The Wicked Lo-Down Out of Line
The Wicked Lo-Down
Out of Line
Gulf Coast Records
The Wicked Lo-Down snaps, crackles, and smokes ‘em from one end to the other on their second album, Out of Line, a set of songs not to be missed by fans of the kind of raucous, blues-based rock and roll laid down by the vintage Fabulous Thunderbirds, Blasters, Rockpile, and Red Devils. Especially the Red Devils, the L.A. combo whose scorching Rick Rubin-produced debut album in 1992 caught the attention of Mick Jagger, who promptly took the band into a studio to cut a still sadly unreleased solo album. Wicked Lo-Down guitarist Paul Size was a Red Devil, and he sounds as fiery as ever 32 years down the line on a record that may end up being as legendary as that Red Devils debut—or that Jagger album for all we know.
Right off the snap in “Kill Me or Keep Me,” singer and harmonica player Nick David nearly matches the kinetic energy in voice that the great Phil Alvin displayed with the Blasters—a man possessed, dancing on hot coals, but with a whole lot of natural soul pumping through his veins. That David blows a blues harp with that same fury seals him as a real deal to keep an eye on. “Marching On,” an early climax, has David leading the band through a relentless groove that only the most accomplished bands can achieve. Size weaves spicy, cutting guitar through it in perfect unison with the melody. Guitarist Jeffrey Berg, bassist Brad Hallen, and drummer Nick Toscano deserve to have their names in lights alongside Size and David. Low down and wicked they all are, indeed.
Out of Line delivers eleven band originals and two superbly chosen covers, one of them surprising to say the least. Never in a million years would I voluntarily listen to a Brittany Spears song, but all that time must have just whizzed by me, because here I am bobbing my head to the greasy, strutting beat of the Wicked Lo-Down’s extreme and sincere rearrangement of Spears’ “Toxic.” Complete with serious guitar stabbing by guest Monster Mike Welch, the song’s lyrics hit between the eyes perfectly in this context. Otherwise, a suitably wild take of Hound Dog Taylor’s “I Just Can’t Make it” drives the album to a close. In between lies fantastic songwriting in the menacing, swampy “Bogeyman,” the out and out rocking title song featuring sturdy guitar by guest (and Gulf Coast Records label owner) Mike Zito, the elastic rocker “Action Woman” with Mr. Size manhandling his guitar to stunning effect, and the aching blues of “If I.”
I have been enjoying this kind of music for a good bit more than a half-century, and this is some of. the best of it on one record, period.
Tom Clarke for MAS
BUY NOW!
Buy Us a Cup of Coffee!
Join the movement in supporting Making a Scene, the premier independent resource for both emerging musicians and the dedicated fans who champion them.
We showcase this vibrant community that celebrates the raw talent and creative spirit driving the music industry forward. From insightful articles and in-depth interviews to exclusive content and insider tips, Making a Scene empowers artists to thrive and fans to discover their next favorite sound.
Together, let’s amplify the voices of independent musicians and forge unforgettable connections through the power of music
Make a one-time donation
Make a monthly donation
Make a yearly donation
Choose an amount
Or enter a custom amount
Your contribution is appreciated.
Your contribution is appreciated.
Your contribution is appreciated.
DonateDonate monthlyDonate yearly
