Them Dirty Roses Rock The Radio Room

Them Dirty Roses sling a refreshing southern come grunge type of rock that shouldn’t be missed live.

Hailing from “Bama” and taking their cues from Skynyrd and other various Southern Rock legends, Them Dirty Roses are deceptively more mainstream 90s rock than 70s outlaw swagger, at least live. The band, composed of vocalist and rhythm guitarist James Ford, backed by his brother, Frank on drums,  Andrew Davis on lead guitar, and Ben Crain on bass, channel Alice in Chains more powerfully than they channel anyone with the surname Van Zant. 

With tunes about whiskey, cheating women, getting too drunk on Sundays, and randy, abusive holy rollers, Them Dirty Roses don’t shy away from country boy themes, some silly, some serious, but all down, dirty, and beautifully real. Their long player, titled Lost in The Valley of Hate and Love, Vol. 1 is a powerful mix of straightforward guitar rock tinged with grungy swagger and the kind of earthiness that bands like the aforementioned Alice in Chains fully displayed on releases like Jar of Flies, and Pearl Jam reveled in on Vs. and Yield. 

Then Dirty Roses, while having much in common with, and owing much to, their Southern Rock and Seattle Sound progenitors, take this kind of rock through familiar yet refreshing territory. Listening to them live is like striking out on a new branch of an Appalachian trail that reminds you of all the other trails you’ve taken, but laden with fresher air and newer fauna and flora. Davis slings his guitar, and his locks, just like Jerry Cantrell as if he was imitating Slash, but rips his own brand of riff that is a little Cantrell, a little Slash, and all Davis. Brother James sings with a vocal potency of a young Axl Rose and the intensity of a young Eddie Vedder, and more soul than both put together. It all comes together to  be the kind of rock performance that is fiercely original, totally familiar, and completely moving. 

Perhaps the best thing about Them Dirty Roses is that they are really just starting out. WIth only one album and an EP released to date, their best music most likely lies before them. Given the strength of their material at this point in their careers, there is plenty to look forward to and be excited about. Them Dirty Roses don’t just southern rock, or grunge rock, they simply ROCK, and that’s all you need to know. 

If you happened to capture any shots of the night, feel free to tag us on social media at Shutter 16 Magazine and throw in #Shutter16 and #TwitFromThePit for the world to see. 

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Images courtesy of Them Dirty Roses facebook.