One of the hardest tasks for a band looking for success is to carve their own niche without being branded as a ‘rip off’. Reading sextet Smokey Bastard have made a valiant effort in putting their own stamp on the folk punk genre. Their third album ‘Back to the Drawing Room’ is a remarkable attempt at putting the more traditional elements of their instruments at the forefront.
Not every style in punk works with the blend of traditional english folk music, despite many trying and failing. This is what makes the band’s take on the genre so refreshing. The level of musicianship and classic use of instruments including a mandolin, banjo, tyron, accordion and more with complete conviction shows that they’ve done more homework than just watch a few Dropkick Murphys videos.
Vocalist Chris MacLennan’s celtic influence can be heard fluidly throughout the album, making it a perfect fit with the atmosphere they’re trying to produce. Every song could soundtrack a bar room brawl. ‘Rats’ will make you want to dance with the bar maid, ‘Alcobatical’ will make you want to fight that guy who won’t shut up, the acapella ‘South Australia’ will make you want to chant and drink whiskey until you’re unconscious and ‘Can of Worms’ will make you cry after losing all your spare change on the pub quiz machine.
Unfortunately, even though their best attempts of originality are obvious, they’ve stepped into the area of mixing folk instrumentation with old school punk rock at a time when it’s going to be very hard for the band to become major players. The likes of Flogging Molly and Gogol Bordello have already taken the lead and not left much space for Smokey Bastard to sound completely unique. They’re late to the party and the clear comparisons are somewhat damaging to an otherwise enjoyable record.
In fairness, they do a solid job with properly establishing themselves in a niche that once is cracked, can reward you with a long and fruitful career, however ridiculous. If you’re a fan of music with a gimmick (Steel Panther, Alestorm etc), then Smokey Bastard will win you over within two or three tracks. ‘Back to the Drawing Room’ tells you everything you need to know about them, but they are clearly the type of band that will be best enjoyed in the flesh.
Louis Kerry