Some may classify the DiabloGato sound as “Rockabilly”, while others may stress it’s just another form of “Rawk”. Whatever the case may be, there’s no denying that the music this Boston-based quartet make is phenomenal and at the end of the day, in the melting pot that is Beantown, we’ll gladly take an artist willing to put something out there that’s way outside the “normal” musical spectrum of what’s considered the “Boston Sound”.
Like Reverend Horton Heat and Misfits throwing down, DiabloGato turns up the tempo and the volume with a raucous collection of (insert preferred genre) anthems on their latest release, Snake Oil Salvation, beginning with an opener in “Heaven’s Gate” that’s fueled by a rhythmic bombast from Jesse Von Kenmore’s swagadocious (Not a word) drums and some fine upright bass’ing from Johnny Custom with Charlie MacSteven and Drew Indingaro’s guitars trading fiery fret work as Indingaro belts out some bluesy croons behind the mic.
“Fire and Powder” is definitely like something you’d hear out of the house band in the bar featured in From Dusk ‘Til Dawn with the way this Punk Rawk Los Lobos sing-a-long will get both your booty shakin’ and your boot scootin’ while “Wandering Hearts” settles in with some glorious grooves and twinkling licks. “Jet Black Night” is like some Ry Cooder shit or something that’d easily be in regular rotation on the jukebox at the Double Deuce from Road House with “July 1969” coming in hot as a mover and a shaker that causes infectious boogying and woogying amidst wailing guitars, tubular bells for the vibes, and some guest vox from Noelle LeBlanc (Damone, Noelle) to top it all off.
“Lost Highway” was the one that hooked us back in April and as a single it’s a lush lone wolf that puts the DiabloGato sound in a pretty little package. As the Snake Oil Salvation finisher here, though, it’s got even more heft with an explosive array of musical talent displayed from MacSteven, Indingaro, Custom, and Von Kenmore that’ll linger in your headspace long after the final note rings out.
Snake Oil Salvation is out now digitally through Rum Bar Records with physical editions on the way soon! To hear it now, head here or to the stream below. You can also celebrate their newest with the band at a pair of release parties scheduled for November 23rd at Faces Brewing Co. in Malden with The Long Wait and Speed Teeth (Tix here) or on November 29th at The Parlour as part of that venue’s “Black Friday Blowout” show (Grab those tix here). For the rest of your DiabloGato needs, be sure and follow the socials by heading here or here.