Kassy Key & the Raindoggs

Funk, Soul, Jazz und Rythm’n’Blues würzen den musikalischen Fond für die stimmgewaltige Kassy Key aus Los Angeles. Ihre räudigen Raindoggs kokettieren allenfalls mit dem Hinterhof-Image, was aber kaum stört, denn das groovige Zusammenspiel erinnert bisweilen an die good old Motown- bis Detroit-Ära. Neben Videos, Texten und Songs gibt es auf der Seite der Band auch noch viele Links zu den zahlreichen Bandprojekten der Raindoggs. - Feuilleton – Kramms Hits

Funk, Soul, Jazz und Rythm’n’Blues würzen den musikalischen Fond für die stimmgewaltige Kassy Key aus Los Angeles. Ihre räudigen Raindoggs kokettieren allenfalls mit dem Hinterhof-Image, was aber kaum stört, denn das groovige Zusammenspiel erinnert bisweilen an die good old Motown- bis Detroit-Ära. Neben Videos, Texten und Songs gibt es auf der Seite der Band auch noch viele Links zu den zahlreichen Bandprojekten der Raindoggs. - Feuilleton – Kramms Hits

” I think Oscar Wilde was onto something, and I’ve stopped fighting the feeling of this sultry track. In the end, there is nothing quite as habit-forming as good music. The song “Don’t Wanna Be Good” by ‘Kassy Key & the Raindoggs’ is akin to something sultry laid out before your ears just begging a listener to indulge unto you get your fill. - Mitten Mouth Music

All-in-all 'One Armed Bandits' is a dark and downplayed mix of R&B and Soul, with some elements of Jazz. Imagine a James Sallis-book as a Film Noir movie. - SOUNDIAC MUSIC BLOG

All-in-all 'One Armed Bandits' is a dark and downplayed mix of R&B and Soul, with some elements of Jazz. Imagine a James Sallis-book as a Film Noir movie. - SOUNDIAC MUSIC BLOG

‘ One Armed Bandits’ made me feel like I was in a speakeasy bar sipping on a martini while I gazed at the musicians through the swirls of smoke. - RENDER ENTERTAINMENT

‘ One Armed Bandits’ made me feel like I was in a speakeasy bar sipping on a martini while I gazed at the musicians through the swirls of smoke. - RENDER ENTERTAINMENT

I can say for sure that The Raindoggs is one of the most exciting and original indie bands I have come across over the last year. - ArenaCast

The production is lush and layered, and, at moments, I get hints of influences of Dr. John, Tom Waits, and even…Timbuk3? There’s something dark at times, and other times it’s a full on party. They even include an instrumental track “black”, and it brings home they would fit properly on a soundtrack. - Popa's Review

There’s a mad scientist in a music lab somewhere in Austin, Texas. Stitching together a little bit of R&B/Soul with some kind of funky ska vibe, a euphonious animal is created. It’s alive! Alive! You’ll have to pardon the old monster movie analogy but that’s the image that always comes to mind when I hear a unique and unlikely blending of various music styles. That’s not a bad thing. Following a tried and true musical formula is easy. Deviating from that recipe is genius.

RainDoggs is the kind of band you might discover while on vaction exploring the night spots off the tourist map’s beaten track. Fronted by Larisa Montanaro, a siren whose voice will draw you into dark cavernous sidestreet bars, this ensemble features a top notch rhythm section and a mini-horn section as well. All of this is on display on their single Be My Man, a mid-tempo number with a certain mod groove to it. In it Montanaro asks her guy to drop his acts and pretention and just be her man. Who could refuse that? - Scandalous Women

There’s a mad scientist in a music lab somewhere in Austin, Texas. Stitching together a little bit of R&B/Soul with some kind of funky ska vibe, a euphonious animal is created. It’s alive! Alive! You’ll have to pardon the old monster movie analogy but that’s the image that always comes to mind when I hear a unique and unlikely blending of various music styles. That’s not a bad thing. Following a tried and true musical formula is easy. Deviating from that recipe is genius.

RainDoggs is the kind of band you might discover while on vaction exploring the night spots off the tourist map’s beaten track. Fronted by Larisa Montanaro, a siren whose voice will draw you into dark cavernous sidestreet bars, this ensemble features a top notch rhythm section and a mini-horn section as well. All of this is on display on their single Be My Man, a mid-tempo number with a certain mod groove to it. In it Montanaro asks her guy to drop his acts and pretention and just be her man. Who could refuse that? - Scandalous Women

The journeymen Doggs are now led by the vocals of Larisa Montanaro and she’s just what these guys needed. "She is the proverbial cherry on top, the icing on the cake, the Bonnie to all these rough neck Clyde’s, get my drift? But make no mistake, she’s no damsel in distress. She stands firmly on her own two feet and belts out song like a steam engine belts out smoke. Her voice-- god damn! It’s like rum tainted honey or 100-proof white lightning cut with star dust, and like her fellow sirens of old, she’ll lead you onto the rocks if you ain’t careful." - Posted by BandSoup

According to their website The RainDoggs describe themselves as follows, “The RainDoggs are a collaboration of musicians from Austin TX. Their sound is a mix of R&B/Soul & Blues with a David Lynch movie.” I don’t disagree with their description at all. However, they are so much more too. This Austin, Texas collective of superbly talented musicians refuse to be static or limited on where they can take or interpret a song. Rest assured, when they get together there is no telling where they are going to take you. But, it is exactly that kind of suspense, daring and intrigue which makes the music they conjure up so damn irresistible. Their latest is a ballsy take on Snoop Dogg’s “My Medicine,” and it encases your spinal column in voodoo smoke and arrests your ears with utter surprise. It’s also a case of contradictions, of taking something that by all accounts shouldn’t work, but lo and behold it works just fine. Like a heroin addict becoming a nun or a hardcore gangsta becoming an environmentalist. Yes, strange and wonderful music is made when The RainDoggs come raining down on you. Peace. - Mitten Mouth Music

DESCRIBE YOUR LATEST RELEASE. Picture Tom Waits and Snoop Dogg in a 68 Camaro driving from New Orleans to LA, and it’s all being filmed by David Lynch.

You can view the full interview online:
- The independent Music Awards

The RainDoggs. Very clever name. Tom Waits (who himself released a stellar album “Bad As Me“) once crooned “For I am a rain dog, too” on his 1985 classic album “Rain Dogs”. 26 years later, an independent band from Austin, Texas has taken inspiration from him as well as the iconic Snoop Dogg. Looking through their other influences you will find more of the greats – the GREATS, I mean. Tom Petty, The Rolling Stones and James Brown, as well as some wonderful modern picks such as The Black Keys, Adele, and Faces.

I have to say, I was very impressed on a first listen. So much so that I listened to the tracks multiple times each – not because I had to but because they simply made me FEEL good. I heard a lot of Black Keys and The Dead Weather in their sound, and that’s not at all a bad thing. Rock n’ roll does, after all, still soothe the soul. Now I’m noticing so much more on a second listen. “Stuck In Red” is a real standout, with absolutely brilliant Portishead-styled guitars washed in tremolo accompanied by brilliant trumpet playing. The band lays it down and keeps the groove strong throughout, and lead singer Ali Holder narrates like a blues veteran. In “Was It Necessary”, Holder reminded me of Martina Topley-Bird’s stellar performances on her work with Tricky. The beats are a mix of funk and hip hop, and every musician does a perfect job without overdoing it. There is space enough to bob your head, and the production is excellent. The RainDoggs bring some real soul and likeability to an exciting fusion of popular music genres.

I, for one, look forward to hearing much more from this excellent indie band. To check them out for yourself. - Independent Music Promotions

Review by Andrea Caccese

The RainDoggs hailing from Austin (USA) is the brainchild of a group of talented and experienced local musicians led by Rob Porta (former member of NY hardcore band Beyond).

In “Red to Black” , the band is backing the bluesy, warm and bright vocals of singer Ali Holder, delivering a cocktail of soul, motown, funk and jazz, with even some influences from country and folk.

Opening with brass instrument, tremolo guitars and funky accents, Stuck in RED offers a chill-out, somehow retro vibe that will remain here during the whole album.

Be My Man follows right next, blinking an eye to the late 60s – early 70s funk sounds, reminding the work of legendary James Brown very closely, still keeping the band’s signature vibe intact: an eclectic bunch, that showcases different directions almost on every track, especially on the peculiar country-jazz bash “Shake your bum”, the vintage atmosphere of “Ain’t The Madonna, Ain’t your whore” and the RnB twist, But you’re mine.

Once I through I had figured out the dynamics of this records, another couple of songs bring more to the table: a rock element, in the shape of the electric guitar riffs of “Does she do you right” and electronic in the melancholic ballad “Daddy may I”.

The last 5 songs of this album seem to sort of differ from the first – more eclectic -half of the recording, mostly focusing on the band’s more soul-funk side for numbers like “What have you done”, (featuring trumpet riffs a la Morricone) , Was it necessary (featuring hints of fusion) and the beautiful dialogues of the piano and the tremolo guitar in “Black”, topped by an excellent sax work.

Despite “Red to Black” is shaped by so many different music influences, the tracklist flows smoothly and all the music is glued together by the very suiting vocals by Ali, which stamps a very well recognizable watermark on every tune, that joined with the musicianship and experience of every single member of the band and with the nice, sober production work – with an eye looking back and another looking forward.

Review will be apearing on chemical-magazine.com in early November. - Chemical-Magazine.com

Review by Andrea Caccese

The RainDoggs hailing from Austin (USA) is the brainchild of a group of talented and experienced local musicians led by Rob Porta (former member of NY hardcore band Beyond).

In “Red to Black” , the band is backing the bluesy, warm and bright vocals of singer Ali Holder, delivering a cocktail of soul, motown, funk and jazz, with even some influences from country and folk.

Opening with brass instrument, tremolo guitars and funky accents, Stuck in RED offers a chill-out, somehow retro vibe that will remain here during the whole album.

Be My Man follows right next, blinking an eye to the late 60s – early 70s funk sounds, reminding the work of legendary James Brown very closely, still keeping the band’s signature vibe intact: an eclectic bunch, that showcases different directions almost on every track, especially on the peculiar country-jazz bash “Shake your bum”, the vintage atmosphere of “Ain’t The Madonna, Ain’t your whore” and the RnB twist, But you’re mine.

Once I through I had figured out the dynamics of this records, another couple of songs bring more to the table: a rock element, in the shape of the electric guitar riffs of “Does she do you right” and electronic in the melancholic ballad “Daddy may I”.

The last 5 songs of this album seem to sort of differ from the first – more eclectic -half of the recording, mostly focusing on the band’s more soul-funk side for numbers like “What have you done”, (featuring trumpet riffs a la Morricone) , Was it necessary (featuring hints of fusion) and the beautiful dialogues of the piano and the tremolo guitar in “Black”, topped by an excellent sax work.

Despite “Red to Black” is shaped by so many different music influences, the tracklist flows smoothly and all the music is glued together by the very suiting vocals by Ali, which stamps a very well recognizable watermark on every tune, that joined with the musicianship and experience of every single member of the band and with the nice, sober production work – with an eye looking back and another looking forward.

Review will be apearing on chemical-magazine.com in early November. - Chemical-Magazine.com

Earlier this year, Austin singer/songwriter Ali Holder released her album Red to Black in what would later be seen to be an unfinished version. Seeing as her usual horn player and side man Brent Cagel had embarked on a European tour and been perusing other projects, Holder decided to forge ahead herself, crafting Red to Black without the help of her brass virtuoso on board. But once Cagel returned from his European tour, Holder realized that his presence on the recordings were missed, and enlisted him to add brass arrangements to the album that was already thought to completed. Holder released the newly arranged record with her band The RainDoggs on October 17th, raising the question: did she make the right move in having Cagel add brass arrangements.

After just one listen to the album, the answer to this question is clear: a resounding yes. While the rest of Holder’s band provides a more than proficient backing for her sultry alto, the brass arrangements present throughout each of Red to Black’s nine tracks provides the album with a certain cohesion that would’ve been missed without them. These horns especially shine on opening track “Struck in RED,” where, after a few seconds of radio squall, Cagel blasts a simple, yet perfectly fitting introductory line. The brass also lends nice touches to “black,” the albums closing instrumental track.

Though the band’s arrangements certainly add to the listening experience of Red to Black, the star of the record is truly Holder’s voice. She brings sophistication and experience to her vocal performances, and the diversity that she displays throughout the album is impressive to say the least. She croons through laid-back tracks like “Does She Do You Right?” and “What Have You Done to Me,” while delivering more up-beat tracks like “Was it Necessary,” and “Daddy, May I,” with more bite.

If you’ve been looking for the next big think in blues, look no further: it’s Ali Holder & the RainDoggs.

http://raindoggs.com
http://www.reverbnation.com/raindoggs - Posted by Jordan Capizzi in Tri State Indie

"Ali Holder's is at the top of the short list of voices that move me to tears in .02 seconds."
- Kate Brown, Plancast (Aug 05, 2011) - Plancast