{"id":288,"date":"2017-04-13T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-04-13T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.nysmusic.com\/2017\/2017\/04\/13\/hearing-aide-evolfo-last-of-the-acid-cowboys\/"},"modified":"2017-04-13T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2017-04-13T00:00:00","slug":"hearing-aide-evolfo-last-of-the-acid-cowboys","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.nysmusic.com\/2017\/2017\/04\/13\/hearing-aide-evolfo-last-of-the-acid-cowboys\/","title":{"rendered":"Hearing Aide: Evolfo ‘Last of the Acid Cowboys’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Raunchy, horny, raw and unfiltered.\u00a0 No, this isn\u2019t an organic cocktail description from a Williamsburg bar, it\u2019s Evolfo<\/a>\u2019s debut LP, Last of the Acid Cowboys<\/em><\/a>.\u00a0 This Brooklyn-based 7-piece has been filling up clubs and basement dance parties since their infestation into the music scene in 2011. A mix of intelligent lyrical grittiness, swampy horns out of the deep South and cleverly executed compositions have granted them access into the underground indie culture.\u00a0 \u00a0If you are lucky enough to catch this tornado of sound live, expect to hear a smorgasbord of musical influences crammed into their short sets as tightly packed as the band members on stage.\u00a0 \u00a0NYS Music covered<\/a> an Evolfo gig at Shea Stadium in Brooklyn last summer and the sweaty night reminded me of a Wodka Vodka advertisement: \u201cEscort quality, hooker prices.\u201d<\/p>\n

When asked about the methodology behind their newest album, lead singer and song writer, Matt Gibbs said, \u201cI think generally bands have one of two experiences in regards to studio time. Some bands write an album first and then spend a while figuring out how to bring that stuff to their live show. In the case of\u00a0Evolfo, we had to buckle down and figure out how to capture the live energy onto an album.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

The opening track, \u201cVision of Sin,\u201d has an all-encompassing psych soul rhythm which seems like it traveled through time to capture sounds from each of the past six decades.\u00a0 About a minute and half into the chaos, there is a funky breakdown where the horn section reminds listeners that you gotta have that funk.\u00a0 The seeds of the first track begin germinating into the second as \u201cMoon Eclipsed the Sun\u201d slowly crawls its way from a slow and melodic beginning to a fiery and powerful chorus.\u00a0 Think Black Keys featuring the Nitty Gritty Brass Band.\u00a0 Mesmerizing lyrics with punchy guitar riffs and backing vocals keep this satellite of a song hovering around the planet and clocks in as the longest track of the album at a whopping 3 minutes and 50 seconds.<\/p>\n

\u201cBloody Bloody Knife\u201d has a 60\u2019s punk \u00a0feel that makes you feel guilty for listening.\u00a0 The paranoia felt from this track is one example of how these talented writers create\u00a0horror-movie terror when they feel like it.\u00a0 \u201cWhy am I hiding if I have done nothing wrong?\u201d I ask myself as Rafferty Swink finger bangs the keyboard during this zombie apocalypse national anthem.\u00a0 The decision making on track placement is as ambitious as the tracks\u00a0themselves. \u00a0The blood thirsty \u201cBloody Bloody Knife\u201d gives way to \u201cDon\u2019t Give Up Your Mind\u201d which sounds like it belongs on Side B of a classic 70\u2019s soul album. \u00a0The eclectic variety of music changes so much from song to song that the mish mash arrangement of musicians seems to shift form. \u00a0Do not be mistaken, this album is in no way a compilation album of different artists, but instead, it is a Megazord where each member is displaying a different source of inspiration and power. \u00a0“Rat City” is the mod-punk sound that frat maniacs\u00a0across the country will embrace as they nose dive head first into the shallow end of a pool. \u00a0Serving up a slice of pie that any pizza rat would enjoy, Evolfo cooks up\u00a0“Rat City” with a simple and aggressive recipe that paralyzes the taste buds and ear drums on any garage rock connoisseur.<\/p>\n

“Last of the Acid Cowboys” reminds me of something a resurrected Jim Morrison would bring into the studio with The Doors. The added brass section in the title track makes for a layered, yet comfortable journey; not your average psychedelic rock piece. \u00a0The sweet sounding “Peachy” has the loungiest feel of the record. \u00a0Subtle percussion accompanied by haunting horns in the far distance create a dreamy landscape for listeners to embrace during\u00a0this final track. \u00a0After a true genre-blending 10-song adventure, my only complaint is that the incredible album clocks out at 28 minutes, much shorter than your average cowboy’s acid trip.<\/p>\n

Buy Last of the Acid Cowboys<\/em><\/a> now and see them on tour ASAP<\/a>!<\/p>\n

Key Tracks: Rat City, Don’t Give Up Your Mind, Last of the Acid Cowboys<\/p>\n