REV IT UP – JS & THE LOCKERBILLIES
Released November 2024
Music King, Foot Tappin’ Records
Engineered, mixed and mastered by Graham Dominy at Embassy Studios
Produced by Clive Duffin & JS & The Lockerbillies
Artwork by Josh Locke
Reviewed 30/11/24 by Nick Constantine
All tracks from this album are original tracks written by Josh & the band.
Let’s meet the band!
Josh Locke : Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica
Murray Collins: Double Bass
Rich Webb: Keys, Sax, Acoustic Guitar
Rayna Vandel : Drums, Percussion
The band started about 2014 so they've had their 10th anniversary this year. Josh really loves Johnny Cash so actually started off as a Johnny Cash tribute act and also did loads of Buddy Holly and Elvis as well and because of that, he just found himself writing stuff in the Johnny Cash style. He then thought he’d really like to do some more surfy things and from that it just sort of barrel-rolled into the rockabilly sound that they have today.
Josh used to sit and study Scotty Moore's playing, also Cliff Gallup, Paul Burlinson and Grady Martin and from that, wanted to experiment with it so much.
They’ve done Glastonbury four times, played at Red Rooster, supported Slim Jim Phantom, The Levellers, Darrel Higham, Go Getters, Delta Bombers. They’ve played across different countries like France and Canada and other places in Europe and they got to play their first ever Rockabilly weekend this year, which was Hot Rod Hayride and they’re going to be playing Hemsby next year.
Josh says
The album is just a huge sort of release of all these different songs that we've been playing live for quite a while, but didn't really know quite what we were able to do with them, then Darrel Higham saw us play when we supported him and he just said we need to get you on an album! Yeah, he gave us a big push which is really lovely and so we got to get some of these songs out! This is actually the second release we've had this year, because we've had lots of singles being released over the past two or three years that I actually put onto a CD this year. So we've got two CDs on our Big Cartel at the moment which is available via our website www.lockerbillies.com
We're just really wanting to get out there and travel a bit and perform to the people we haven’t met before and then just meet new people and have a good time! Really want to see people dancing, because I can't dance and I like to see people that can dance and that makes me happy! ‘
This album is first class! It has fantastic production and the quality of the musicianship is up there with some of the best artists that have ever been classed as ‘Rockabilly’! This sort of sound from this sort of band is exactly what’s needed to make people sit up and take notice and to reinforce the fact that there still is a bright future in this genre.
It really is a gem of an album, Josh’s voice just effortlessly blends together all the great and classic vocals of rockabilly, from the mid 50’s right up to the present day and all the above influences can be heard within his guitar playing, which is just superb! It definitely sets it massively apart from a lot of rehashed covers that can be too common on the scene. All of this absolutely relates to the fact that this is an album of original songwriting, but you as the listener, might be thinking ‘ I’m sure I’ve heard that before! ‘, ‘ Is that an original 50s number? ‘ , ‘ Who did that in the early 80s? ‘ And the answer will be that it’s all brand new!
Ok, so now we’ll have a listen to the tracks on the album!
REV IT UP (featuring Darrel Higham)
The guitar engines fire up immediately for this hot rockabilly track. Darrel’s sound is unmistakeable, blending with Josh’s cool and raw vocals. This is the soundtrack to Hot Rod’s cruising around and draggin’ without a care in the world.
HAND ME DOWNS
Ooohhh, that’s a dirty sax sound to start! Then into a rockin’ blues groove! I get a very Blues Brothers mixed with an 80s vibe from this, a great saxophone gives it a Huey Lewis & the News feel to it!
PLAYING WITH FIRE
JS & the Lockerbillies do a mix of Johnny Burnette & The Stray Cats on this cool track which has a fab slap bass driving it all along, with a hot guitar telling us all to watch out, keep away and don’t get burned!
RED WINE LIPS
Immediately breaking into a Southern Rockabilly style, reminiscent of the likes of Jason & the Scorchers, this could also have been written by the Big Bopper, it has that sort of vibe, especially with Josh’s voice! Great lyrics to this raunchy track that could be a lament to a one night stand.
ROCK ME DEAD
Right on into a full on rockin’ tune! A great bopper for any DJs to pick up on this, definitely a dance floor filler! Raw rockabilly, very catchy & memorable with an awesome bass! It’ll wear them out on the floor!
RAISE SOME HELL
Very fast track which sounds like it’s right out of the mid fifties, with fantastic backing vocals ! This could easily be a Bill Haley track! Great piano break! A devil’s jiver!
YOU SHOULD BE SMILING
Now a change in pace, slower country feel to this. Great stroller. This could have been written by Buddy Holly! Lovely guitar break, great production, it sounds like it’s been around forever and debuted at The Grand Ole Opry!
A PARTY IN MY HEAD
This a very fast, raw rocker! Pure rock n roll! They're going crazy and wild at this party! Definitely can’t get it out of his head, Wanda Jackson crossed with JD McPherson and amazing guitar and backing. Yeah!!
INDECISIVE BLUES
Wonderful guitar start to this rockin track! Love this ! A real audience participation track, I would like to think that this a highlight at their gigs because of that!! Influences from The Big Bopper again, mixed with The Blues Brothers! Get up off your seats and dance, clap your hands and do it!!
DRYIN’ MY TEARS
Slow start that picks up into a fantastic jiver! This could have been written in the Fifties from the general feel of it! So catchy! A song about losing your lover and being left behind and trying to deal with it! “I wave goodbye, the other hand’s dryin’ my tears”! Love it!
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