If you like your Southern rock with liberal doses of B-3 and a lotta bluesy swagger, try on Atlanta-via-Auburn, Alabama, quartet Hightide Blues on for size. After a couple of MySpace listens, HTB seems seem best suited for the same full-tilt boogie as the Allman Brothers (try “Katie Can You Hear Me”), but can downshift into acoustic Jack Johnson territory (“Dreamin’ Alone”), which, coupled with their fresh-faced college-boy looks, should win the foursome its fair share of female fans. (Rocks Off thought for sure there’d be more beards in the band.) And, by titling one song “Black Crows,” HTB obviously has a sense of both history and humor.
Together since 2006, HTB released its second EP, Love Come Easy, last June and has been building a considerable buzz throughout the Southeast; the band played Bonnarroo last year and headline regularly at famed Atlanta venue Smith’s Olde Bar. Houstonians, lucky devils that we are, get two chances to see HTB today: a free 6 p.m. in-store at Cactus Music and late-night at the Mink. Be warned: they have a video called “Will Jam for Food,” so bring a lighter or two. – Chris Gray
This article appears in Jan 1-7, 2009.
