BB & The Bullets – Wrong Side Of The River
Overton Music
https://nixonstreetrecordings.nz/
11 tracks/39 minutes
Guitarist and producer Brian Baker is a New Zealand blues rocker who left for Australia for four decades and returned home to New Zealand to be closer to family. He moved to Whanganui and founded Nixon Street Records. He joined up with two local Whanganui Musicians, bassist Stu Duncan and drummer Brad McMillan to form BB & The Bullets. They released their first album in 2025 and follow it up with this new sophomore release. The album is a heavy, rocking effort with big vocals, guitars and driving tunes, ten new and one cover song.
“Midnight Rider” opens the set. It’s a rocking and big cut with heavy guitar and a big groove. A gutsy guitar solo is featured. “Wild Honey” follows, another rocker with a driving beat. Basker sings with passion and the guitar licks are hot. “Freak Show” is next, delivered at somewhat more of a restrained pace, the tune still wails and has a big, rocking vibe.
The gloves come off for the title track, a slow but very heavy blues rock tune. It lumbers along with a slow but vibrant groove and features another heavy dose of guitar riff extraordinaire. Next we have “Get A Little Real,” delivered with a moderate and steady beat; this one shows more restraint and it’s a bit more lyrically delivered.
“Oh Well” is a high energy piece with a big old guitar and pounding drums in this Peter Green cut. It’s a hot number! “Sometimes You Lose Yourself” offers up a self reflective set of lyrics with a steady beat and the trio singing the chorus in unison. Powerful licks in the guitar solo once again ring out.
Societal demise is featured in “Black Crow,” a dark tale of the impending apocalypse with another driving beat. The guitar rings loudly in “The Buddha Song” as Baker and the band profess that only love conquers hate. The licks are almost as heavy as the theme.
“She Knows” has a steady and great beat in this cut about a guy who is clueless as to what’s happening in his relationship. This is more driving, rocking stuff with wickedly heavy guitar and a slick bass line. The conclusion to the set is “Crawl Right In,” a love song of sorts where he reaches out to his honey and invites her to do what the title says. The rocking onslaught continues as he invites the women to join him under his blanket. Thumping drums and ringing electric guitar licks fill the air with rocking stuff.
This is a big, old blues tinged rock album, a panacea of hot and steamy guitar licks, 100 mile an hour driving beats, pounding drums and deep grooves. It’s not for the faint of heart, but if your cup of tea includes music to be listened to at high decibel levels with powerful lyrics and heavy licks, then I more than suspect this is for you. It’s high energy and hot stuff from start to finish. Load it up for a listen and make sure you hang on and enjoy the ride!
