The Ghillies are a Boston-based, Nashville influenced roots rock band that pump out music sure to be appreciated by rockers and country fans alike. Gritty vocals, feisty guitars, and a driving rhythm section mark the crossover genre these good ole boys play. The credits only name these guys as Chiz, Rusty, Chuck, Goat, and Doc.
“Poor House” opens with a solid rhythm guitar pushing the song forward and a lead guitar with plenty of zip grinding out its melody. The lead vocalist, husky and whiskey soaked sounding, sings it with a country swagger and confidence. He rides the chorus smooth as butter and belts out the verses like a man with a large purpose in life.
Moving into the down tempo beat of “As Good As It Gets” The Ghillies get all honky tonk for us. Barrelhouse piano rolls contrast perfectly with country flavored fiddle and pedal steel. The Dixie influenced crooner and the electric guitar and pedal steel tap dance around each other with funky aplomb, and the low end gently pump things forward with a steady, nuanced thump.
Echoing guitar notes that remind of U2 ring with authentic emotion and begin “Fallin’ In Love” with an artsy flourish. The lead vocalist croons beautifully over the peaks and valleys created by the rangy pedal steel notes and rollicking low end groove. The singer is man enough to wear his heart on his sleeve and wait to see what happens. He also makes the listener feel his forlorn loneliness when he sings out how the next one could be an ex one, until one learns to love oneself. He is a man reborn through the power of self-discovery, and he makes it comes alive with his wieldy vocal approach.
“You Don’t Know Me” is a whimsical tale about a UPS driver who can kick your ass as well as get your goods to you on time. The guitar lead phrases blast out of nowhere like the power of a horn section. Those guitars are just so present and so alive in this song and in other parts of the disc when appropriate. A half-spoken, half sung line makes this song groove its way down the other side of its story arc with ballsy pedal to metal action.
“Better Days” finds the boys mustering up barrelhouse piano rolls from a previous time in music and sending them over a hefty, shuffling two-step drum beat. Galloping along is a speedy lead vocalist and a spry pedal steel player. You feel like you’re out riding the range and occasionally stopping off at a local watering hole to party at a massive barn dance. The boys are also philosophical here, singing about the futility of racing against Father Time and looking back on better days.
Spanish guitar influences in the six strings coat “Hey My Amigos” in a mildly south of the border flavoring. Over that, a chirpy vocalist sings sunny mood style about the joys of having Mexican fans. A mix of Spanish and pedal steel guitars makes a joyful cry in the heart of this tune. “Let It Ride” has a showdown feel in the ominous way the singer inflects his vocals and the rangy guitar notes make you think western conflict. The cowboy philosophy of rolling with the punches can be felt in this song, and that says a lot about the kind of control over their colors and tones these guys have. You’ll be reminded of the soundtracks in all of those spaghetti westerns that cut out just before the gunfight.
A father-son tale called “It’s Just A Little Rain” carries the listener through a range of emotions. At first, it stirs the memories of all of us whose dads had a profound influence on the men we became. Then, the song becomes a message about not wanting to let the child go when he becomes an adult. Finally, the narrative concludes as it focuses on the father of a soldier who pays the ultimate price. The lead vocal takes us through this range of emotions and the players carry the tune with understated emotion. Nothing sappy or maudlin, just the truth of raw emotion, tastefully and honestly conveyed.
“Phat & Happy” celebrates the joys of a simple life of an average ordinary guy. The song is about playing with big boy toys and watching the shooting stars at night. The breezy keyboards and the vocal harmony in the chorus makes this song loom as large as the life it is about. Someone in this band is clearly happy with life and isn’t afraid to let it show.
Closing track “Bright Lights ‘n’ Big City” leaves us on a positive note. The singer and his love ride off into the sunset to chase their dreams and to find success in the big city. The Ghillies make it sound easy to conjure the confident, positive, upbeat vibe this tune is about. On one level, this band sounds very confident about it’s chances in the music business. On another, it might just be a fantasy about finding success. Either way, it’s a very fun, entertaining number that makes one feel good about the future. It also says a lot about the need to just run away from a dead end town, as you’re bound to fail if you remain stagnant in life.
The Ghillies, like many contemporary bands who grew up listening to country and rock, are surely onto something. This CD was recorded in Nashville where industry locals couldn’t believe these guys were from New England. These good ole boys have come up with something that just might find a lot of crossover success.
Bill
Thank You for the great comments.
happy New Year
Rusty
made my day! thank you!