Be sure to check out Red Rocker's
interview with Silvertide
drummer Kevin Frank.
Don’t know that much about Silvertide…but I know they rock! They’re young,
slapdash, oft-shirtless and heavily tattooed. They have toured this year away
with, among others, Kid Rock and Van Halen. Show and Tell is their debut
release and it sports a contagious hard rock vibe that we haven’t heard from
such unknowns since last year’s Jet or Kings Of Leon. Physically, they have the
look of early Skid Row, but the music is decidedly classic rock. While lead
singer Walt Lafty might sound vocally like this decade’s Chris Robinson, the
boys behind him lean more toward AC/DC or The Cult. And so I submit, classic
rock is not dead, my friends. It’s just hiding out, far from the FM radio waves,
waiting to be dragged back into favor again.
The icebreaker here is “Ain’t Comin’ Home,” hands down the catchiest piece of
hard rock this side of Jet’s “Are You Gonna Be My Girl.” Nothing complicated at
all, just five adolescent guys playing their guts out like this might be the
only record they’ll ever make. Equally promising is the ultra-melodic
“California Rain,” a juicy, riff-heavy slice of heaven that recalls a
little-known obsession of mine from the mid-90s, Screamin’ Cheetah Wheelies.
“Mary Jayne” is a full-throttle sensual assault that opens with a Zeppelin-like
head of steam. “Mary Jayne, I know you’ll build me up and I just bet you girls
will never leave me,” Lafty bawls, with a wisdom and presence that transcends
his years. Aerosmith deserves a tip of the hat for their unmistakable influence
on “You Want It All,” one of the album’s later highlights that helps solidify
its ‘B’ grade.
Some of the material within Show and Tell begins to mingle together,
though not altogether enough to sink the mission. The misguided “war, war, what
is it for?” chant suffocates a wimpy 9/11 limerick (“Foxhole J.C.”), an example
of youthful naivety. What’s more, they couldn’t resist the inclusion of an
obligatory power ballad, even though “Nothing Stays” doesn’t represent
Silvertide’s finest moment. Pound for pound, however, this introductory endeavor
is what it is -- rock and roll in its purest and most untainted form. These guys
are still opening for unknown bands, commanding at best a $15 ticket in the
smoky bars and piss-soaked clubs of midtown America. It can’t last, mind you.
This album will (hopefully) get heard soon enough and these boys will be on
their way. For now, fans can log onto the Silvertide Website and request cover
songs for them to play in concert. Do you suppose Creed ever did that?
~Red Rocker
redrocker@bullz-eye.com
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