ROOTSY ATTITUDES…Mark Huff: Stars For Eyes, The Sideshow Tragedy: The View From Nowhere

Mixings of America’s past meld with millennial attitudes.

Mark Huff writes his own material, and delivers it in a folksy style with  Doug Lancio/g, Mike Vargo/b, Micah Hulscher/key, Gabriel Rabben/dr, Matthew Burgess/perc, Russ Pahl/stg and a collection of background vocalists. His style has a bit of a C&W twang, two stepping on “Nightingale” and the ¾ waltzer “Carolina Blue.” Some rock steady 70s pop is displayed on”God in Geography” and he tells a nice love story on “Stars for Eyes” before going desultory with acoustic guitar on “I Know You Don’t Want My Love.” Cumberland gap sounds.

The team of Nathan Singleton/voc-g, Jeremy Harrell/dr and Kenny Siegal/B3-vib sound like a 70s rock/punk band, but with an extra dimension. Singleton’s voice gives memories of Lou Reed’s talking style, veering through the rock steady “Lost Time” and “Time to Taste” or double timing “Piston Blues.” The team gets a funky groove on “Trust”  and thunderous during the title track, taking a respite on the acoustic and folksy “Long Time Coming.” Almost a walk on the wild side.

www.therealmarkhuff.com

www.thesideshowtragedy.com

 

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