Scotty Don’t Songs from the Back Porch
by Curt Hauff
Staff Writer
Songs from the Back Porch, the debut album from Scotty Don’t, is a mix of soul, funk, jam band, ska and punk rock. Is that enough different styles to entertain the OCD tendencies in you? The sound is like Jason Mraz on crack, or perhaps the Black Crowes with much more musical talent. There are even a few times when you hear some parts that remind you of 311, Cake and Dire Straights.
For those of you who are already fans, you’ll know the reason there are Sublime influences in the band’s music. The guys formed Scotty Don’t while playing in a Sublime tribute band called Badfish.
While many tribute bands that decide to be “brave” and write their own music, end up sounding very much like the band they were covering before, Scotty Don’t does an effective job of creating their own sound. “Back Porch”, “Later on Today” and “A Little Time” don’t sound anything like Sublime, in a good way.
The album starts off with a slower, funk track called “A Little Time”. The feeling of this song reminds you of the band No More Kings. It’s got a smokin’ backbeat groove. You think it’s going to just break into a speed jam at any moment, but it holds the groove through the whole song. The energy does build nicely toward the end, however and is well written. There are some nice dynamic breaks as well, which keep you in suspense through the length of the track.
“Back Porch” absolutely jams! The energy and tempo make this an infectious song. The bass line in this track is fine like a super model on a Saturday night. In fact, Joel Hanks has got bass lines for miles. You don’t have to listen past “Back Porch” or “Movies on TV” to feel funk-tified, although you will anyway.
“Fallin’ Down” has a fast tempo and is another song you’ll need to search out. It has a little of the ska, reggae feel in the verse, but the chorus is four-on-the-floor punk rock. “Hold on to Your Stories” is similar. In fact, the band has a nice punk rock attitude in their approach to the funk-ska-reggae genre.
It’s safe to say that Scotty Don’t doesn’t…have to worry about playing Sublime songs anymore. The musicianship and songwriting skills of this band are superb. There is no reason to believe they can’t have the same career that Sublime did, should they desire to chase the dream.
Label: Independent
TRACK LISTING
1. A Little Time
2. Back Porch
3. Movies on TV
4. So Easy
5. Everything’s Alright
6. Fallin’ Down
7. Hold on to Your Stories
8. You
9. Refugee
10. Wake Up
11. Later on Today
12. What I Need
13. Punk Rock Lullaby
14. Over
15. And With it Rain
HRH RATING: 8.5/10