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Kenny Floyd – Water
South Carolina singer songwriter Kenny Floyd has a new CD on the way. This month Elevate takes some time out and happily introduces you to “ Water” Ten brand new tunes recorded at Modern Music Studios in Columbia, SC. by the Kenny Floyd Band.
Keeping with the tradition of; “ I can’t believe that’s him singing this song” school of vocalists, comes the class of 2005 featuring Mrs. Floyds baby boy. If you haven’t heard Kenny before be prepared for the unexpected. He looks more like a young George Forman and vocally sounds note and pitch perfect to a version of your favorite 80’s shake your teased hair to the heavens rock band front man.
The Kenny Floyd Band features Kenny Thomas on Bass, Greg Floyd on Drums, Mike McLester on lead and rhythm guitar and of course Kenny Floyd on vocals.
“ Water” opens with the cut “Go 4 Me.” An uptempo piece that starts the CD off well. With a tribute of sorts to Axel Rose’s “Welcome to the Jungle” intro scream, Kenny ushers in his latest work in a true rock fashion. Fortunately for the listener that’s just the beginning, there are nine more songs to follow!
Kenny has a strong singing voice and style that bespeaks his love of high-energy rock and roll flavored with country influences that have that 80’s and 90’s style and swing. I can picture fans of the band jumping up and down at gigs with their hands in the air and their heads banging back and forth calling out for more!
The Kenny Floyd Band is a talented and fundamentally tight group of musicians showcasing their sound on this project and Kenny, has written some of the best musical hooks committed to disk in a long while, including the instantly accessible “Flat Bed Truck”
“Flat Bed Truck” is an almost perfect “singalong” party starter and the best cut that “Water” has to offer. A great mix of 38 Special and Lynard Skynard this one will have you singing the praises of a three foot lift and hoisting a cold one in no time!
The second cut on the CD “Brother Sunday” opens with a killer music intro and a very cool guitar run provided by Mike McLester.
“U and I” sounds like a “Journey” outtake cut from the “Escape” album era and has a great hook worthy of the 80’s classic rock band.
The really outstanding songs on the CD Kenny has packaged together “Flat Bed Truck”, the haunting “Just Friends” and “Rescue Me” are fun, beautiful, and wistful respectively. All those songs have in abundance of what Kenny will be best known for in my opinion… writing one hell of a hook.
All in all “Water’’ is definitely worth taking the time to jump in and get a little wet!
Dempsey Gibson
- Elevate Charlotte
CD Information
earBuzz Review:
Kenny Floyd's CD, "Water", is a 10 tune collection of rock/metal pop tunes that, for at least one tune, dips into cross-over country territory without losing its guts and raw rock power. The production is tremendous and the talented vocalist, Floyd, hits paydirt with the effort. "Go 4 Me" has an instrumental/bridge outro like a nightmare - Floyd's tune lays a foundation of a ruined relationship and he asks her to 'go for me' (leave) in what is a metal pop gem. Track 2, "Brother Sunday", features Kenny Floyd's raspy soulful metal crooning - along with perfect production. The long mp3 track here, "Flat Bed Truck" is a blues rock smooth major groover that finds itself a cross between Skynard and ZZ Top. The bridge appropriately thanks God and country. Track 4, "Just Friends", is our favorite on the CD - the medium rock ballad showcases the dynamics of the music. Kenny Floyd's voice reminds us of the later rasp and phrasing of Steve Perry (without the extra octave) with a dramatic knack and every-man Mellencamp quality that is accessible and personal. The band, coicidentally, includes another Kenny (Thomas on bass), another Floyd (Greg on drums), and a mike (not for vocals - McLester on guitars). The ensemble cooks and supports KF's vocals with power. The most ambitious track is the final one, "Unattended", the story goes this way - man has woman - man drinks and fights with his woman to impress his friends in a bar - along comes Kenny Floyd who rescues the damsel in distress who was 'left alone, unattended' - the music includes strings, honky tonk piano, in a triumphant vocal and musical tapestry. The lyric, 'leave her alone, she's coming with me', will make relaters swoon - wonderful. Great CD. We'd own the CD for the music, and buy two for the CD design (the disc looks like a record).
- Earbuzz.com
Discography
Water
Acoustic Drive
Invisible Me
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
While some artists try to keep it real, Kenny and ‘G’ keep it ROCKIN’!
As the exit date of bass player Ronnie James drew near and the looming thought of an unfinished album, Kenny and ‘G’ were faced with some serious decisions. Should Kenny Play solo or should the two try to find another bass player.
"The first thing that came to my mind was the slogan for the United States Marines, “ A Few Good Men." Not everyone is chosen to do this type of work. -‘G’
They began asking around to get some thoughts on possible avenues for success. There was more than a light at the end of the tunnel! It was an entire flame.
"I finally fell like I may have found my niche in this industry. Until now, I have never heard of a two-man "full band" group. For us, that would mean we could offer our fans the best both worlds. The intimacy of our acoustic shows combined with the high energy of a rock show!"
As Kenny and ‘G’ prepare to go DUO, they will be in great company with bands like The White Stripes, Local H and The Black Keys to name a few.
"We never thought you could actually write, record and perform originals on a national level as a two piece. We started asking our friends and support groups about it and they gave us the names of people who were already doing it on that level. We were blown away. We should have been doing that to begin with!" -‘G’
"I guess it was inevitable. We've played acoustic shows together, just the two of us, and people would come up and say that they were impressed and really enjoyed the show. We have been getting more calls for the duo act than the three pieces. How many people does it take to be a band anyway? We don't know. We just wanted to play”. - Kenny
Being a duo allows these artists to travel farther and faster than most up and coming acts. This newfound versatility allows the rockers to go from a patio party to a national stage and still be able to offer the same heartfelt, energetically entertaining shows.
While some artist try to keep it real, Kenny and ‘G’ keep it...ROCKIN’!
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