<\/p>\n

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Author:\u00a0Gerald Stansbury<\/p>\n