They’ve spent the week with us, they’ve debuted their new video with us—now it’s up to you to check them out when they headline Vienna, VA’s Jammin Java next this coming Tuesday night, July 19.
The Grey Area look ahead today…
After years of playing in large bands with too many instruments, we’ve both arrived at a musical turning point. Strip rock of its pretense. Get back to basics. Find a riff, find a rhythm, create a melody, and run with it. That is enough to make great music.
We give homage to Jack and Meg White, for it was they who inspired millions to return to the basics of what makes rock great. Pretty much everything Jack White does we like, but honestly Elephant and Icky Thump are the two albums that we come back to. They are just so powerful and explosive—and the synchronicity between kick drum and guitar is awesome! “Black Math” and “Rag and Bone” never fail to get the blood pumping.
The other duo we pay homage to is The Black Keys. (Hence our name by the way: we’re in between The Black Keys and The White Stripes.) We saw them in concert together when they came to DAR last July and we were both blown away. They are a force of nature. Dan & Patrick don’t just create music; they create a mood that you buy into the whole time you are with them. Brothers is a landmark album.
Another duo to look out for is Buke and Gass. A combo bass/guitar and a base ukele with both band members playing percussion with their feet. Pretty raw and edgy stuff. We also love the Morning Benders—who are making some great music. Even if they do have more than two band members.
