AMERICAN DOG

SCARS-N-BARS 

Quiz time, faithful readers.  How many of you love your job?  C’mon, don’t be shy, if you wake up every morning ready for another fulfilling day at work, raise your hands.  Now, how many merely tolerate or have to drag yourself in to work every day?  You’re just there because the bills need paid and you need a cold two-four of beer in your fridge on a regular basis. 

If you said yes to question #2, American Dog is just the band for you brothers and sisters.  Grab hold of a cold one and belly up to the bar, it is time to rock. 

“Scars-N-Bars” is the third studio release from Michael Hannon (vocals, bass), Steve Theado (guitar, vocals) and Keith Pickens (drums, vocals) and it’s a scorcher.  You may be familiar with Michael from his old band Salty Dog or his stint playing bass for Dangerous Toys or even pre-American Dog rockers Hilljack.  They say it’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock and roll; get off yer arses and pick up “Scars-N-Bars” because Michael, Keith and Steve have scaled quite a few more rungs on the ladder of hard rock with this release. 

The disc kicks off with a feedback-laden intro to Workin’ Man, a straight-ahead rock burner that salutes the blue-collar lifestyle. Track number two, Faded jumps out of the gate featuring a groove that matches the lyrics.  “Faded, outdated, Watch me shine”, and shine they do.  Produced by Joe Viers and American Dog, they have done an amazing job of capturing the raw bluesy-hard rock groove that they kick out live.  Many bands have trouble recreating the live fire in a studio setting, not so here, well done gents.  Check out Steve Theado’s guitar work on Lucky 13; crank the stereo up, close your eyes and you could swear you are in a hot, smoky rock club instead of your living room. 

Conviction and Burning Yesterday are both tailor-made concert ass-kickers.  If you have a goal or idea in mind to get you ahead in life, crank these two puppies up and get to it.  “You’ll never finish ‘till you begin” extols Conviction and “The past is gone I live today” shouts Burning Yesterday.  American Dog may be known for its songs about alcohol and ladies (check out the live ep: "Six Pack: Songs About Drinkin’ And Fuckin’") but this album shows that American Dog doesn’t live on beer and babes alone.  Not to say that the boys are on the wagon when it comes to the pursuit of cheap booze and the opposite sex.  No sir, it’s here in all its Beer-and-a-shot, straight ahead rock and roll glory. 

Got You By A Chain is a tasty little tribute to S&M that shows off some killer slide guitar from Steve.  “She knows the words to every Skynyrd song” sings Michael in the honky-tonkin’ She Ain’t Real Pretty (But She’s All I’ve Got).  She may not be the prettiest thing but any girl that knows Skynyrd lyrics gets an automatic two point bonus on a scale of ten in my book.  One-night-stand romance is the subject of Another Lost Weekend while Little Girl is a sleazed out party rocker complete with crunchy riffs and growling vocals.  For the drinking fans, American Dog serve up Sunday Buzz and Ten ‘Til Two.  Sunday Buzz expands the boys’ music range with a little harmonica to accompany the laid back Sunday afternoon vibe of hanging out and imbibing in your vice of choice.  Ten ‘Til Two closes out the album showcasing one barnburner of a riff.  Ted Nugent would give up his favorite bow to write a groove like this one.  The cd fades off in a cloud of feedback (did I hear a shot glass shattering in there?), which makes a perfect segway back to the beginning for another round. 

So tomorrow, on your way home from whatever it is you do to pay the bills, stop and pick up “Scars-N-Bars”.  It’ll get you through your day and is guaranteed to make your beer taste at least 10 degrees colder.