If you want to get a Twangville reviewer’s attention, mentions of beer, whiskey, or other spirits will usually go a long way. When songwriter and guitarist Jess Hoefner floated me a bottle of bourbon the other week, I knew I had to fulfill my long put off promise of reviewing his band’s latest EP, Gone for Good. Lucky for me (and you), Gone for Good is a wickedly delicious slice of alt. country stomp rock.
My initial comparison for the band is always The Jayhawks, but not for the usual reasons. I’m not talking about the trademark Louris-Olson harmonies as much as I am referencing The Jayhawks ability to easily connect the dots between Gram Parsons and The Beatles. Mud, Blood, and Beer can sound straight out of the 60’s folk rock tradition (The Byrds, The Beatles) and turn right around and channel 70’s country rock (Neil Young, Parsons, CCR). The mix of pop, classic rock, and country influences can reference Lou Reed and the Carter Family in the same breath. The diversity of influences keeps the EP from fading into the background as each song emerges from the speakers to challenge the listener with something different.
This emerging alt. country band is playing a free show in NYC on Saturday February 4 at the historic Bitter End to celebrate the official release of Gone For Good. The band will be giving away some free copies of Gone for Good as well as some other goodies.
About the author: Specializes in Dead, Drunk, and Nakedness..... Former College Radio DJ and Current Craft Beer Nerd