Sidekick Mafia
Dallas, Texas, United States | SELF
Music
Press
Comparing bands is like comparing apples and oranges... and bananas and grapes and broccoli and Skittles. Honestly, it can’t be done. That said, I’m telling you now that Sidekick Mafia is the best band DFW has ever spawned.
It is true that there are/were bands that can better Sidekick Mafia in most categories of a band’s measure.
• • •
Shaping an entire genre on a national level: Pantera 10, Sidekick 0 Artistic imagination in songwriting: Ten Hands 10, Sidekick 3 Sheer technical ability and skill: Earl Harvin Trio 10, Sidekick 5
What Sidekick Mafia does have is Justin Pickard. The singer/guitarist has the charisma, presence and skill of a Brian Setzer or Johnny Cash, with a dash Freddy Mercury on top. His vocals are strong and clear and perfectly suited for rockabilly, swing and garage rock. He can emote gently or rip it up – from Black Crows to Buckcherry – Pickard can deal.
Better yet is his guitar work. He handles lead and rhythm (while singing!) and does so with apparent ease. As if doing three difficult tasks at once was simple. And while he may not reach the level of a Stevie Ray Vaughn, Pickard can go pluck to strum with most any ax-man around.
Finally – and not to go all Fatal Attraction on the guy, but – Pickard’s lyrics are off-the-chart spectacular, approaching literature. Be it funny (“Graveyard Love”), reflective (“Just Me”), existential (“Burnin’ Time”) or pure party (“Smoke & Drink”).
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LITmonthly.com | 27
Graveyard Love: Hey little baby I’m six feet down / Get you a shovel and dig around / Necrophiliate me while I’m fresh
Just Me: If you ever stop by and I’m drunk or I’m high or I’m sleepin’ / Keep believin’ / ‘Cause someday I’ll be / More than just me
Burnin’ Time: Every day I’m digging deeper in the hole / I’m so tired of wasting time / Yesterdays are piling up like no tomorrow / Why do I feel like I’m always just a couple steps behind
Smoke & Drink: I smoke & drink / So I don’t have to think / If I’m not drunk or high that’s how I’ll get / Cigarettes and weed plant the seed I need / Whisky, beer or both keep ‘em wet
Alas, I did say best band ever and band denotes a group of performers, not just one. Lurking in the background is an unassuming yet flawless rhythm section. Drummer Brondon Esco can play all kinds of stuff, but he’s rarely called on to do so in the straight forward genre of rockabilly. (Well, he does have a little swing number.) Still, he bangs out the basics with computer-like precision to create the foundation of the tightest group in town.
Last but not least, the glue, the mortar of this brick house, bassist Matt Brannon. Lifelong friend of Pickard’s and co-founder of the band, Brannon is the one responsible when the dance floor is filled, as it often is. His subtle groove keeps the feet shuffling. And did I mention that he’s a stellar backup vocalist who harmonizes with Pickard like Tiger Woods harmonizes with cocktail waitresses. (Sorry, had to.) Shame on the sound man who doesn’t get these mic levels set right.
So what makes Sidekick Mafia Big D’s best ever? Two things really: One, the perfect set of cats that truly “band” together into a cohesive unit and two, that unit produces songs that people want to hear. Be it in the car, in the living room or at the bar, nobody does it better than Sidekick Mafia. Check ‘em out at MySpace. com/sidekickmafia and get back to me. - Lit Monthly
Discography
Sidekick Mafia- Self Titled
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
In April 2006, after less than 2 years as a band, Sidekick Mafia astounded the industry with what Harder Beat Magazine calls one of the best CDs of the year, locally or otherwise. Their breakthrough self-titled debut album--which is available online at CDBaby.com/sidekick, iTunes, and at live shows--enlisted a production staff that included pros that have worked with bands like Bush, Deep Blue Something, Burden Brothers, Hourly Radio, The Feds, and The Vanished. The only thing that could possibly overshadow the quality of their studio album is their explosive and magnetic live show, spattered with perfect harmonies, awesome guitar licks, insane bass grooves, and drums so tight youd think it was their first time. As new of a band as Sidekick Mafia is, they're already making plenty of Texas noise. Theyve been featured on the cover of Harder Beat Magazine, and have been one of the main attractions on several tours and festivals including Buzz Oven, The Deep Ellum Community Music Festival, Rock the Campus for the Cure, and Pistons & Paint. They have also played all over Texas, as well as Louisiana, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Arkansas. All of this has led to Sidekick Mafias recent signing to Headliner Artists' booking agent Bubba Turner and UnitedWeRock Music's artist development manager Munnch, who together immediately began work organizing weekend tours for Sidekick Mafia throughout the rest of the year. Dont try to fight it. One listen and youll fall in love with the Sidekick Mafias catchy, punky, Texas rock-n-roll sound. Everyone else already has...
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