Bloodhounds - Let Loose!

  by Dave Goodwin

published: 22 / 2 / 2015

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Aaron “Little Rock” Piedraita (rhythm guitar), Johnny Santana (bass), Branden Santos (lead guitar) and Mark Schafler (drums and percussion) make up the four piece combo from East Los Angeles,the Bloodhounds. They are currently showing off their debut album ‘Let Loose‘, which has been released on the busy Alive Naturalsound label. What a fine mixture of R&B, punk and Latin rock it is! They cite their influences as alcohol, women, rock n' roll and bottle cap blues. They were originally founded on a more electric sound, but these days they also dig the old jug band style of playing. By picking up cheap acoustic guitars, turning ordinary household items into instruments and constructing a traditional washtub-broomstick bass, they have spawned a truly eclectic mix of tracks here. They often busk in the streets of downtown Los Angeles to the delight of large crowds. I wouldn't mind catching these chaps in the act as ‘Let Loose’ is a really good first outing. Piedraita himself enthusiastically describes it as being “a mix-up of our influences, styles and personalities." Each track on here is a joy to listen to and has a different sound from the last. It is a mixture of every genre you could care to mention with blues being the major player. It leans towards the early Rolling Stones in numerous places such as the first track ‘Indian Highway’ and the ender ‘Bottle Cap Blues’, which sports a raucous Kazoo in the middle. One of my highlights on this great album is a version of ‘Etta's Security’ with that Stones lead again making an appearance. ‘Dusty Bibles and Silver Spoons’ is a great, stripped down track with the washboard taking a trip down to the liquor store that'll make you stamp and holler, but the big highlight in a hoard of highlights on here for me though is ‘Cracking Up’, a R&B ska- tasting number which is probably my favourite track to kick start the new year with! As far as positives go when you sum up an album like this you have to just smile because ‘Let Loose’ is just packed to the rafters with them. It is a fantastic starting point, although it is a little worrying how they are going to match this on their next album because we have it on good authority from the boys themselves to "watch out now cus’ it ain’t our last!” With a guy in the band that goes by the name of Johnny Santana, they can’t fail, can they? Marvellous!

Track Listing:-

1 Indian Highway
2 Wild Little Rider
3 Saint Dee
4 Dusty Bibles & Silver Spoons
5 Crackin' Up
6 They Call'm the Lsc
7 The Wolf
8 Hey Lonnie
9 Security
10 Try a Little Reefer
11 Olderbudwiser
12 Bottle Cap Blues

Band Links:-

https://www.facebook.com/The.Bloodhounds
http://www.alive-records.com/artist/the-bloodhounds/

Label Links:-

https://www.facebook.com/AliveNaturalsoundRecords
http://www.alive-records.com/
https://twitter.com/AliveRecords
https://instagram.com/alivenaturalsound/
https://www.youtube.com/user/JIMalive1

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