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They just had this energy and you could see it, and you could feel it. Matt was moving around in a certain way. He was playing his guitar and his guitar was like an appendage of him, and the same with Kamara. She was just moving around like Tina Turner. She had this electricity. I said, 'Man, this is slammin'. -Ricc Sheridan on joining Earl Greyhound |
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Soft Targets' other highlights include the beat driven "It's Over" and "Monkey," which starts off with a luciferous riff that Whyte disseminates from his guitar. It's a nine-minute wild ride of rock mayhem characterized by the resounding chorus, "I'm gonna make you love me."
Their songwriting is excellent, but it's their live show that's going to convert you. With a feather toting Afro that rivals any '70s relic, Thomas splits her focus between the crowd and Sheridan behind his myriad cymbals. She dances to his intricate rhythms, cranking up sensual bass lines while Whyte flails with his Gibson every which way and dances around the stage, wailing out heavy riffs.
When Sheridan first saw Earl Greyhound he wanted to join up right away. "They just had this energy and you could see it, and you could feel it," says Sheridan. "Matt was moving around in a certain way. He was playing his guitar and his guitar was like an appendage of him, and the same with Kamara. She was just moving around like Tina Turner. She had this electricity. I said, 'Man, this is slammin'.'"
 Ricc Sheridan by Joel Mittelman |
Their sound invites plenty of comparisons to past rock heavyweights like Zeppelin, T. Rex and Big Star. But it's not just the rock, it's their closet full of vintage threads that makes them look like they stepped off the screen from Dazed and Confused. Everyone in the band has this suave, hippie nature that screams free love. Their gear is an impressive page out of the '70s, too. Sheridan is very proud of his kit, which features a kick drum with a diameter far greater than thirty inches. This Ludwig drum set has a sound that echoes John Bonham. A Fender Rhodes piano waits ominously on stage behind Whyte, there to add a unique sound to Earl Greyhound songs like "Good" and "Back and Forth." Both Thomas and Whyte have the talent to make this classic electric piano sing. Thomas sums up the band's love of vintage gear, saying, "Technology is going where it's going and our ears become less accustomed to hearing great sound, the kind of sounds that you got back then."
Earl Greyhound has a very raw feel. "It's really our courage and conviction to stay true to our sound and discover what our sound is," explains Whyte. Their genuine approach to making music leaves an instant impression on the listener. Coming from New York City, the band has had to work hard to achieve what they've accomplished. "The context of New York is very do or die. The energy there is so fast," says Thomas. "It really forced me to focus. You can use that energy for what you're wanting to do."
 Earl Greyhound |
Sheridan has an interesting way of putting it, "If you walk out to the beach, you know how you get taken out on the tide? It will just take you out, man. You gotta really focus at some point and know what you want because there are a lot of things that can take you somewhere, but there are a lot of things that can take you out, too."
The hard work of the New York atmosphere has shaped these fine musicians, forcing them to create a very identifiable sound that strives to entertain you. From start to finish, their shows are a treat. "Every creation that we make happens in the moment. Sometimes it is easy to recognize what inspires a certain sound," offers Whyte. "I've always thought with us that everything is very here and now."
Check out "S.O.S.," live at this year's SXSW
Earl Greyhound tour dates available HERE.
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