Reviews From Around The World
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Hey Al & The Black Cats Fans Read these reviews of our
latest album
Shakin' at The Knees
UNI...Hey Al & The Black Cats Fans Read these reviews of our
latest album
Shakin' at The Knees
UNITED KINGDOM
UK. Rock Magazine: The U.K.
"There's quite a buzz about Al And The Black Cats, the US neo-rockabilly
trio due to tour here shortly. And to mark their arrival is their latest
collection entitled "Skakin' at The Knees"
One can only hope they do short sets, since much more than half and hour
would leave the band and audience totally exhausted. You can almost see the
sweat glistening on the studio walls as they go through 14 tracks many of
them originals at 100mph. It comes as quite a jolt when the title track, first
up, hits you at 200 beats per minute but on repeated listening you get used to,
and even appreciate, the furious tempo.
Too fast for most forms of dancing, the younger crowd this youthful outfit is
likely to attract, will have no problem standing in one spot and
shaking it around just a little bit.
Tipped as a possible breakthrough act to the mainstream, if they do crack it,
then there's more than 100 UK bands who will follow them through the door.
John Sinkevics: Grand Rapids Press
"14 great songs in 29 minutes. Almost the perfect Rockabilly album"
Big Cheese Magazine: The U.K.
"They soon came over to Europe where they toured pretty
much constantly for the next six months. To great acclaim. This hot young
band has the potential to bring rockabilly to the mainstream and make it
popular with the youth of today.They provide a welcome relief from all the
emo bands that are pouring out of the states at the moment. It might
just be time to comb your hair into a big quiff
and dig out some brothel creepers. "
UNITED STATES
Recoil Magazine: Grand Rapids, Michigan
"Recorded by " The Enforcer" at Audio Bay Studios, this record burns
like a drag strip oil fire. A stand-up Bass, stand-up drummer,and a fall-down
boogie guitarist make up the rhythm section of this rockabilly quartet,
pounding through high octane original songs as well as covers that shine
like chrome exhaust pipes. Sometimes wandering into country-blues territory,
this good time band explores the borders of the genre - even a Misfits
cover finds its way into the lineup. This record stands strong solo, but it
begs the listener to cruise down to see the band bang out some simmering
rock n' roll.
Check out www.alandtheblackcats.com for shows and info."
- Ryan Cunningham
FROM GRAND RAPIDS NOW
"These rockabilly bluesmen will have you dancing like an epileptic seizure.
They are in my top five Local Bands to see perform live. If you haven't seen
them yet, GET THERE!
Soon they will have conquered Europe, then the home
soil, and you'll be able to say : I saw them back when!!!!"
GERMANY
REBEL MUSIC RECORDS
Soltau, Germany!!!
Al and the Black Cats - Shakin´ at the Knees
Ohne Frage, Stray Cats - lastig sind sie, sowohl optisch als auch musikalisch.
Wobei der Stray Cats Einfluss ja nicht der schlechteste ist. Allerdings spielen
Al and the Black Cats doch rockiger und schneller als die jungen Stray Cats.
Von daher wird die CD einem Psychobilly nicht weniger Spass bereiten als
einem Rockabilly.
Apropos Spass, dass den Jungs das Spielen Freude macht merkt man bei
diesem Studioalbum genauso wie bei Live-Auftritten der Band. Wenn sie mal
in Eurer Gegend spielen, solltet Ihr sie Euch nicht entgehen lassen.
Den Silberling kann man komplett durchlaufen lassen, ohne dass er
langweilig wird. Meine Favoriten sind "Catman Stomp", "Mama Said Too
Fast" und "Go Go Go".
Fazit: Klasse CD mit 14 richtig wilden Neo-Rockabilly Stücken.
Jan / Rebel Music Records /
www.rockabillyrecords.de
ROCKBOARD - The Largest WEBZINE IN SCANDINAVIA
Al & the Black Cats - The Fabulous Sounds Of Al & The Black Cats
Rooby Records
Rating: 9
Norway
Al & The Black Cats består av Al "Abba Phat" Krivoy på vokal og elektrisk bass, Tony Cozzaglio på guitar, Eric
Soules på kontrabassbass og vokal og stående bak trommene finner vi Hugh Skiffington. Som du ser stiller de med
både elektrisk bass og kontrabass! Bandets medlemmer kommer fra Michigan, USA, men går du inn på hjemmesiden
ser det ut til at bandet stort sett har konserter i Nederland, Belgia og Tyskland. Mystisk.....
Al & The Black Cats har bare spillt sammen i et år (selv om det står "rockin´ since 1981" på coveret) og dette er deres
første utgivelse.
Stilmessig må vel dette beskrives som som ganske rølpa, ustrukturert og skranglete rockabilly. Vi får 16 låter, hvorav
13 er orginale. Bandet spiller teknisk sett ganske enkelt, men innsatsen er alltid 110%. Flere av Al & The Black Cats
medlemmer har bakgrunn fra punk og psychobilly og det skinner litt igjennom innimellom. Musikken er rock & roll,
men de har den litt fandenivolske innstillingen fra punk´en.
Aller best synes jeg Al & The Black Cats er når de kjører tempoet opp og du bare får lyst til hoppe rundt som en gal
mann på gulvet. Eksempler på dette er "Phat Cat Boogie", "Hell Is The Only Place" og "I´m On The Run". Må også
trekke fram bonus-sporet, "57 Heartbreak". Her har man kombinert en rock & roll ballade med "rap". Er det en ting
jeg hater, så er det "rap"....og jeg har som regel ikke stort til overs for ballader heller. Men Al & The Black Cats har
klart å kombinere disse to stilartene på en helt utsøkt måte!
Denne skiva har gått mange runder i CD-spiller´n de siste ukene. Den blir ganske litt for spesiell for mange, men jeg
digger den!!
Arild Rønes
EUROPE & U.K.
BLACK CAT ROCKABILLY WEBZINE.
THE LARGEST ROCKABILLY WEBZINE IN EUROPE!!!!
Al and The Black Cats hail from Lowel, Michigan in the USA. Three young talented hepkats in the age ranging between 18
and 22. Combine this with ol' seasoned pro Al Krivoy and you get Al and The Black Cats, a new and refreshing band, highly
motivated to make it to the top.
Well, this one was a personal delivery at my own den. Al and The Black Cats are residing in the EU this summer so they
decided to drop off their newborn CD overhere and have a chitchat and of course some brewski's. Hey, I like this way of
getting to know the band and they turned out to be friendly and polite youngsters, highly dedicated to rockabilly and rock
'n' roll. It's quite a step for these young guys to leave all their kinfolk for 6 months or more to go on a tour in Europe.
Luckily there is the 4th bandmember, and mentor Phat Abba, aka Al Krivoy. All in all, they do remind me of a young version
of the Stray Cats, when they took the historical step to leave the States and went to London to live there.
Also this CD does bear some resemblance to older Stray Cats / Tom Cats material. So if you're a fan of neo-rockabilly, this
is definatly a CD for you. The album ignites with "Last Night Rock 'n'Roller" a raw and highly energetic rocker the way we
all like it. The song has drums like heavy gunfire, sharp Gretsch licks and an uptempo rhythm. Cool is how the song changes
rhythm towards the end transforming into a bluesrock song for the last bars. Second track is Al's song, "I'm A Rockabilly
Rebel". Catchy tune, slightly overproduced on the backing vocals. Cut 3 is "White Caddillac" and starts out with a spoken
credit to the composer, Rockin' Henri Smeets, a well-known Dutch rockin' radio DJ and promotor for the rock and roll music
since it took off back in the fifties. Great song, well done, and I think Rockin'Henri should write more songs!
Next song bears familiar names too: "The Wies and Nol Bop" which must be named after dedicated Dutch rock'n'roll fan Nol
Voorst and his wife Wies. Track five is the "Black Cat Roll" which is the bands billboard on stage, uptempo bopper and
catchy full of energy again. The guys told me they also love old time Country music, and this results track 6, a Cash medley.
A few Johnny Cash classics pass by and rendered by the Black Cats they sound a lot more powerful than the old originals.
My personal favorites on this platter are "Dive Bar Blues" and "Drop Top Merc": driving uptempo rockers in the tradition of
a young rockabilly trio which also once took a long trip abroad. This CD is a fine addition to your collection, and if you have
a chance to see this fine rockin' band in your neighborhood, do not miss the chance to go and see them.
Uncle B
Al & The Black Cats In Germany With Demented Are Go & The Bones
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Where the Bad Boys Rock - Essen,Germany 22.10.2007
3rd band:
AL AND THE BLACK CATS !!!!!!!!
...Where the Bad Boys Rock - Essen,Germany 22.10.2007
3rd band:
AL AND THE BLACK CATS !!!!!!!!
I never heard of them before,they totally surprised me.
As we saw a semi accoustic being plugged in,we were totally afraid of yet another slow, uninspired
Rockabilly band. Damn, we were so wrong :)
They are basically a Rockabillywhateverband. But they are fast,fun,innovative and definately unique.
They animated the audience to rock, even though no one was paying attention at first. About 400
people, bored and unwilling to move, were coming towards the stage, started to cheer and having a
good time. What a wake up call!
Being this motivated under these circumstances sure isn't easy,but their energy was spreading like a
virus.
These guys ... show more presence and power than many "on stage veterans". Jumping around,
playing blindfolded, using ears + feet to drum... wooha! Just don't waste a minute standing still.
If anything's Rock'n'Roll,then THAT is !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And yet another surprise: I never,never ever heard a Misfits cover being that much fun to listen to.
There was not one single song too slow, or too simple, or generally too heard-it-all-before.
The only sad thing is: Again, a bunch of Americans had to show us how to rock and move an audience.
As the third band of the evening,they should have had better conditions : more wild, crazy people
giving them the "respect" they deserve. Too bad...
Plus the guys seem to be nice folks: one of the few bands to actually watch the other shows without
hiding in the backstage area. That's what we want ;)
I just had to get the Cd, and it's great as well. Love it. I need the first one...
Al and The Black Cats : Make me happy :))) thank you,guys.
Steff
supersonic
