Review by Gary Spiller for MPM
Deep rooted in the history of Southern rock hard-as-nails, tough-as-old boots North Carolina outfit Preacher Stone are, like the hard-working back-country beaver, building up an industrious head of steam ahead of the release of their new long-player ‘V’ which is due out at the end of March.
The cover of which is, very touchingly, dedicated, by the band, to their sorely missed brother and keyboardist Johnny Webb who sadly passed away early in this New Year just gone.
Hard kicking of the posterior region recently released single ‘Ain’t As Easy As It Looks’ seriously whets the appetite for what is about to be served upon the forthcoming album, as the starter course does so for the main.
Ahead of release enigmatic vocalist Ronnie Riddle mused upon the track “We write for our friends and fans first and foremost, to try to catch the feelings of things we love, lessons learned the hard way and what we take away from playing each and every show. You know, it may look easy, but it ain’t and that’s part of the fun, it’s a whimsical take on living a complicated and challenging life!”
Duelling pistols at the crack of dawn ‘Ain’t As Easy As It Looks’ lives up to Riddle’s introduction swigging of pure grade moonshine and a with Riddle, with the aid of a megaphone, welcoming one and all “Hurry, hurry, hurry! Welcome to the big top!” As drummer Yoshi Wyatt and low-end master Jim Bolt lay down the mother of all basement-dwelling rhythmic foundations atop which devilish six-string wielding hellhound brothers Marty Hill and Ben Robinson head down yonder in a southerly direction.
“Through the ring of fire, it’s all part of the show” imparts the rough-edged Riddles; not a single dissenting voice can be heard. As the herd of buffalo stampedes so the barnstorming track rocks and rolls with Riddle’s knowing cackles piercing.
Like the human cannonball Preacher Stone are surely going to go out with bang with this number chockful of tasty licks and insolent bad-ass goodtime rolling. We’ve been warned!
This summer sees Preacher Stone return to England following a successful outing last year with their ‘brothers from a UK mother’ Sons Of Liberty. This partnership is reprised for a handful of dates prior to a stellar slot at the majestic Maid Of Stone Festival in Kent on Sunday 21st July.
English dates –
Thursday 18th July – The Victoria, Swindon
Friday 19th July – Phoenix, Exeter
Saturday 20th July – The Treehouse, Frome
Sunday 21st July – Maid of Stone Festival, Maidstone
NB – First three dates with Sons Of Liberty.
Recorded at GAT III Studio, Charlotte, North Carolina and produced by the multi-Grammy winning Glenn Tabor (Bon Jovi, Def Leppard and Kid Rock) the much awaited new album ‘Preacher Stone V’ is due for release March 29 2024 via NoNo BadDog Productions and available for pre-order now direct from the band via this link https://preacherstoneband.com/
SOCIAL MEDIA
