Carolina & Her Rhythm Rockets - Carolina & Her Rhythm Rockets

Rhythm Bomb Records

I’m two years late on this review as Carolina & Her Rhythm Rockets self-titled debut album was released in 2013. If this were released today or I was reviewing this two years ago, this would be on top five of the year list. In my defense, I did just started listening to these guys and gal this year, so I'll add this on my top favorite list of 2015. Why is a favorite you ask? I’ll tell you why, just keep reading.

The opening song “Walk With Me” is a catchy bopper that gets you right from the start. Lead vocalist Carolina Rothmann and her bandmates Sebastian Rottmann on lead guitar, Stefan Dürrbeck on drums and Marco Maas on double bass aren’t fooling around when it comes to getting you on the dance floor with their sound. The next song “Turn Around Baby” is a down and dirty rockabilly number, and it helps when Carolina yells out “Yeee-haw!” and we bust into a nice rock ’n’ roll lick. They continue the down and dirty Rockabilly with “Be Mine”, and there’s almost a Grace Slick influence in Carolina’s voice, which really complements the Rockabilly sound. The next song “Rock The Bop”, and to make a confession, I’m actually in love with this song. It’s very catchy, to the point where you will be singing the song out loud in public especially every time Carolina does a Rockabilly hiccup after she says Bop, it really sticks in your head! The next song “Back Home” (which you can watch the music video by Bopflix), is a very atmospheric song with a nice guitar lick that has a great Western feel but keeps the Rockabilly sound we’ve been listening to so far. By this time I’ve come to the conclusion that Carolina has one of the best voices in Rockabilly, not just female voices, but in general. But we’re not finished yet, the next song “Treat Me Right” again keeps it going and has you back on the dance floor which then segue to two boppers “Can’t Stop Boppin’” and “Leave This Town”, which you’ll probably have a heart attack after boppin' to these two songs. But if you feel those last songs weren’t fast enough for you and looking for a real jive number, Carolina & Her Rhythm Rockets speed things up with “Looking Up”. This song is the reason why we love Rockabilly music. “Waiting” is another rockin’ number, they keep the boppin’ going. Now it’s time to slow things down with “Give Me Love”, a song you would slow dance with your date at 50’s prom night. Not to get sentimental, but it’s quite a beautiful song and a nice change of pace after all the Rockabilly. Now that i’ve just said that, we’re back to the bop with “Knockin’ At My Door” and more down and dirty Rock ’n’ Roll with “Away With You” just to remind you what they do best. The last song “Darling Deal” is a feet-tapping, hand-clapping bluesy number with an in-your-face (or in-your-ear) harmonica that nicely closes out the album.

Not a single filler. Every song here is strong, diverse and just how I like my Rockabilly; great musicianship and a voice that shines. Rhythm Bomb Records really hit it out of park with signing Carolina & Her Rhythm Rockets from Germany and all the other great female artists such as Jai Malano, Ruby Ann, and Miss Lily Moe. 

I highly recommend you pick this up at the Rhythm Bomb Records online store. While you’re at it, pick up their latest album ‘By My Side’ which I’m ashamed to say I do not own, so I too should pick that one up as well!

The Satellites - The Space Sessions

El Toro Records

The Satellites are described as a "Rock 'n' Roll quintet from outer space". I know what you're thinking, is this some band that dresses up as astronauts and/or aliens playing some weird concoction of Rock music that would be described as Space Rock or Space-A-Billy? In fact they're very sharply dressed fellas from… well according to them they are from outer space so let's keep it that way. That shouldn't matter though because we're here to talk about the music. So let's talk about the music, okay? Ready, set, liftoff!

Opening with the song "Satellite Bop", it's a real catchy bopper and should get you on the dance floor in no time. If gravity can't bring you up, this song will. The next song "Ding Dong (Du - Wadi - Wadi)" is a boogie-woogie rock 'n' roll number that should keep you moving to the next song "Crazy Child", a surf rocker that will make you hop in your 50's Chevrolet (or spaceship for this matter) and cruise the night. Now you're probably getting a little tired from so much rock 'n' roll, so The Satellites were nice enough to slow things down (but not too slow) with the cover of "Farmer John", which has a very early 60's garage rock feel with a bit of the blues. It's a nice change of pace and keeps this album from feeling repetitive. Speaking of the blues, the next song "Keep Your Arms Around Me" goes way back to the early blues, it's a foot stomper and the nice bit of harmonica that really completes the song. "Pretty Linda" has a Buddy Holly-esque vibe to it, which I always like, and then they go back to the boppin' Rock 'n' Roll with "Baggie Maggie". "Betty Joe" mixes 50's Rockabilly with early 60's Rock 'n' Roll, and it has a raw quality (and I mean that in the best possible way), which really feels like a song from the period, in fact this whole album so far feels like a record someone bought at their local record store back in the late 50's. "One More Chance with You" brings back the blues with a little bit of honky-tonk. "Tiny Space Man" is a fun song, and reveals that these men could very well be from outer space and I could just see the video now; aliens and astronauts boppin' on Mars. The Satellites close out the album with "Wild Girl" which is a real rockin' tune, bluesy guitar licks and harmonica converge with this bopper and is a great call back to the previous songs we've heard.

What I really like about this album is its diversity, it never sticks with one sound yet doesn't stray away from what The Satellites are trying to accomplish; playing good Rock 'n' Roll for the people on earth. 

Pick up this album at their El Toro Records online store. For the vinyl collectors, you can also pick up their 7" record. 

Check out their site for show dates in Germany, which they may or may not be from because I actually believe these guys are from outer space (hey, they said so themselves!) so don't let the ties fool you. 

The new album from The Bellfuries comes out August 21st. Why do I have to wait three more months? 

Here's a preview of the new album and all I can say is, I can't wait!

Slim Jenkins - Lamp Down Low

When you hear Voodoo Blues and Dark Swing, what do you think of? I’m sure many things but just to stay on topic, I think of San Francisco’s Slim Jenkins. I’ve been listening to these guys for a while and have caught them live a few times. They just released their newest album ‘Lamp Down Low’. So grab a scotch, sit back and let’s talk about it, shall we? 

The opening track “Jet Settin’ Girl” gets to the point and by that I mean it’s going to get you off your feet and snapping your fingers. It’s a swing jazzy number and a great way to start things off. The next song “Cheating Heart” opens up very jazzy and for some reason I’m thinking of someone walking down a dark alley at night. Now is that a compliment? Yes it is, because this song has atmosphere. We continue on to “Six Feet Deep Or Mexico”, a latin-flavored swing number that will have you swing dancing and doing the salsa at the same time, especially if you’re drunk enough, or even sober. If you’re not exhausted yet, “Buttermilk” will keep you dancing, opens with a very gypsy-jazzy quick intro right into Slim Jenkin’s dirty swing sound. The instruments really shine in this song, I mean they shine on every song, but this one especially as everyone gets a little solo here and there. Speaking of instruments, we move on to “Mad Dog”, an instrumental where the entire band gets to be in the spotlight as Justin Oliver takes a break and Felix McNee’s drumming is in the forefront. Closing out the album is the song “Down In Heaven”, opening with a moody bass lick by Timothy Vickers. Then we’re hit with Byron Burchard’s sax as it creeps up on you. Joel Martinez’s plays a bluesy guitar solo, something you rarely hear in swing music these days and I like it. This is a solid album of six songs that will transport you back in time with a sharp suit, a drink in your hand and possibly a dame with a gun pointing at your heart.  

Whether Slim Jenkins is playing at a Las Vegas casino, a dive bar in Marin County, or outside in front of hundreds of swing dancers at Union Square, San Francisco’s Slim Jenkins know how to get the place moving on their feet and ‘Lamp Down Low’ will have you dancing in your living room with these six songs of Voodoo Blues and Dirty Swing! 

Make sure to catch Slim Jenkins at a show near you and pick up ‘Lamp Down Low’ while you're at it.

Photos from their show at Swing in the Square in San Francisco