Hickoids
Hairy Chafin’ Ape Suit
Saustex Media
Street: 08.20
Hickoids = The Allman Brothers + The Hold Steady – vocals
Boom! Right off the bat, I’m hit by the opening song “Fruit Fly” with an upbeat blues guitar solo and organ playing that sounds a lot like Gregg Allman was contributing to the song. Jeff Smith’s vocals kick in, contributing the real raspy Southern blues sound that I’ve come to love. More songs continue to sound like this, such as “TJ,” which tells the surreal story of doing drugs in Mexico, and “If Drinkin’ Don’t Kill Me, Kill Me,” which supports the band’s need for alcohol consumption. Of course, they fit in some classic, more laid-back blues songs like “You Knee’d Me” and “The Working Man’s Friend.” This album consists mostly of the classic blues rock sounds that bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd, CCR and The Allman Brothers have perfected in their time—and Hickoids have really solidified it in their style. –Eric U. Norris