Few bands can kick-up as much gritty rock & roll dust as The Dexateens, the Tuscaloosa, Alabama band whose grimy, high-octane mix of classic Southern rock and punk panache has left fans fumbling towards the bar for another shot since its formation in '98. From the gravel-throated drawl of frontman/guitarist Elliott McPherson and John Smith's stinging guitar lines, to the driving rumble of drummer Craig Pickering (better known to friends as "Sweet Dog") and bassist Mike Patton's rhythm section, the Dexateens' powerful concoctions were served up high and mighty on its first two jaw-dropping and ear-splitting LPs,
including 2004's self-titled debut and the subsequent sophomore effort, Red Dust Rising, in 2005 and have drawn the band early comparisons to the likes of Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Mountain and Lynyrd Skynyrd, as well as the Misfits, Blue Oyster Cult and the Minutemen. The Dexateens raucous concerts have also earned the band a place alongside the so-called "Next Wave" of classic Yank rockers as Lucero, the Drive-By Truckers, Slobberbone, American Princes and Centomatic. UK and European fans got a taste of the Dexateens spirited live offerings last year, when they tore up the highways and byways and, er, autobahns during a joint tour with the like-minded Glasgow band The Grease Monkeys. In February, the Dexateens will return with their third album, Hardwire Healing -- an LP that finds the band further honing its drinking-class, barroom-siftin' rhythm & blues with the help of co-producers David Barbe (Sugar, Mercyland) and Patterson Hood (Drive-By Truckers). Of course, the Rolling Stones spent a huge chunk of the early and mid-'70s -- and quite a number of brain cells -- trying to tap into and capture the same kind of bluesy, Muscle Shoals sound on its classic run of LPs from Sticky Fingers to Black & Blue. For the Dexateens, it's a wee bit easier. All the boys from Alabama have to do is turn on the amps and rip into the songs, and everything that the Stones were
seeking to reap becomes immediately evident in the Dexateens' sonic stew. Rock & roll Tide, indeed.
including 2004's self-titled debut and the subsequent sophomore effort, Red Dust Rising, in 2005 and have drawn the band early comparisons to the likes of Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Mountain and Lynyrd Skynyrd, as well as the Misfits, Blue Oyster Cult and the Minutemen. The Dexateens raucous concerts have also earned the band a place alongside the so-called "Next Wave" of classic Yank rockers as Lucero, the Drive-By Truckers, Slobberbone, American Princes and Centomatic. UK and European fans got a taste of the Dexateens spirited live offerings last year, when they tore up the highways and byways and, er, autobahns during a joint tour with the like-minded Glasgow band The Grease Monkeys. In February, the Dexateens will return with their third album, Hardwire Healing -- an LP that finds the band further honing its drinking-class, barroom-siftin' rhythm & blues with the help of co-producers David Barbe (Sugar, Mercyland) and Patterson Hood (Drive-By Truckers). Of course, the Rolling Stones spent a huge chunk of the early and mid-'70s -- and quite a number of brain cells -- trying to tap into and capture the same kind of bluesy, Muscle Shoals sound on its classic run of LPs from Sticky Fingers to Black & Blue. For the Dexateens, it's a wee bit easier. All the boys from Alabama have to do is turn on the amps and rip into the songs, and everything that the Stones were
seeking to reap becomes immediately evident in the Dexateens' sonic stew. Rock & roll Tide, indeed.
