Caleb Caudle blew me away with his debut record Red Bank Road. That record was a calm exertion, a seamless acoustic record of classic Americana. Supplemented by occasional pedal steel flourishes, the record was largely just Caleb and an acoustic guitar. Red Bank Road lived in my car stereo for months. The songs, penned by a then-19 year old Caleb and a couple by his brother Kyle, weren’t rushed or hurried. They were just sublime. Needless to say, I was looking forward to last year’s full band effort.  Billed as Caleb Caudle and the Bayonets, Stay On was a good record. It didn’t quite stick with me the way Red Bank Road had. Some of the songs were quite good, especially songs like “Our Heaven” and “When the Moment Comes,” which were highlights of their live show. But overall, there was something missing. The record just didn’t feel timeless the way Red Bank Road did.
But not to worry, because fast on the heels of Stay On, Caleb and his Bayonets regrouped to give us Snake River Canyon.  Whereas Red Bank Road was more of an alt. country record andStay On incorporated the band’s love of soul music, the latest from the Bayonets features a broad cross section of R&B, indie-cana, and Crazy Horse-style rock and roll.  Packaged like a 70’s era Neil Young record, Snake River Canyon is a masterful statement.  Chiming guitars ring out over musical beds that are created in part by producer Jon Ashley (the Avett Brothers, Band of Horses) and guest musician Ryan Monroe (Band of Horses). The former adds Moog Mini Voyager on two tracks and mellotron on another, while the latter plays either organ or Rhodes piano on half the cuts.  The overall sound here is definitely a more Band of Horses-like wall of sound, but don’t kid yourself–the Bayonets are not merely Band of Horses-lite.  While that band leans on atmospherics and a My Morning Jacket-style reverb, the Bayonets have a more muscular musical vocabulary that recalls the Stones or the Funk Brothers.
However, as always, the true standout instrument is Caleb’s voice. It’s as singularly Americana as Jay Farrar, but his range is that of a soul singer. Just listen to the vocal flourishes on “Moonlight Mile”or “Weightless”. It definitely distinguishes the Bayonets from their alt. country peers. And here, they’ve found the perfect sound to match it.
The Bayonets are currently on tour with another of my favorite bands from the Carolinas, Josh Roberts and the Hinges. Check out the tour dates here, as they head up the east coast this summer.
RIYL: Neil Young, Band of Horses, Portastatic, Wilco
About the author: Specializes in Dead, Drunk, and Nakedness..... Former College Radio DJ and Current Craft Beer Nerd