"J. Roddy Walston and the Business is what would happen if Queen and Black Oak Arkansas birthed four boys in the backwoods and let them listen to nothing but Cheap Trick and showtunes." – Baltimore City Paper

Photo: Glynnis McDaris

DOWNLOAD: J. Roddy Walson and The Business - "I Don't Wanna Hear It"
DOWNLOAD: J. Roddy Walston and The Business - "Don't Break The Needle"
DOWNLOAD: J. Roddy Walston and The Business - "Brave Man's Death"

Watch out Kings of Leon, J-Roddy Walston and the Business have a hot new album and the band’s constant touring has them headlining bigger rooms with each stop through town. It is only a matter of time before J-Roddy is headlining the outdoor shed circuit and this bunch of (self-described) “scary sort of redneck types” don’t seem like the type to be scared off by some pigeon poop.

Nashville to Baltimore transplants J-Roddy Walston and the Business have just released their self-titled debut for Vagrant Records and disc’s ten tracks fuse T-Rex style glam/funk with southern rock that is equal part gospel fervor and whisky-soaked bar room boogie. Adding to this musical stew is a couple of tracks that fall into the Cheap Trick/Big Star style of power pop. While this mix of styles may not resonant on paper, Walston’s music has an infectious groove that will get even the most jaded audience on their feet.

The disc starts out strong with the Lynyrd Skynrd meets T. Rex cut “Don’t Break The Needle” where Walston’s cigarettes and whiskey voice and ferocious piano pounding set the tones for the rest of the disc. Some of the disc’s strongest cuts include the Big Star style “Used to Did” which is just as catchy as “In the Street”; the gospel rave-up “Don’t Get Old” and “Uh Oh Rock & Roll”, which could be the modern-day bastard child from Macca’s White Album days.

The perfect overview of this disc comes from a quote that Walston gave a few years ago: “People hear the first chorus and, by the second chorus, they’re singing along.”

J-Roddy Walston & the Business are out on tour through early October and the tour stops at Music Hall of Williamsburg on October 1st. The band is playing with Shooter Jennings and tickets are $15 (in advance).

Here is the complete list of tour dates:

Aug. 21 2010 -- House of Blues w/ Wolfmother, San Diego, CA
Sep. 08 2010 -- Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA
Sep. 09 2010 -- Soho- Restaurant & Music Club, Santa Barbara, CA
Sep. 10 2010 -- Detroit Bar, Costa Mesa, CA
Sep. 11 2010 -- Pappy and Harriets Pioneertown Palace, Pioneer Town, CA
Sep. 12 2010 -- Troubadour, West Hollywood, CA
Sep. 24 2010 -- Visulite Theater w/ Shooter Jennings, Charlotte, NC
Sep. 25 2010 -- 8x10 w/ Shooter Jennings, Baltimore, MD
Sep. 26 2010 -- State Theatre w/ Shooter Jennings. Falls Church, VA
Sep. 29 2010 -- Diesel w/ Shooter Jennings, Pittsburgh, PA
Sep. 30 2010 -- Chameleon Club w/ Shooter Jennings, Lancaster, PA
Oct. 01 2010 -- Music Hall of Williamsburg w/ Shooter Jennings, Brooklyn, NY
Oct. 02 2010 -- Middle East Downstairs w/ Shooter Jennings, Cambridge, MA
Oct. 05 2010 -- Beachland Ballroom & Tavern w/ Shooter Jennings, Cleveland, OH
Oct. 06 2010 -- Ottos Nightclub w/ Shooter Jennings, Dekalb, IL
Oct. 07 2010 -- The Vogue Theatre w/ Shooter Jennings, Indianapolis, IN
Oct. 08 2010 -- Exit In w/ Shooter Jennings, Nashville, TN
Oct. 09 2010 -- Headliners Music Hall w/ Shooter Jennings, Louisville, KY

Links:
J-Roddy Walston & the Business