Mudjunkie

They call themselves Mudjunkie. They say they are â ofive guys and no gimmicks - just straight up innovative modern rock that's poised to storm the music world with its rich, dueling guitars and heavy, melodic undertones and they are newly revamped after originally forming in 2002. Sound like hype? Well, this time you should believe it. Seeing Mudjunkie perform at Ziggy's in Winston Salem, NC April 8 was like seeing Creed a month or two before they got signed to their much sought after record deal. Does lead singer Buck Saunders sound like Scott Stapp? No Is Mudjunkie's music reminiscent of My Own Prison?. Not exactly. What is there is a palpable hunger and a band that is actually energetic, thirsty and ambitious enough to not take themselves too seriously but take their music to the masses any way they can. Currently putting the final touches on their first cd, Mudjunkie has been hitting the highways up and down the East coast opening for major acts and streamlining their own style in the process. After Fridays show its my guess that in less than a year it will be these guys who will be leading the bills in clubs and arenas. The music is abrasive enough to fall under the category of good natured rock and roll but thankfully hasn't been watered down to the point of boredom. In addition to Saunders on lead vocals the band consists of ADAM ANDERSON Guitar, DANNY CHATFIELD - Guitar, Vocals, STEVE RIVERA on Bass and backup Vocals and KEVIN HANDY on Drums and Vocals. Each is a strong contributor and makes up for a unique sound. Songs that showcase their talent the best include Just laid Down, Holding on,Coming Down, Change and a very refreshing cover of the Fleetwood Mac classic Dreams. This was perhaps the highlight of their show, and not because it was a song that most of the crowd could relate to, instead it was because Mudjunkie was able to pull off what many bands miss by a landslide when doing a cover. They made what was old sound new again without forgetting to pay homage to the original framework of the song. Plus, after 28 years it's refreshing to hear a male vocalization of the classic hit with the same energy that Nick's must have had the first time she sang it. Next time you see Mudjunkie on your local billboard, catch them..rising stars move fast.
-Kim Thore , GoTriad Magazine - Kim Thore/ Go Triad

"Mudjunkie"



Independently released
****

Buck Saunders scribbles lyrics constantly. He'll be working, riding down the road or practicing with his band Mudjunkie, and he'll pick up any scrap of paper nearby, write down a line and stick it in a manila folder.

That folder is now inches thick with lyrics from his own experiences. Those words mainly revolve around relationships, and some of those choice phrases have made it into the band's first recording, a self-titled EP produced and mixed by Jam Pain Society guitarist Chris Hill in Cary.

The band financed its recording like many local bands do — pocketing gig money, working in studio time between full-time jobs and often recording until 3 a.m. for months.

Listen to "Mudjunkie," and I swear Alice In Chains seeps from the speakers. Blame it on Hill, a guy who doesn't see much sunlight when he's behind the board. He did multiple takes of Saunders' vocals and the guitars of Mudjunkie's Adam Anderson and Danny Chatfield, and he gave the band a thick, aggressive wall of sound similar to what first sprang out of Seattle 15 years ago.

Does it work? Mostly. Find out for yourself at the band's CD-release party Friday night at Ziggy's. Even Mudjunkie's rocked-up cover of Fleetwood Mac's chestnut "Dreams" — a "big song for the ladies," Saunders says — sounds interesting. But the best stuff is the band's four original tunes, particularly "Black & White" and "Coming Down," which show much promise for a band that won the hard-rock slot last year at Fun Fourth after an online voting contest.

I admit, I wish there were more music on "Mudjunkie." But what's here is worth it.

— Jeri Rowe - Jeri Rowe/editor Gotriad magazine

Replay: Emerging area bands put on a fine show at Ziggy's
Thursday, April 6, 2006

By Jaysen Buterin

special to relish

Given the trickster traditions behind April Fool's Day, a rock 'n' roll showcase with six bands for $7 might sound too good to be true. Would it be a night of Matchbox 20 montages or something far crueler?

Neither. The music lovers at Ziggy's brought in some up-and-coming bands from across the state for a music showcase that was as serious as rock 'n' roll can get. Gracing the stage at Ziggy's were Scott Leftwich and the Atarians, Sugar Glyder, Slushie, Melancholy Daze, Blue Industry and Mudjunkie. They proved that one can have quality and quantity.

Starting off the night was Scott Leftwich and the Atarians, a four-piece rock band with a hard edge from Mount Airy. Donned in white lab coats, the band had the difficult job of going on first and luring in the people who were relaxing outside. Yet after the first song, the floor in front of the stage quickly filled up as the band tore through track after track from its current CD, Rock Genius. With an original sound influenced by all things rock ranging from the 1960s British Invasion era to Queens of the Stone Age and beyond, the sinful sounds of this band stuck in my head long after the band was done.

Each band had a 35- to 45-minute set. Sugar Glyder from Charlotte was next on the bill, with a sound that was melodically aggressive, intimately honest and fueled by pure emotions. Such songs as "We Survive on Stars" and "Gone," as well as tracks from the band's forthcoming album The Unsaid and the Obvious, were real departures from the usual two-minute rock quickie, with keyboards and an amazingly tight rhythm section making each song memorable. Even a cover of Radiohead's "Creep" was performed with uncanny precision, right down to Thom Yorke's creepy eye twitch.

Sugar Glyder patiently gave away CDs and T-shirts to nearly everyone in the crowd (creating an endearing scene of rock 'n' roll zombies chanting "free" instead of "brains") in exchange for their applause and their promise to stick around for the rest of the bands.

The fans of Slushie, a rock 'n' roll power trio from Mount Airy, were right in front of the stage where they needed to be when the band started playing. With a sound influenced by everything from punk to metal to rock to country, this genre-bending/blending three-piece played with a wicked intensity felt from the front row all the way to the wallflowers in back. Such songs as "Scars and Stains" and "All the Good it Does" were delivered with an unmistakable level of energy and emotion, and by the end of the set, both the band and the fans seemed momentarily exhausted and spent.

Then Melancholy Daze eagerly took the stage for a powerfully intense set of original hard rock with a nice Southern flavor. This relatively new five-piece band from King played with the passion and professionalism of a group long-established on the scene. The band's ability to seamlessly switch back and forth from hard-hitting rock to toe-tapping/head-nodding Southern groove made these up-and-comers worthy of the attention and applause they got.

Going on next to last was Blue Industry, an experimental indie rock quintet from Greensboro. With a subtle sonic sound ranging from alternative pop to something akin to emo but with an edge, Blue Industry injected a much-needed vitality into an audience that wanted, and needed, more rock 'n' roll. Blue Industry has been making a name for itself all over the Triad with what could easily be its breakthrough hit, "Her Pills," and it also made new fans at Ziggy's, judging from the bodies rocking up and down and the encores that were requested.

Capping off the showcase was Winston-Salem's own hard rock heavy-hitter, Mudjunkie. Formed in 2002, this no-frills high-energy band quickly made a name for itself by opening for such headliners as Sponge and Seven Mary Three. Ripping through such fan favorites as "Just Laid Down," "Coming Down" and "Change," not to mention a refreshing cover of the Fleetwood Mac classic "Dreams," Mudjunkie also delighted the crowd with "Holding On" and "Walk Away," new tracks that show just how far this band could go in a music scene hungry for something real. Whipping the crowd into a final frenzy, Mudjunkie was a great finale for a stellar showcase.

special to relish
Jaysen Buterin - Relish Magazine