We’ve talked previously on how some music crosses ye olde digital desk that, while outside of what is our “norm” (We really don’t have one, though), just completely moves us/compels us to create a post. Kier Byrnes & The Kettle Burners is kinda that sort of artist because, on paper, when you look at what we cover and Byrnes & The Burners’ brand of Americana (2024 NEMA Award-winning in that category even!) might not be our usual fare but if you get down to brass tacks, their style of Americana which we’d go so far as to shove an “Alternative” in front of is definitely up our alley. That said! This might be the first band we’ve covered with a “Washboard Player” (Apologies to all other washboard specialists out there if we accidentally snubbed you).
Immersing oneself in the joyous sounds that comprise new EP Before The Fall and we find notes of Rockabilly (Stray Cats, The Brains), a little bit of Emo (Early Panic! At The Disco), and even some worldly profound Punk (Of the early Gogol Bordello variety) throughout making for an enlightened listen if you’ve never heard Kier Byrnes & The Kettle Burners previously. “White Russian” is a beast to begin with, ramping the excitement up to 11 immediately, and then keeping that level of foot stompin’, booty shakin’ fervor for the entirety of the production with Byrnes (Acoustic Guitar and Lead Vocals) as the master showman leading Dan DiBacco (Lead Guitar and Lead Vocals), Jason McGorty (Accordion), Joe Miller (Bass), Brian Lilienthal (Drums), and Monica Sager (Washboard!!!) to the Punk Greek meets Broadway promised land of this particular track.
“Quarter-Life Crisis” is a quick comedown and that end of the night sing-a-long at your favorite pub with McGorty’s accordion in full force… except, on Before The Fall, this is only the second track meaning that this is really a rally song because the party ain’t over yet! “When The Money’s All Gone” is a certain kind of sexy symphonic with DiBacco’s sleek guitar runs reminiscent of the late, great Jeff Healey’s prowess of the pick while “Train’s off the Rails” sets the might of The Kettle Burners’ rhythm section loose as Miller, Lilienthal, and Sager take the reins and gradually up the ante and the tempo in a way fitting of the song’s title.
Dare we say that “Hurting or Helping” is kind of the Pop superstar here? Because it kind of is! A solid all hands on deck banger from start to finish, “Hurting or Helping” has a sort of a John Fogerty/”Centerfold”-style celebratory run about it with the sonic storytelling being unfolded within. Doing nothing to dissuade us from our earlier Gogol Bordello assessment, “Dark Eyes” closes up the Before The Fall shop in much the way we hoped Eugene Hutz and co. would’ve carried on following the Super Taranta! record by going bigger and more badass (And less corporate, that Universal signing was not good for us) by keeping the rager going and going some more. Which KB & TKB do tenfold on this fun (almost) four minutes of jam packed band jammin’ that’s got ALL the hand clappin’, sing-a-long moments you need to make this the perfect end to your evening.
Before The Fall arrives on April 4th and you can do your duty and pre-save now (That’s pre-supposing you like what’s out there already/dug our preview of the new EP) by heading here. For more from Kier Byrnes & The Kettle Burners, like all the info on their show at Plough & Stars in Cambridge on April 11th, follow the socials when you click here, here, here, or here.