This is the first EP from Palmerston North blues rock group The Blue Grizzly Band. They have been gigging pretty full on for the last year forming in a local music performance class. Although this is an EP it contains 6 songs which is pretty good bang for your buck.
The opening song 'Get Down With The Grizzly' is a call to arms, so to speak, and rocks out in such a way with some nice wailing leads. This is very much an electric rock blues song. Plenty of distortion in the guitar gives it a real rock feel with a blues rhythm. 'Broke Arse Blues' is a much cruiser number showcasing some smoother vocals from their vocalist Aaron Smith and one of their guitar players. This is a band that lays down a nice solid groove not trying to be too flashy to mess up their great guitar work.
'Didn’t Have The Blues' has some cool leads again. Even someone like me who doesn’t feel the same about the blues as them can definitely feel it from this song. 'M.I.L.F' sounds like something Gary Moore would have written for a lady and if u didn’t read inside the cover you would think it was a dodgy song by the title thankfully the real name (Motorbike I'll Love Forever) is also included. Nice laid back blues number again. 'Creepy Rita' brings the tempo up with funky edge with some almost 70’s psychedelic leads thrown in for good measure. 'Your Fantasy' keeps up the tempo bringing to mind Kenny Wayne Shepherd.
This band has put together a great blues rock album with plenty of mixture of pace and with buckets of originality. I really enjoyed their guitar work as it was nice and relaxed with plenty of feeling. I am looking forward to hearing their next release. Get to their next gig if you can because they will get the bar rocking.
Some of the grungiest blues you'll ever hear; The Blue Grizzly Band goes from stage to stage blowing ear drums with a whirlwind of heavy blues rock, sexy slow-jams and modern blues funk. The band consists of a bunch of UCOL music graduates who came together to form a band and show off the skills they earned while on the on the course. For anyone who likes blues, lots of guitar solos or just having fun in general, this is the band for you. Check 'em out at an event near you and get down with the Grizzly!