Mama's Love

Athens five-piece Mama’s Love churns out a sampling of catchy, melodic, jam-friendly rock on its self-titled EP, the group’s first release since 2007’s Willow Street Sessions.

Judging by the stout, part blues/ part jazz guitar riffs, monster organ and layered harmony vocals heard on the recording, put together at Atlanta’s famed Southern Tracks Studio, one can assume that the Mama’s boys share Homer Simpson’s belief that “rock achieved perfection in 1974.” Tracks like “Wake Up Woes,” “Busted & Blinded” and “Son of a Blind Dog” pay homage to that bygone time of such longhaired, hook-infused Southern rockers as Little Feat, the original Allman Bros. and the Marshall Tucker Band.

That’s no knock against the group, though. Even if most of its membership was not even born when that style was gaining steam in and outside the Southeast, the group never fails to do it up right, here. From the sawdust floor shuffle of “Texas Truckstop Boogie” to the secret weapon of keyboard man William Boyd to some serious hooks that catch your attention within the first few seconds, Mama’s Love proves its affection for unadulterated, hairy-chested rock and roll while adding a few new steps to the playbook, too.
- Flagpole

Mama’s Love - Its influence triple-dips into the pools of funk, rock and soul. Lead/rhythm vocalist Thomas Galloway adds electricity to what would be yet another band recycling ’70s funk music, by threading in some ’80s and ’90s rock vocals. Splicing electric guitar chords and rock vocals within a mostly funk set is what separates these men from the boys – it’s all about reinventing old influences. The youthful quintet from Athens, Ga., started making noise in 2006 under the alias Funkward Bound. Having since changed its name, the band now totes the bumper sticker slogan, “Come get some Mama’s Love.” With Major Magick. Double Door Inn (Nicole Pietrantonio) - Creative Loafing - Charlotte

About 30 minutes ago, Mama’s Love met with John Keane at his Athens studio about producing their sophomore album.

The Classic City jam-band’s previous material includes percussion rave-ups (“Faces on Fire”) and Widespread Panic stunt-doubles (“Wake Up Woes”). Their ode to a fictitious bluesman, “Long Willie Jackson,” sounds like a Steely Dan re-write of “The Ballad of Curtis Lowe.”

Mama’s Love had wanted to work with Tom Tapley again. He produced their self-titled 2010 EP at Southern Tracks Studio. The Atlanta facility’s past clients include Bruce Springsteen and Pearl Jam, with Tapley working as an assistant engineer for producer-to-the-stars Brendan O’Brien on those sessions.

“Walking in there, it’s a hallway of platinum and gold records,” singer/guitarist Thomas Galloway, 23, says of Southern Tracks. “It definitely sets the tone right when you walk in. I’m sure a bunch of the vocals were done in the same room as the Boss’.”

Mama’s Love also includes William Boyd (keyboards), Whit Murray (guitar), Bo Nicholson (bass) and Ben Torbert (drums). Since working with the band, Tapley recorded Sugarland’s 2010 No.1 LP “The Incredible Machine.” It significantly raised his profile. And his rate.

Still, Galloway notes Keane, known for his work with R.E.M., Widespread and Uncle Tupelo, “is a really good name to have on your album.”
- Metromix Greenville

http://www.redandblack.com/2009/08/24/summertime-concert-series-winding-down-at-ashford-manor/#comments - Red & Black

http://www.redandblack.com/2009/10/01/mamas-love-band-brings-classic-sound-to-tasty-world/#comments - Red & Black