The Hi-End - Class Kicks

You could write a thousand words about The Hi-End, but "high octane rock & roll" pretty much tells you everything you need to know. This Boston five-piece releases its new album Class Kicks today on Rum Bar Records. Proceed to checkout!

Typical of a Boston rock and roll band, The Hi-End features a formidable cast of veteran players. Johnny Carlevale (Johnny Carlevale and His Band of All Stars, Johnny Carlevale & The Rollin' Pins) is on lead vocals. Curt Florczak from B-Movie Rats is on guitar. You may also recognize Anthony Giordano (bass), Bruno Giordano (guitar), and Scott Sugarman (drums) from The Boston Swindlers. Together these five contribute an array of influences covering the last 65 years of rock and roll (or maybe just the first 30!). The Hi-End brings to mind a time in music when you could be a bar band at heart but still fill arenas. I'm hearing a whole lot of AC/DC, Aerosmith, and '70s Stones in these 12 tracks, along with more than a pinch of pub rock and glam-punk. Class Kicks is the sort of thing you don't hear very often these days: a pure hard rocking record stacked with mighty riffs and killer songs. You've got that perfect blend of thundering rhythm guitar and red-hot lead work, a rhythm section that knows how to drive a beat, and a lead singer with legit rock star pipes and a swagger to match. Lead track "Looking For Some Kicks" roars like the Dead Boys going full-bore rock. "Perfect Company" channels the Stones via the New York Dolls and brings an energy that is positively electric. "The Way She Moves Me" highlights the band's hookier inclinations, while "Feed My Need" throws it back to the heyday of classic metal. "One Day At A Time" is pub rock by the book, and that's a book that never gets old. Did somebody mention high octane rock and roll? "It's A Long Way Down" and "Blood Red Lips" could just about raise Bon Scott and Malcolm Young from the dead.

It seems fitting that The Hi-End are now label mates with Watts. Malibu Lou just might single-handedly revive the glory days of rock, and he could probably do it with just Boston bands! When it comes to high energy rock and roll, The Hi-End is top shelf. This band has got it all: the style, the chops, and great tunes for days. Make sure your arm is loosened up for frequent raising of the volume knob and lots of spontaneous air guitar heroics. Class Kicks kicks ass!



-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/class-kicks
https://thehi-end.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/theHiendband
http://the-hi-end.com/
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