While a lot of hard rock bands think all you have to do is play hard and fast, and have a singer that can hit the high notes, Down To The Shake is a band that realizes it takes more than that if you want to rise above the rest. The new CD, “Not The Same” sets the bar pretty high for all the other hard rock bands out there. While they do play hard and fast, and they do have a singer that might shatter a glass or two behind the bar, they haven’t forgotten that melody, harmony and contrast are what makes the difference between a good song and a great song.
 

Down To The Shake combines a vast array of sounds and textures not normally found in hard rock music. They make great use of vocal harmonies as well as guitar harmonies, and create melody lines that range from scorching to subtle, haunting, almost dreamlike passages. The band has managed to incorporate strings, horns and even bells into songs, and they do it in a seamless and tasteful way. They even manage to have a sense of humor here and there. I think you’d be hard pressed to find a hard rock album that has a horn solo in it. While that sounds like it would never work, just listen to the song Grungalo and you will see how it fits perfectly.

Not only do they pay attention to harmony and melody, the band does a great job of changing gears now and then. The first song on the CD “Invisible” is in your face rockin’. They follow it up with “Fallen”, which has acoustic guitar and a very tasteful flamenco style guitar solo. The song weaves seamlessly back and forth from floating to an avalanche wall of sound. The Title track “Not The Same” has a catchy hook that you’ll be singing along with, as soon as you hear it. “Prelude To A Body Bag” has an almost Mozart quality, and just when the sound of chiming bells lulls you into a daydream, your abruptly awakened by the sonic blast of “Body Bag”.

To compliment the great song writing, the CD is produced with just enough ear candy to make it sound great, but not so processed that they can’t pull it off live. And speaking of playing live, their shows prove these guys (and gal) are real players. Dale Clabeaux is a charismatic front man with a seven string-shredding accomplice in Lance Hoskins. Bonnie Wallington immediately gets your attention with her good looks and confident stage presence and then keeps your attention with killer basslines that are locked right in with Bill Orrok's thundering double bass licks.

“Not The Same” is one you definitely want to add to your collection. After a listen, I’m sure you’ll be checking their web page for the next live show.

View Down To The Shake's Profile.

New Discussion Topics