Roadcase
Royale - Get Loud
The
first single from Heart’s longtime guitarist Nancy Wilson and former New Power
Generation vocalist Liv Warfield’s band Roadcase Royale, “Get Loud”, heralds
the beginning of something special. The first time collaboration between these
two major league talents has produced a single that can be taken as a call to
never let yourself be silenced, a timely message in light of our recent
national history, but it’s also a wildly entertaining musical journey condensed
into a highly tasty form. Warfield and Wilson are joined by the Wilson sisters
touring band for Heart and Warfield’s musical director lead guitarist Ryan
Waters. This six piece has made a considerable impact with this first effort
and the promise displayed on this track is such that it is highly probable
future efforts will match its standard or totally go beyond it in quality.
Roadcase Royale, an inside musician joke about the massive containers used to
transport musical instruments and equipment from one gig to the next, is far
from a musical joke. This is a seriously talented outfit capable of appealing
to a widespread audience.
The
arrangement is priceless. Waters and Wilson’s guitars seemed joined at the hip
throughout the song’s three minutes and change with neither ever taking an
upper hand. Instead, their six string lines wrap and fire off volleys over the
rhythm section that are always attuned to what the other player is doing and
never risk over-indulgence. Bassist Dan Rothchild and drummer Ben Smith are
equally key, however, thanks to their on target and tasteful turns holding down
the song’s bottom end. They establish a great R&B groove that forms a
foundation for the guitarist to flaunt their rock skills and the seemingly
disparate styles come together without the slightest hiccup. The song turns at
all of the right moments, as well, and the chorus sets a tone for the track’s
climatic points that’s quite appealing and memorable.
Warfield’s
vocal is equally impressive. She seems to have endless control over her voice
and sounds capable of exploring the full facet of her vocal range without ever
making even one misstep. Her phrasing is quite impeccable and the emotive
atmosphere she invests the words with makes all the difference in taking a good
lyric and making something like performed poetry out of it. This song certainly
has commercial appeal, but it never panders. Roadcase Royale are bringing a
message to listeners, but they are never crass or too obvious about their
intentions. Instead, their efforts pay off handsomely insofar as they get
across their point of view without ever undercutting the music to do so. They
never waste a note of music getting there and the words, as well, are finely
sharpened to a razor edge. Veteran talents like these performing music with
such life and confidence is, unfortunately, all too rare. Nancy Wilson and Liv
Warfield, however, sound like they are every bit as engaged with the process of
creation as they ever were in their youth and their talents have only blossomed
exponentially.
William
Elgin
