Swampdawamp
Short Stories from a Long Road
(CDBY)

I will never forget the first time I heard the music of Swampdawamp. I had been hearing about them for a while from several friends including Rick Broyles and a buddy in North Carolina called Rebyll. When I finally got my ears wrapped around the music it was love at first note. As a staunch supporter of classic Southern Rock, I am always looking for the next generation of bands that will carry the flag onward and upward. There was no doubt in my mind that Swampdawamp was poised to lead the pack.

I was right. The next thing I knew they had been voted in onto the Lynyrd Skynyrd Simple Man Cruise as the people’s choice, beating out bands like Little Feat. Of course, they were back the next year, and when the now legendary Rock Legends Cruise set sail in December of 2011, they were invited to perform alongside Marshall Tucker, Molly Hatchet, Blackfoot and tons of other big boys.

The band rocks, to be sure. I must say that to me, the key to the success of the band is their leader, the charismatic lead vocalist Gig Michaels. Gig has one of the most unique vocal styles in all of rock and roll, and he breaks all the molds of the typical lead singer. Sure, he has hair to spare, but this is no skinny ass pretty boy. He is a towering big man who could have just as easily gone into NWA Wrestling had he not discovered his musical gifts. As a matter of fact, Michaels delivers what may be his own theme song on the new album, “Fat Boys Can Jam.” And jam they do. With driving drums and guitars, they have hints of Lynyrd Skynyrd and Molly Hatchet, but remain absolutely original.

The can rock it out one minute with a song like “Do Things,” and turn right around and deliver a country rock hoedown like “Good People.” Without missing a beat, they move into a pedal steel enhanced country song like “Gone Fishin,’” a song that strikes the same chord as Skynyrd’s “Simple Man” did all those years ago.

The songwriting is always top drawer. Story songs like “Miss Becky,” with it’s sweet slide guitar, “Whisky Road,” and the excellent ballad “Happy Anniversary.” There is no shortage of balls to the wall rockers here either, “Sweet Disease” rips it up as does “She,” and “Mr. Bill” is made to be played at “eleven.”

Swampdawamp rocks. The North Carolina band is one of the hottest bands to come out of Dixie in some time, and this new collection is their finest work yet. Get you some.

- Michael Buffalo Smith