Trucker Mouth – Johnny D’s – Somerville, MA – 8.7.09

 

…view full gallery of show at ViscerevieW

The People(s)

Trucker Mouth – Tim Atkins: Vocals, Guitar, Slide Guitar; Chad Raleigh: Guitar, Lead; Patrick Barrett: Drums; Steve Sofronas: Bass
 

The Place

Johnny D’s  is a Boston Institution owned and operated by the DeLellis family since 1969. On any given night you may see Cajun fiddle masters from Louisiana, British folk stars, or some of Boston’s finest rockers. Over the years we have had an almost endless list of the best acts in the country — just about anyone who would fit in a 300-capacity room has played here at one time or another, including the greatest names from the jazz, blues (we won the coveted “Keeping the Blues Alive” award from the Memphis Blues Foundation), folk, rock, and international music scene.

The “Thing”

The “”Thing” about Trucker Mouth, in this landmark local venue, on this night was that they may have been the most excited people in the room to be at Johnny D’s. Hear me out…

I don’t mean that the crowd wasn’t into it, in fact quite the opposite, what I mean is that playing the legendary Johnny D’s, for a group of (mostly) North Shore boys who’ve been possessed by southern rock demons, that unapologetically tore a hole in the Mason Dixon Line and deliver refined yet appropriately ear splitting music…Johnny D’s is a big deal. And let’s be honest, even in the presence of all of the incredible music that bleeds from every tiny vein of this community, not to mention the history of performers that have played on this stage, a recipe calling for a smattering of southern rock tossed with a healthy dose of Trucker Mouth’s original “New England Rub” massaged into some thick cut musical chops is less common around here then an out of the closet Yankees fan,

The band’s influences are unmistakable with clear homage to the Black Crowes, Drive-By-Truckers and others pervading the overall feel, but not so much as to define or pigeon hole them…just enough to take the good parts and run with it. And if you don’t like southern rock then you’re obviously lost anyway, so I’ll excuse you.

Here’s the great part, they’ve been around as a band for only 2 years, have already released an excellent self titled album (not to mention cover art that will make you like them regardless of your musical preferences….thank you.), they’ve only toured around New England to date (so they’re still our little secret for the moment) and they’re heading back into the studio this fall to lay down a new arsenal of originals. What I’m trying to say is…catch them now, get to know them now, because I have little doubt that in no time, we’ll be having the “dude, remember when we used to be able to see these guys at tiny local clubs…” conversation. And for their sake and as a reward for all the obvious hard work they put in, I can’t wait for that to be a problem for all of us.

I spent some time with the boys after the show in what seemed like an IPA race, and in keeping it brief here’s just a bit of what I gleaned…(translation= I took shitty notes because I was enjoying the conversation so much. Lesson learned.)

• Tim, Chad and Pat share the writing duties, with Pat providing a good portion of the lyrics, Tim contributing an unexpectedly soulful voice, and Chad throwing in the prerequisite long hair and beard that allows for superb visual accenting of his ludicrous assault of the frets.
• Chad, Tim and Pat went to the same High School together, with Chad and Pat playing together from early on, but they didn’t partner up with Tim until years later…cheers to fate.
• Chad and Pat (continuing their bromance) went to Amherst, but only Pat actually went to Amherst. It seems that Pat needed some inspiration to get through the rigors of college life, and being that Chad had nothing to do but kick the living crap out of his guitar and perfect his beard, he signed up for the “tour.” But really…what else should the story be for your charismatic lead guitarist be? Actual matriculation? Nah…
• Steve, who’s a newer fixture to the band (after original bassist on the album  Joe left a while back to attend to family obligations) played with ton’s of intensity, but I didn’t get much more detail as his older brother was in the following band and he rightfully shifted his attention in that direction.
• One of them drinks Heineken, which I do not respect at all. But that’s the biggest transgression I can think of.

That’s that for now. I admit, I went a bit longer then usual because I like what I saw, and for that I’ll not apologize. If you like to rock out at all, buy the album, if you are a lover of live music, festivals, small dark loud rock clubs or any variation on the above, go see them, and when the second album drops at the end of this year do not be surprised if they take off.

 Upcoming Shows…

 8PM – Saturday August 15^th @ the excellent Lizard Lounge (Black Crowes Tribute)

9PM – Saturday August 29^th @ Harper’s Ferry (w/ Girls, Guns and Glory & The Dejas)