The Incorruptibles – Highway Hypnosis
Self release
12 songs time – 37:53
I am sure many of us have had the experience of encountering an unknown band at a park concert or a state fair and thinking “Oh boy here is another half-ass band”, only to be pleasantly surprised. The good news is The Incorruptibles from Milwaukee, Wisconsin are one of those very surprising and excellent bands. They are one of those mid-west bands that have a similarity to other retro leaning bands like George Bedard & The Kingpins or the legendary Skeletons. They draw from the well of bands with a happy-go-lucky vibe emboldened by exuberant, ringing guitars. A guitar-bass-drums group that are aided on this record by occasional Hammond organ and sax.
This is summer fun music lead by vocalist-guitarist Jimmy McCarthy and ably abetted by Amy Ashby on upright & electric bass and vocals and Bill Siebert on drums. All the songs were authored by either Jimmy or Amy. Jimmy’s guitar attack and tone are a joy to behold.
The listener gets sucked right into their good-timey frenzy with the instrumental title track, a surf music like, guitar based ditty bolstered by Jimmy Voegeli’s Hammond organ. The guitar tone here and throughout a thing of aural beauty. Jimmy and Amy team up on vocals on the sock-hoppy “Welcome To The Show” with its’ retro references to ponytails, circle skirts, bowling shirts, bobby pins, Mary Janes, switchblade combs…etc. Rod Keyzer closes out the song with a fifties style sax solo. Jimmy takes the vocal on “Another Lonely Night”. Amy provides backing vocals on the upbeat ballad, if there is such a thing.
Amy handles vocals and slap bass on “High Roller”. Jimmy Voegeli lets loose with a high-spirited organ solo. “Goin’ To The August Jam” is a rockabilly tribute to an iconic Southern Rock festival. Jimmy shows his guitar versatility with some wicked rockabilly riffing. Amy takes us back to the fifties with the slow burning “Gotta Go”. The girl has an earnest and endearing voice. The guitar is run through a Leslie speaker to attain a warm feel on the upbeat “Redheaded Stepchild”. “Champagne And Caviar” is an ode to a high living woman.
More in the rockabilly vein as Amy features on vocal and upright bass. Jimmy’s guitar as usual is creative with great tone. She also handles the vocals on the exhilarating “The Grind”. Jimmy resumes his vocal duties on “Don’t Misjudge Me” along with playing blues-meets-rockabilly guitar. They take us out with dual vocals on the “misery loves company ode “Miserable Together”.
Here we have well executed Mid Western Pop-Meets Rockabilly. If the feel good vibes don’t get you, the amazing guitar antics will. Great stuff!