If American influenced Irish band don't get worldwide recognition for their music (which they should), they (including the Fox Jaw Bounty Hunters) definitely deserve some sort of acknowledgement for the best band names around. I came across the band in question through the genre sharing Hot Sprockets. Similar in style but not quite as delta blues as the Hot Sprockets, the Fox Jaw Bounty Hunters (FJBH for short) are a blues/rock fusion that are maturing into a promising sound.
FJBH hail from Limerick. The band comprises of Ronan Mitchell, Morgan Nolan and Shane Serrano. The band formed in 2007, coming together after each of the members had finished with the various bands from music of a variety of genres that they were in. Wasting no time, the band released their debut ep in 2007. Since then the band have had a number of ep's and singles released leading up to the 2011 debut album "The Devil In Music".
The sound of FJBH could best be described as if the Queens of the Stone Age were formed in Louisiana and not California. Indeed the musical path of FJBH seems to be progressing with a certain maturity and patience. While the 2007 debut ep has some features of Californian stoner/desert rock, the band have progressed to an amalgamation of desert rock and blues (as can be heard on 2009 single "Homeward Bound & Gagged") to the more blues influenced rock of "The Devil In Music".
The début album is almost but not totally rock heavy blues. Standing out amongst those tracks is "Wasteland Overture". A piano led piece with a warm chorus of voices while demonstrating the power in lead singer Ronan's voice, the melody almost feels like something from a western bar-room before the heavy rhythm section dominates in the final section. Unique and compelling.
The third single from the album "That Old Chestnut" again demonstrates the powerfully, gravelly voice of lead singer Ronan. Full of quiet menacing, the final coda feels both warm and unsettling.
The band have just recorded their second album and currently have a Fundit campaign to complete the mixing and mastering on the album. At the time of writing, there are just a few days left to donate to the campaign. There is a video diary of the recording process on their Youtube page if you are interested in hearing snippets of the second album. Worth supporting.
The band have a official site and the usual facebook as well.
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