1.Let's make Vegas tonight 2.Big shot 3.Woody & Skinny Jim 4.Drivin' wheel 5.In n' out 6.Rockin' on Creek Road 7.Too drunk 8.Help you dream 9.12 steps 10.Retired 11.Break of day 12.Eldorado 13.Mary's jeans 14.Ain't got fins
Johnny & The Blades
From Tamara Bunnell 'Country Standard Time' "Johnny and the Blades hail from the open deserts of the American Southwest, and appropriately so. Their latest honors the open road, fast cars, gambling and women. It is clean, rhythmic, and hot, like a long drive on an endless blacktop road, with the stereo blaring and the windows wide open. This is old-school rockabilly, and marks a fuller, more mature sound for this band which has been touring steadily the last few years. Each member holds up his end. Johnny Kellen's vocals are strong; tough and resonating with a little Elvis-style warble here and there. Lead guitarist Noah Gietka's riffs come searing out of the speakers from track one and remain red hot to the end. Jimmy Kolodziej plays a fine dog house, and Eli Rinek's drumming is right on. Each instrument is allowed to shine without dominating the others, and the blend creates a sound that is wonderfully danceable and a good soundtrack for your next summer barbecue. Also of note is that all but four of the songs were written by members of the band, who seem to share songwriting skills as easily as they share the stage. The album was produced by Ronny Weiser, whose name is synonymous with rockabilly. Weiser stood alone promoting rockabilly throughout the '70's, and he knows what works."
The PHIL & SHAUN show from Wales! "Let's Make Vegas Tonight is the second career album for Johnny & the Blades but their first for Rollin' Rock Records. The band, Johnny Kellen on vocals and rhythm guitar, Jimmy Kolodziej on doghouse bass, Eli Rinek on drums and Noah 'Get-It' Gietka have been together for five years and are based in Taos, New Mexico. Featuring a strong vocalist and a red hot guitarist they play with a very nineties rockabilly sound, helped by the in-yer-face bass sound the production has. It's on the uptempo numbers where the band really excel with both the title track and Big Shot being real standouts. Kolodziej wrote Woody and Skinny Jim and a fun mid paced chugger it is too with some tasty drumming and guitar. Their cover of Drivin Wheel is hypnotic with some outstanding playing from Gitit and a fine performance from Kellen. There's a lot of split tempo arrangements with a psychobilly feel like Break Of Day and the Guana Batz' Rockin' On Creek Road, but I don't think it's an area where they should devote too much time, as when they get their teeth stuff into the faster stuff, their rhythm section keep a solid beat and Gietka can let rip like on 12 Steps and the menacing Ain't Got Fins. My favourite track is probably their version of the Blasters' Help You Dream, with Kellen giving a great performance. Punters who bought and enjoyed one of the Rip Carson CDs can buy this with confidence."
From Mary Gunning from rockabilly.net and SLC central "Johnny & the Blades along with Ronny Wieser from Rollin' Rock Records just released their first recording as a team. The more I listen to it, the more I love it. Together this team is putting out some first-rate authentic rockabilly. With ten original tracks from the boys present is also an excellent version of the Guana Batz 'Rockin' on Creek Road', and also The Blasters 'Help You Dream' which, by the way, is an excellent piece of music performed for the ladies. Johnny has an excellent crisp clean voice along with the musical talent from the Blades. The band also recorded some good tunes for the release like 'Eldorado' - My baby was an Eldorado - 'In N' Out', 'Too Drunk' and 'Big Shot', along with a slower melody, 'Driving Wheel'. I have to say they saved the best for last, 'Ain't Got Fins' is an excellent rocker! . . .singing about Cadillacs. The frontman for this rockin' group is Johnny Kellen, vocal and rhythm guitar. This release wouldn't be possible without the Blades, Jimmy Kolodziej, doghouse bass and vocals, Eli Rinek drums and vocals and Noah 'Get-it' Gietka lead guitar and vocals. Johnny & the Blades is a top-notch addition to the Rollin' Rock team."
Johnny & The Blades - a US Rockabilly outfit.
The PHIL & SHAUN show from Wales!