We at Peacedogman.com do not condone the use of alcohol in any of its forms (unless it is to get blasted). With that little disclaimer out of the way, lemme tell you about another of Chicago's famous native sons, VELCRO LEWIS AND HIS 100 PROOF BAND. They consist of Mr. Velcro Lewis on vocals, Phil Hunger (lead guitar), Paul E. Rocco (guitar), Bill 'M.F.' Roe (drums) and Halden Spoonwood (bass). This traveling band of gypsies has donated, with great care, a wonderful slab of southern-influenced hillbilly-hymns for our listening pleasure. The Velcro guys have heard HAMMERLOCK, and FIVE HORSE JOHNSON, and pushed the envelope even further, incorporating some 70s influences into tracks like "Neutral Drop" (which has a great guitar gallup 'bout halfway through, then goes into a slow psych guitar-heavy rant). Other tracks like "Covert Lover/Secret Sin" hit hard with a standard punkabilly song structure done Velcro style. "Broke and Sober" hits with more raw southern geetar and paints a picture of traveling through the Bible Belt and stopping for refreshment at the bar with the most rusty primered pickup trucks in the dirt parking lot. For "Evil Woman", Velcro lets his hair down with a change-up falsetto vocal to go with his gruff, big-man-on-the-mountain voice. I like it a lot!

As Velcro himself put it, the disc is "all over the map musically, but it came out to his liking" and to my liking as well. Now, if you are a by-the-numbers-metal-only type, this may not be your cup of tea. The guitar playing of Hunger and Rocco drips with talent and magic finger stylings. In fact, all of these guys have got buckets 'o talent, and as yet are unsigned! Some of you record-industry-people better get off of your asses and grab this one quick. By the way, these guys have some of the best facial hair since '72. Later, ya drunks.

- Murtaugh

OFFICIAL SITE: myspace.com/velcrolewis

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