The Band Feel - s/t

There is probably no other band that I have seen more often in my Instagram feed in the last few months than The Band Feel. This can often make me a little annoyed. But in this case, this constant presence was a blessing, because what the four guys have to offer musically is absolutely great and deserves your attention, too.

The self-titled EP, which was released on 25 October, is the first studio release by The Band Feel. So far, there has only been a live EP entitled Live In St. Petersburg, which I highly recommend to you in view of the power that the quartet unleashes on stage (I also love the tribute to The Beatles on the final track “There You Go“).

Stylistically, we are dealing with traditional (blues) rock that pays tribute to bands like Led Zeppelin, among others. Now there are currently many young artists who do this – some better than others. The Band Feel definitely belongs to the first group, because the six songs on the self-titled EP are sure to put a big smile on the face of any traditionalist who likes handmade, no-frills electric guitar music.

The first thing that stands out is the great, versatile and truly stirring vocals of Garrett Barcus, who – as the numerous videos on Instagram show – is also a very talented frontman. His colleague Tyler Armstrong proves that a rock band can get by wonderfully with just one guitarist, presenting the finest blues rock riffs on his six-string that would certainly please even a Keith Richards. Generally speaking, his guitar sound is fantastic; you couldn't do better in this genre. Since the rhythm section, with Rodger Lenhardt (bass) and T.J. Steinwart (drums), is also thoroughly pleasing, there is absolutely nothing to criticise on a playing level.

The Band Feel also has a real hit in their repertoire: the multi-faceted “Goodbye Virginia“, with its classic, unobtrusive sing-along chorus, would cut a damn fine figure on any 70s sampler. You could also do a wonderful unplugged version of the song around any campfire in the world – and something like that always shows that you're dealing with extremely good songwriting. Another highlight is the rousing “B.C.“, in which Garrett delivers a world-class vocal performance that qualifies him for the biggest stages – but this applies (not only) in this song to the whole band: the guitar work and drumming are also of the highest calibre.

What I particularly like about this release, which is only 23 minutes long, is that a lot is happening. The songs are varied – thanks to the tempo changes and the interspersed quiet tones, there is a recognisable arc of suspense. Basically, The Band Feel manages to say everything in this short time. Which doesn't change the fact that I'm already eagerly awaiting a full-length.

In short: I thank my Instagram feed for repeatedly reminding me of this fabulous band. In a fair world, these enormously talented and in every respect authentic-seeming guys would be playing live in front of several thousand people very soon. Whether that will happen remains to be seen. What is certain is that The Band Feel is one of my greatest discoveries of the current year, and they have earned a permanent place on my playlist.

Visit The Band Feel: Click here.