by Derric Miller
– Managing Editor —
Back in the ‘80s, the band Zwarte was one of the biggest bands around the Midwest. They are probably known for their greatest hit “Sturgis,” an ode to the largest bike rally in the world, in Sturgis, S.D. All these years later, the main songwriter, guitarist and singer Randall Zwart released his thirteenth studio album—either as Zwarte or the Randall Zwarte Band—and it’s called … well … Lucky Number 13.
When you hear the opening riffs to “Come Along,” you just get a sense that this is real American rock ‘n roll. It’s warm, it’s uplifting, it has a groove you can dance or guzzle booze to. A comparison would be to a fast-paced Tom Petty hit. Yes, it’s THAT kind of good. Zwarte has a deep, gritty but welcoming voice, with a real storytelling delivery.
Here comes the blues on “Murder in the Badlands.” Although the band no longer calls South Dakota home, you can see the ties that bind are still alive. While the first song was warm, this one is all gloom, dark, sinister and cool as hell. The refrain “So I reach for my gun, and I make the call. One hand rises and one man falls,” you can figure out the kind of wild frontier justice story this song embraces.
Now, if you hear “That Girl” and don’t just immediately want to jump to your feet and celebrate somehow, you ain’t alive. It’s like ZZ Top and Todd Snider decided to write a song together. Again, the groove is immense, the lyrical rhythms are so easy to catch you’ll be singing along after one listen. It’s also funny, with lines like “I used to date his daughter, she’s way too skinny for me,” or “Did shots with the hangman, drank it from a Dixie cup.” It is by far the catchiest song on the Lucky Number 13.
Catchy is one thing, but Zwart goes back to his ‘80s hard rock roots on the seething “I’m in Trouble.” This is heavy, as close to Metal as you’ll get on the release. Again, his ability to write simple choruses that find root in your mind and won’t ever leave is highlighted by “I’m in trouble, I’m in so much trouble, I’m in trouble again … I fell in love again.” It’s tough to say it’s the best song on the album because there’s so much quality here, but it might be a three-way tie.
The band’s current single is “American Roads,” a great choice for a single but … it has SUMMER written all over it. It’s an anthem, like some kind of magic Bryan Adams found with “Summer of ’69.” Again, it sounds like a single but might have resonated better a few months down the road. No worries—it’ll still be a great song then. If this is your first taste of the Randall Zwarte Band, you’ll want to hear more, without a doubt.
It all wraps up on an acoustic-led, brooding composition “When You’re Strong.” Like most of Zwart’s themes, it’s about life, really an “everyman” theme. “I think you’ve had enough, it’s time I lay you down. From your first steps to your last, look how fast the time went past,” he sings. Yes, it’s a song about growing old and dying. It ends with the narrator coming full circle and singing about laying himself down. Kind of a sad way to fade an album out, and yet, it shows another facet to Zwart’s songwriting ability.
Lucky Number 13 is a stellar rock release. It is uncomplicated, straight-ahead American rock. The gents are going to be playing Sturgis this summer to bring back their biggest hit and have a new slew of songs to sling at the concert goers. The Randall Zwarte Band has released an album with no skip-worthy songs (although “Grandma’s Got a Tattoo” is goofy) and whether it’s “American Roads” or another single that brings them the attention they deserve, it’s hard to see them being a “best kept secret” for long.
Genre: Rock
Band:
Randall Zwart-vocals, guitars
Baub Eis-guitars
Mike Mesey-drums
Joshua Blasingame-bass
Track Listing:
1. Come Along
2. Murder In The Badlands
3. That Girl
4. All In A Dream
5. There Goes The Preacher
6. I’m In Trouble
7. Good Deal Bad Man
8. American Roads
9. Open Your Eyes
10. Grandma’s Got A Tattoo
11. When You’re Strong
Online: www.zwarte.com
Hardrock Haven rating: 8.4/10
