A rocket ship shredding space on its way to the blazing sun; a charging bull free from confinement; or, the final scene in Fight Club where towering buildings all come tumbling down in fiery plumes—all good ways to visualize the massive rock sound of local blues group Hobbs the Band.
It also doesn't hurt to imagine Stevie Ray Vaughan sitting in a corner riffing off the chaos with taut guitar solos. Yeah, that's definitely a big part of what drives Hobbs the Band's debut album, the release of which will be celebrated (a second time) Nov. 30 at Pakit Liquidators. According to front man Hobbs Magaret, the music is the result of a long-time love affair with Vaughan's music.
"It's a little embarrassing to admit," shared Magaret. "If I hear a Stevie Ray tune in the morning I can't help but get emotional. In fact, I'm getting a little worked up right now just thinking about it. I've played with Stevie Ray in dreams. He is never very far from my thoughts."
The crescendo of the eight rip-roaring contemporary blues rock tracks on the band's self-titled album is a song titled—not surprisingly—"Stevie Ray." And it's complete with a heartfelt "Lenny"-like guitar solo—played on a Stevie Ray edition Stratocaster—that bares Hobbs' emotional connection to the legendary musician.
Recorded at a giant 5,000 square foot warehouse in Sisters that the band calls "The Blue Keep," the album is aggressive and as raw as a slaughter house.
The band wore tank-tops and shorts during the production and though some samples of Magaret Hobbs as a child lend some tender moments to the album, Hobbs the Band has bloodied the blues to a pulp with blunt guitar and meat cleaver-esque drums; more messy than precise, just the way blues rock should be.
Hobbs the Band CD release party
8:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30
903 SE Armour Rd.
$5 (includes CD)
