The Rivals Leave Their Mark On Ortlieb's / Levee Drivers Unveil New Material / Concert Review

August John Lutz II & Kyle Perella - Levee Drivers - photo by Dan McGurk

Levee Drivers love two things: playing live music and setting up another chance to play live music.  Regrettably another key ingredient for bands is selling albums and merch.  For a long time, putting out new music got pushed aside.  It wasn't the perfect time, it wasn't ready yet.  After the band-aid was pulled off last fall with the Speakin' Bourbon Coated Blues EP and the Live Studio Session- East Coast Recording, things changed for the Levee Drivers.  Next they added a Key Studio Sessions and #CoverClub session.  Clearly, August John Lutz II & Kyle Perella had a change of plans and recently they've been in the studio aggressively recording their long-awaited full length album.   For this special show at Ortlieb's, they announced they'd be playing their new album for the first time front to back.

The set was intriguing as I imagined the finished product for the album. There was a mix of set favorites and brand new material. Long time Levee Drivers song “There You Go” was great with the full guitar-guitar-bass, that had been missing in previous versions by the Levee Drivers. August was a little hoarse on the track, but it might be a suitable effect for the song, as it’s a song of angst, being pissed at the town to town heart-breaker in the song. “Low Down Catch Fire Blues” mid-set was a new direction for the band with a straight up rock sound. Most exciting was “Northbound Heartbreak” which has been teased into random sets in the last year while it has been developing with the band.

Levee Drivers at Ortliebs - photo by Dan McGurk

Keep checking back for more details on the upcoming full length album from Levee Drivers!

Ortilebs 2-28-14
Levee Drivers Set List

1.   Off Them Tracks
2.   Lisa Darling
3.   Olds Drive (solo)
4.   Cinnamon Eyes
5.   There you go
6.   Low Down Catch Fire Blues
7.   Punch-Drunk Shuffle
(an old friend - solo - skipped)
8.   North BOund Heartbreak
9.   Good night Good night
*********
10. Burbon coated
** note "Burbon Coated" is not on the new album **

The Rivals at Ortliebs

With a vibe straight out of the Pulp Fiction soundtrack the fine fellas of The Rivals took the stage to headline the night at Ortlieb’s. The band invited a professional dancer up on stage for artistic support to enhance the mood of the set, but really the band didn’t need the addition. There’s something undeniably sexy about the Rivals and their attention to detail and sheer rock ability. With or without a dancer’s hair flips and on stage, The Rivals are over the top no matter what. Two weeks later, I can still vividly remember the set-up including their Mardi Gras masks, mannequin bust and other antics. Still, it’s the skills that impressed the most, Wayne Gallagher on the Wurlitzer, Tom Williamson’s fuzzy bass, and Rob Swift is just sick on guitar. Going in out of “Where Did You Sleep Last Night” on their hit “Make Me Shiver” was a highlight, while the aroused crowd demanded more after a rowdy “Bow Down”, howling for an encore. The Rivals and pal Reilly Somach from The Rupert Selection on drums kindly obliged with a rousing “Kings Clothes” to cap the night!

Ortilebs 2-28-14
The Rivals Set List

1. Apache - The Shadows
2. Warning Shots
3. Zydeco
4. Where Did You Sleep Last Night/Make Me Shiver
5. Neon Age
6. You Judas
7. Bow Down
** encore **
8. Kings Clothes