Boston Rock Photos And Stuff
Tad Overbaugh is the mastermind behind the new Nights In The Round series at Moe’s Lounge. Tad’s songs work great in this stripped down format. Bruce Freisinger joined him, adding some sweet harmonies and fantastic Telecastering.
The Dirty Truckers
Washed & Ready
2006
Washed & Ready is another batch of gritty rock n’ roll tunes from The Dirty Truckers. Tom Baker is still at the wheel, but the rest of his crew has changed. Dave Foy replaces Jim Delios behind the drums and Tad Overbaugh joins in on guitar. Most importantly, long time ‘Trucker Jamie Griffith makes his debut on bass.
Tom still draws from the well of The Replacements on songs like “Off The Hook”, “Without A Sound” and “All She Ever Wanted,” but the songs are catchier this time around. “Heavy Metal Weekend” begs for a crowd sing-along (and gets it during live performances). The ‘90s indie rock influences that occasionally popped up on Bush League Romance are gone, replaced by a more straight up rock & roll feel. It’s a revved-up romp in the vein of The Rolling Stones (“Not Missing A Thing”) and Tom Petty (“Cunnin’”).
Like their debut album, Washed & Ready features two cover tunes. “Help You Ann” (Lyres) is solid and energetic. The album closer, Nick Lowe’s “Ragin Eyes”, features a fantastic harmonica solo by Jed Parish (The Gravel Pit).
Six years is a long time between albums. Thankfully Washed & Ready delivers more of what you would expect from The Dirty Truckers.
Where to get it:
The Kickbacks
Motel Stars
2006
Motel Stars is full of roots based rock n’ roll polished to a high sheen. These personal tales of everyday life are the handiwork of Tad Overbaugh and his former band, The Kickbacks. The subject matter of the songs may be melancholic (“Fixed To Be Broken”) or raw (“Tip My Girl”), but the band delivered them with a ray of hope and refined pop hooks. While they certainly had a knack for writing compelling ballads, The Kickbacks were at their best when they let things rip a little. “Lazy Eye” and “Collect Calling For You” should be all the proof you need of that.
Where to get it:
Tad Overbaugh & The Late Arrivals picked their way through a set at Precinct on another cold night in Somerville, MA.
