Heartless Bastards's Mountain

Although The Mountain is the third album from Ohioans Heartless Bastards, this was the first I had heard of them, and I'm glad I did. Come to find out, I'm not so far behind on the trio, as they went through a line-up change, reforming around an original Bastard, vocalist Erika Wennerstrom (no offense Erika), in 2007. I can't compare their new sound with their old, but I like what I'm hearing on this album.

The group's sound has some serious roots in good old rock & roll. It's got a really solid and full feel to it that isn't overwhelming, just powerfully rocking, and I don't mean busy as all get out try to hit you with too much at once rock, I mean slow, churning, momentum building old fashioned rock tinged with a hint of bluesy southern bite. And on top of all that, the group exudes confidence with they're playing as well, knowing when to back off and give the listener some air and a break from the air guitar. Take Nothing Seems the Same for a prime example of this sonic restraint (listen at roughly the 1:20 mark). Leading the charge is Erika on vocals, with a serious take charge kind of womanly voice that doesn't try enticing you with its tenderness, but goes for the throat and tells it like it is.

The group also just recorded a session for Daytrotter last month. Check it out HERE, and are on tour as well, dates below.

Heartless Bastards - The Mountain : The Mountain

Heartless Bastards - Nothing Seems The Same : The Mountain

Visit their website, their label Fat Possum Records, and become their friend on MySpace.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Upcoming Tour Dates

03.15.09 - The Pageant - St. Louis, MO
03.16.09 - Liberty Hall - Lawrence, KS
03.17.09 - Cain’s Ballroom - Tulsa, OK
03.18.09 - SXSW - Austin, TX
03.19.09 - SXSW - Austin, TX
03.20.09 - SXSW - Austin, TX
03.21.09 - House of Blues - Houston, TX
03.23.09 - Lyric Oxford - Oxford, MS
03.29.09 - Mr. Smalls - Pittsburgh, PA #
04.02.09 - Turner Hall - Milwaukee, WI #
04.03.09 - The Bottom Lounge - Chicago, IL #
04.04.09 - Varsity Theater - Minneapolis, MN #
04.07.09 - The Warehouse - Calgary, AB #
04.08.09 - The Starlight Room - Edmonton, AB #
04.10.09 - The Plaza Nightclub - Vancouver, BC #
04.15.09 - The Boardwalk - Sacramento, CA #
04.16.09 - Slim’s - San Francisco, CA #
04.21.09 - The Clubhouse - Tempe, AZ #
04.24.09 - Gothic Theater - Denver, CO #

# Show with Gaslight Anthem