Track Listing
1. Here On The Outside
2. One Man Show
3. American Star - (with Glenn Hughes)
4. Pedal Or The Brake
5. Rocket Ship - (with Glenn Hughes)
6. Still You Fail
7. Annie Helicopter
8. Onward Spaceman
9. Peter 55
10. Empty Head
11. 7 Headed And Full Of Life
12. Here On The Outside - (Caveman version)
Vocals: Kevin McNamara
Guitars: D.L. and John Daly
Bass: Dave Fritz
Drums: James Billington
Firing an explosive blend of heavy groove, large melodies, gruff guitars and vocal
fervor, Tidewater Grain serve more than just a dose of down n' dirty rock n' roll.
They rub your face in it and then make you feel good about it. Comprised of hyper-charismatic
vocalist Kevin McNamara, guitarists D.L. and John Daly, bassist Dave Fritz and drummer
James Billington, Tidewater grew up between California, Texas and the working class
outskirts of Philadelphia with a full out "sex, drugs and rock 'n roll"
credo.Their songs paint sharp outlines of emotion, while pondering all very honest
and human questions and when delivered live with the sense of total abandon and irreverence
for which Tidewater have developed quite a reputation, well - the songs truly take
on a life of their own.
Performing countless shows over the last seven years, blowing minds across the Northeast
performing with acts such as Kid Rock, Type O Negative, GWAR and Jimmie's Chicken
Shack, they just completed their first full length album slated for June release
(Ruffnation/Warner Bros). Legendary producer Kevin "Caveman" Shirley, who
defined the sounds of bands such as Aerosmith, Black Crowes, and Silverchair, lent
his expertise to refining the sounds of Tidewater. The results are gripping, edgy,
and dark; powerful driving music that'll have you going cross country even if you
only meant to go across town.
Full tilt, rock n' roll ballbuster tracks like "Pedal or the Brake," or
"7 Headed and Full of Life" fall alongside ones like "Rocketship,"
which soars like the power ballad that has been missing since "Sweet Child 'O
Mine," contributing to a collection of songs that clearly paint a picture not
only about a way of thinking, but a way of life.
"We've all had intense personal experiences much of which comes out as a reality
check in our songs," says frontman and principal lyricist Kevin McNamara, a
down-to-earth and witty everyman. "We've always been the outsiders, musically
or otherwise, something I think a lot of people can relate to, and though I built
a wall around myself and turned my anger and other feelings into songs, ultimately
it comes down to being who you are and having fun with it." A big turning point
in Kevin's life was the first time he saw Faith No More play. "At the time,
they were doing something so different than all the other bands on the scene and
weren't afraid to be themselves, which was a big inspiration to me and helped me
establish my own musical identity."
Old school-new school, Tidewater is indeed a creative blend of both, evident in the
fact that they brought in Deep Purple singer, Glenn Hughes who belts boisterous backup
vocals on several tracks including "American Star," and "Rocketship."
Indeed, the members of Tidewater are not about playing it safe. They are about blazing
their own trail, musically and otherwise, one that rock audiences are quickly catching
on to. And life's value, according to their way of thinking is in simply flooring
the fucker as in "Pedal or the Brake" whose chorus proclaims "There
is a chance that I must take,is it the pedal or the brake- the only difference is
the pain." Amen.
Tidewater Grain
righteously tilt back a shot glass and the hands of time - their big-bottom rock
is as potent as an ounce of JD and tastefully set in a forgotten era where Rock &
Roll ran lawless. Their confident performance leaves no margin for error, and all
cockiness shots straight to the guitar licks. On their first-ever full-length album
for Ruffnation,
Tidewater Grain
obliterate your senses with gruff guitars, spin you with cordial Pop melodies, and
show you the door with vocal fervor. Serving raunchy rock with a wry smile, Tidewater
makes you feel good about feeling dirty - the way Rock & Roll should be.
Comprised of guitarists D.L. and John Daly, bassist Dave Fritz, drummer James Billington, and vocalist Kevin McNamara, Tidewater Grain grew up between California, Texas, and the working class outskirts
of Philadelphia with a rock-out-with-your-cock-out credo. Yet for a young band to
nonchalantly step almost 30 years back to the origin of their domain (Doors, Sabbath,
Zeppelin, King Crimson), their ability to capture a contemporary sensibility (Stone
Temple Pilots, Foo Fighters, Soundgarden) is bewildering. Legendary Aerosmith / Black Crowes
producer Kevin Shirley
worked with the band in putting down the hard knock chops they’ve developed after
years of performances and stripped the fat that can weigh down an amazing song. The
results are gripping, edgy, and dark tracks like “Still
You Fail,” ”Sweat It Out,” “Here On The Outside”
and “Pedal Or The Brake.” And around such riveting tracks comes “Rocketship,” soaring like the power ballad that has been missing since “Sweet Child ‘O Mine,”
and “Annie Helicopter,”
with its tongue-in-cheek imprint that embeds itself in its listener.
McNamara’s
lyrics are founded on the basis that he’s still living out his high school years
- like his bandmates, he was a social misfit, and now he’s got an axe to grind. Not
surprisingly, McNamara’s
lyrics deal with getting his ass kicked by the twelfth grade football team (“Here On The Outside”),
celebrities having a platform with nothing to say (“Seven
Headed And Full Of Life”), and pure ego (“Sweat It Out”). On “American Star,” the song’s
“Young Americans” theme
took on a whole new meaning when the band hooked up with Deep Purple singer Glenn
Hughes, who belts some boisterous back-ups on the track, shaping it as old-school
Rock’s response to the new jacks. Hughes lends his chops on “Rocketship” as well.
Most of the Tidewater Grain members have been playing together for the last seven years, practicing
in the South Philly Mafia district. One night when driving home from a practice-drinking
session, a pair of grain silos along Interstate 95 caught fire. As the Tidewater Grain Company
went up in towering flames, the torch was passed to McNamara and crew, who witnessed the event. After scores of appearances in
Philly and the Northeast, performing with the likes of Kid
Rock, Type O Negative, Gwar, and Jimmie’s Chicken Shack,
and after releasing an EP on the Slugfest label earlier this year, Tidewater
Grain garnered the interest of Chris Schwartz and became
one of the first signings to his newly formed Ruffnation.
Despite the risk of seeming unfashionable, Tidewater
Grain are blazing their own path. “There is
a chance that I must take/ Is it the pedal or the brake?/ The only difference is
the pain” McNamara
sings on “The Pedal Or The Brake.” It is this question that Tidewater
Grain asks themselves, look at where they stand
in society, and in unanimous decision floor the fucker. “We’re playing for the working
man who hates what he’s doing - a Springsteen juiced up on some PCP and a quarter-ounce
of mushrooms,” states McNamara, a huge Springsteen fan. “The bastard son of the blues must live!”
Amen.