Blackfoot Gypsies, To the Top

by J. Kyr

15 tracks of southern, infused rock with a dapple of bluegrass tendencies glued together by soulful, greasy swamp-twang.  This Nashville now quartet (formerly a duo), even laces the bootstraps with some varied styles throughout, making it a tasty treat.

Southern rock fans rejoice, this offering spins out some deep south sounds with tasty tracks like, “Everybody’s Watching,” it delves crows fans, and is a highly radio friendly vibe while “Potatoes and Whiskey” (featuring Margo Price) and “Velvet Low Down Blues” gets bluesy on the front porch and “Back to New Orleans” takes it even more southern with a big band sound, like that late night back alley meet up . “I Wanna Be Famous” is probably the most “rock” in the mix and serves it up attitudinal style.

Matthew Paige, along with Nashville’s Zach Murphy, created the Blackfoot Gypsies duo, with desires to rock and roll as soon as they could. Their popular live-performances gave them the opportunity to create two EPs and an LP before deciding to expand their sound and bring a few more members on board- harmonica player Ollie Dogg (also a longtime veteran of Nashville’s blues and blues jams scenes) and Pennsylvania’s Dan Whitlow on bass. To the Top is the band’s sophomore outing and features the quartet, which adds to the depth of the already tightly woven duo at the core of the group sound.

It might have a vintage appeal, but the group is also fresh and refreshingly cutting edge at the same time. It’s their individuality and their combined group sound that lights this fire.  The overall sound is just fulfilling, and isn’t that what you look for in your go to album sound.  It’s a win folks, and its deeply satisfyingly swamping.  Get you some.

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