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Cadillac Young and the Shively Shitfires
“Whiskey & Chicken” – single
The fact that a band that plays some of the fiercest punk rock in the city could also do bluegrass-flared honky-tonk so well that you’d have no idea they weren’t full-time country musicians is a testament to just how truly talented they are. Shitfire, purveyors of some of the finest thrashy punk rock that has ever graced this city, take on a Cadillac Young original that is definitely not in the vein of their normal material. Said Young (via LPM): “It’s a love song about just bumming through life. Living simple and carefree. I wrote it when I was 22 and busking on the street corner for change a lot more than I do these days. But I had some friends traveling through town, and one of them had mentioned how they were living on whiskey and chicken, and I wrote that title down and wrote the song later that night. This song is a romanticization of the vagabond lifestyle.” Don’t be fooled; there is nothing punk rock about this song aside from maybe the inspiration, and this is no joke track. This is some true, downhome, honky-tonkin’, bluegrass-influenced country music that sees Shitfire’s guitarist Cadillac Young duet with vocalist Hannah Blakeman while the rest of the band (and Caddy) provide the pickin’ and a’drummin’. This song, along with Caddy’s previous EP, are more than enough proof that Shitfire is the only local band that would fit in on stage at both Bourbon and Beyond and Louder Than Life!
cadillacyoung502.bandcamp.com
Chenille oKeel
“Going Where the LOVE is” – single
“In the mind, I visualize peace and understanding. All the human race is spared, tolerance expanding. I imagine healing hate through spreading love and kindness. Exercise a brilliant mind, going where the love is,” sings Francis deRome on the chorus of this all-too-short but very sweet song. Obviously, we could use a whole lot more of this mindset right now. If you weren’t already familiar with his music, deRome is the soul behind Chenille oKeel, a solo project he started after cutting his teeth in bands like Ocifer and Valley. And with Chenille oKeel, you never know what you’re going to get musically. Previous releases have dabbled in synth-pop, EDM, classic rock; he even put out two ukulele songs last year! But the common factor in all of his songs is deRome’s charm, which comes through in spades in everything he records. His songs are quirky, upbeat, and fun experiences with positive messages. And although it’s a bit more serious and straightforward than his past few releases, “Going Where the LOVE is” is really no different. The vibe here is more of a jazzy, funky, 70’s R&B/yacht rock kind of feel with a bit of a modern pop element to it. As always, deRome’s smooth, charismatic vocals take the spotlight, sounding a bit reminiscent of Morrissey here. “Going Where the LOVE is” is yet another excellent addition to the ever-growing catalog and would make a great introduction into the weird, wonderful world of Chenille oKeel.
cchaga.bandcamp.com
The EPBs
Bug – album
Apparently Francis deRome had quite the busy December. First he released the new single “Going Where the LOVE is” on the 21st for his solo project Chenille oKeel, (see adjacent review), and then a full-length EPBs album on the 26th. The duo of deRome, along with guitarist Kevin Bois, (both formerly of the band Valley), make up The EPBs. But unlike Chenille oKeel or Valley, the music here is stripped down to the bare minimum of acoustic guitar and vocals, allowing the focus to be solely on the singer/songwriter aspect of the music. Certainly folk and classic rock are both strong influences here, but defining this as either or both would be underselling it. Standout tracks like the bluegrass-tinged opener “June Bugs”, the indie rock backbone of “Boxes”, (a rework of the Valley song “Hot Air Balloon”), the James Taylor meets Led Zeppelin flow of the quite beautiful “Kiss & Tell”, the Joni Mitchell-esque “Favorite Animal in the Clouds”, and the early America (the band) feel to the album closer “Another Life” capture your attention and keep the listener engaged throughout the seven tracks presented here. deRome’s distinctively unique, wonderfully odd yet charming vocals mixed with Bois’ rich, warm guitar tone and flowing melodies complement each other perfectly, making quite the magical pairing. deRome’s lyrics also come shining through with a sharpness and introspection that makes each song feel like a journey. With their intimate yet expansive sound, The EPBs have truly crafted something special with Bug, and it marks them as a band to watch in the coming years.
instagram.com/the_epbs
foolstack
Fool House Rock! Vols. 1 and 2 – EPs
You may know Hunter Crump as the drummer or DJ from some of the acts he works with: Bad Mustache, Barclay’s, Red40, Gas Station Game Room, and XEONXEONXEON. However, it is with his ongoing solo project, foolstack, that Crump takes center stage. What foolstack is, musically speaking, isn’t exactly an easy answer. Following up on last year’s All Fool’s Day, Crump has taken on a rather ambitious task this year with his ongoing Fool House Rock! series, as he plans to release a new EP every month—each month taking on a new vibe. As explained by Crump on his Bandcamp page: “Fool House Rock! is a personal beat series, archive and public portfolio. It’s a peek into the way I work, the sounds I’m drawn to and the music/artists that inspire me in my day-to-day.” Taking influence from lo-fi, electronic, hip hop, garage rock, psychedelic, jazz, dub, indie, alternative, and whatever else he’s feeling in the moment, foolstack combines it all, many times within the same song. All tracks are very beat-driven, with drums usually taking center stage paired with multiple instruments, many times coming in the form of cut-up and chopped samples. Vocals, aside from the occasional sample, are nonexistent and honestly unnecessary here. One thing for certain is this isn’t something you’re going to put on in the background and ignore, as foolstack grabs your attention and draws you into his rich soundscapes. However, the ease with which each track flows cannot be overstated. Relaxing yet exciting at the same time. Foolstack is a genre unto himself, and this is music you just need to hear to truly understand.
linktr.ee/foolstack
Griffin Fletcher
“Solo Espero Tu Palabra” / What’s My Fate?” / “Fighter” / “Middletown” – singles
The problem with my falling behind on reviews is that time doesn’t wait for me to catch up, it just keeps rolling along. So when I finally got to Griffin Fletcher’s debut single “Solo Espero Tu Palabra” released in November last year, I saw that he has already released three more singles since then. Fletcher, a Louisville native now based in Lexington, first grabbed my attention as the vocalist for the Bowling Green alt-rock band Young Romantics. His solo tracks, however, showcase a whole new side of him. All four songs are singles from his upcoming 2025 full-length album Forever To Go. “Solo Espero Tu Palabra” is a sexy lust story set to a sultry mix of smooth jazz and R&B with a Latin samba flare to it. “What’s My Fate?” is best described as what a collaboration between Prince and Jeff Buckley would sound like. “Fighter” is an acoustic-driven ballad about a love lost that manages to walk a fine line between folk, R&B, rock and pop. And latest single “Middletown” is a heartbreaker about moving on that’s equal parts jazz, R&B, and folk. Throughout all four songs, Fletcher’s smooth-as-silk voice and poignant lyrics are the true stars here, brought into the spotlight by a group of extremely talented guest musicians and a flawless, rich, warm production by producer Max Erskine and mix by 21-time Grammy Award-winning mastering engineer extraordinaire Howie Weinberg (Nirvana, Beastie Boys, U2). As a solo artist, Griffin Fletcher seems to have found his calling, and the results are spectacular!
linktr.ee/griffinfletcher
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This article appears in Feb 14-27, 2025.