Untitled Document

SOUTHERN ROCK YEAR 2004

Every year comes the same question : is Southern Rock still alive and well ?
Can it get the right to survive ? Will it get a new hope ? etc…
Because, we must admit it, year 2004 was not a great musical year, mainly because great bands didn't give us new albums, I mean bands such as Lynyrd Skynyrd, Allman Brothers, Molly Hatchet…We feel a little bit like orphans…
So what about 2004 ? Good or Bad year ? So let's admit it, we can be optimistic, because here are new bands. So is it a real new hope ?
In a chronological way, we have known GHOST RIDERS, Barry Rapp and Steve Grisham
(ex-Outlaws) band that gave us a wonderful first album. We'd have a dvd in 2005. During summer, we have received TISHAMINGO first cd : what a great album (next one is already for sale), musicians can show us they are really gifted with a beautiful southern Blues Rock. JACKSON STONE BAND perhaps is not a new band, because we already had listen to their two two-title cds, but with the album "Risin' high" we got at the end of the year, including these four songs, they do arrive at the top. Let's talk too about fresh bands such as CROSS CUT SAW (dvd out soon), TOW TRUCK TOM and MASON DIXON.
We had the confirmation in 2004 of the great quality of SAVOY TRUFFLE, the Japanese band that gets higher and higher (do they have limits ?), and the nice album of CAROL CHASE, Lynyrd Skynyrd chorist.
Nice comeback of 38 SPECIAL, with "Drive train", even if some fans should have preferred a different comeback with some roots of the first albums. WINTERS BROTHERS BAND is back with a wonderful "Southwest Stampede" and we are waiting for a re-edition of their first cds in 2005. Nice comeback too for GRINDERSWITCH, Dru Lombar always cuts like a knife. So, as we've seen, we've had some nice returns in 2004 that show that Southern Rock couldn't live without such big groups that have created this kind of music. Special congratulations to the MARSHALL TUCKER BAND with a wonderful live recording in 2004 and a real gold mine called "Beyond the Horizon". Chris Hicks arrival has allowed to the MARSHALL TUCKER BAND to stay at a high quality level.
On the side of the French Southern Rock, we have had a nice and real good TRUCKERS new cd, and in 2005 should arrive CALIBRE 12 new album. We are also waiting for GOV'T MULE live on stage in April in Paris, quite a miracle…, maybe MOLLY HATCHET can come and play here too…
Who said that Southern Rock is dead ? It's not me !!!

Philippe Archambeau