Adam says Led Zeppelin.  I says Jimi, Howlin Wolf, or any other bluesy rock legend.  All this comes from Handsome Jack.  Nasty down home music straight from Buffalo, N.Y.  The only band to play Corndogorama three days in a row.  And they claim “if you get a chance to do it, don’t.  [You'll be] throwin’ up all morning.” Well, that could be the case even if you weren’t one of the performers.

Regardless, you know a band’s got it when the bar wench pulls up a chair to stand on so she can wind to the music.  That was yesterday, today she’s upgraded to sitting in front of the band, seductively chewing a straw.  This is the type of music that makes ladies want to wind and tatted up couples finally get comfy enough to tongue each other: guitars that chime out with their own voice and an animated drummer that boosts the already vibrant energy.

Standard blues lines get a progressive overhaul as Handsome Jack accelerates into a frenzy.  Any band that can pull off three days of Corndogorama has got to be worth the wheels they rode in on.

Did you think with all this Corndogorama madness that we forgot about the Royal Bangs? Not likely! We’re still excited about the video we did, and we think the session is even better. Check out the songs below, or download the entire thing through the zip.

Royal Bangs - Handcuff Killa

Royal Bangs - Japanese Car

Royal Bangs - New Scissors

Royal Bangs - Shit Christmas

Download the entire session
HYH Session: Royal Bangs

Space rock tinged metal ala Anthrax or Disturbed, they’re a much more interesting group when they focus more on the space than the rock. Their sludge metal and outer worldly vocals owe a lot to Tool, but the drummer can’t quite pull off the intense complexity of Danny Carey.

Never has a name been more appropriate.  If I were fortunate enough to be drafted into this club, I’d spend the bulk of my time taking dancing lessons from the tambourine wielding vocalist, Chris.  Direct from the gap between classic rock and post punk, unabashed shout/sung vocals are set off by driving instrumentation.  The still building crowd can’t keep still to the thorough mix.  This is the kind of music to model your days around. Hmm, maybe their Dynamos album would be a good investment.

I don’t know how day 4 of the festival can possibly let me down as every single day I’ve found more and more local and not so local groups that have knocked my socks off!

Our buddies Club Awesome should be… well… awesome.  Also I’m really excited to finally see Lazer/Wolf live.  Should be some surprises too!

June 29