Bare Bones by The Blessings

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Everyone for the last five years has been talking about how “rock ‘n’ roll is back”, but it seems to have failed to truly show its face…until now. The next wave has arrived in the form of The Blessings.They rock like there’s no tomorrow and roll like their heroes of yesterdays’ greats. This Hollywood 4 piece, Jeremy White (lead vocals/harmonica/guitar), Mike Gavigan (guitar/vocals), Frank Scimeca (bass/vocals) and Robert Iezzi (drums), has their feet firmly planted in the roots of rock ‘n’ roll. Like all the heavy hitters, their influences can be traced all the way to the source. “When I was a kid, of course it all started with the Stones and the Faces,” explains Jeremy. “That was the stuff my parents were into, but I wanted to go farther so, as I got older, I started listening to previous generations of music like Elmore James or Chuck Berry. That's where it all came from anyway. That’s why when we play live we’ll bust out a really raucous version of Little Richard’s “Keep a Knockin.’” We pull in influences from all over the map. I’m originally from Southern Virginia, so naturally, I developed a taste for country greats like George Jones and Hank Sr.”

The Blessings have just completed their 10 song album entitled "Bare Bones (co produced by Bam and Share Ross from Bubble and Dogs D’amour, and Mike Hansen).” The songs are packed with hooks, and interesting and colorful story lines. A song like “Chained to Your Memory” to the listener would, at first, sound like it’s a heartbreaking song about a lost love, but it’s actually about White losing his father to cancer. They also have attitude laden pure rock ‘n’ roll songs like “Chop you Down” with verse lines like “…send you back to Baltimore your tail between your legs I’m goin’ to the liquor store Before I get back pack your bags.” “It’s all about attitude, that’s the way we live,” explains guitarist Mike Gavigan. “The songs can’t help but reflect that.” Included is a blazing cover of "Gone Movin' On," originally written and recorded by 60s group Paul Revere and the Raiders.

The album also features the honky-tonk keyboards and Hammond b3 organ of former Guns n Roses keyboardists, Teddy “Zig Zag” Andreadis and Dizzy Reed; both of whom accompany The Blessings for their live shows. Now halfway through recovering from a decade of shoe gazers there’s finally a band that dares to perform a great rock ‘n’ roll live show. White brings back the concept of the front man. If you could combine James Brown with David Johansen, then toss a firecracker down their trousers, you might have a close comparison.

Get ready for The Blessings because this time rock IS back and it’s equipped with its long lost friend the roll... “so park your broom in the corner/we’re gonna have a real good time/we’re going on a hypnotic joyride.”

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