Erik Vincent Huey – Fort Defiance
Now an Austin resident, Erik (lead vocals) applies diverse styles to his showcase that include outlaw country, rootsy rock, Celtic punk, vintage R&R, & Americana. A set that should make for an interesting musical stew. The 11-track 2nd full-length solo LP Fort Defiance (Drops Feb 13/Orchard/Sony/38:03) was produced in Brooklyn, NY by Eric “Roscoe” Ambel (electric guitar).
Some writers compared Erik to Bruce Springsteen, but I don’t find that entirely viable. Erik has an acute original demeanor in his presentation. His delivery isn’t so much The Boss since he doesn’t pace the backstreets of nostalgia but punctuates more closely with New Jersey’s Billy Falcon (“Heaven’s Highest Hill”). Not as gruff as Billy but as sincere, poignant & pertinent. Erik doesn’t stack up his words with endless rhyming dictionary rhymes & repetitions.
“Fort Defiance” doesn’t revisit currents that were cruised by Del Shannon, Roy Orbison, or Dion DiMucci. Instead, Huey tantalizes with a blend of soulful rock. “Ghosts of the Chelsea Hotel” is deep in Billy Falcon territory. Beautifully rendered. “Cutless Supreme” still maintains the Falcon tradition but never imitates him. It has more to do with the spirit of the song. Good songwriting, skillful arrangements & warm vocals with an edge that Falcon applied to his own repertoire. Springsteen has aggression & remains in lane with the gussied rock ‘n’ roll persuasion of the past. Erik instead has phrasing sensitivity. Look at what he does to Bob Dylan’s classic “Jokerman.” It’s punkier, it has a renewed inertia. I never would’ve believed it if someone had told me. I honestly expected to criticize this cover, but I can’t. Erik adds new polish to an old Buick. Dare, I say it; it’s an excellent reading.
“The Gutter & The Stars” has the tempo & dangerous noir shadows once made intensely engaging by The Nails (“Darkness Grows Uncivilized”). It’s all there with the same Marc Campbell vocal attitude, & it’s wonderful. So…irony? Coincidence? The Nails wrote a song decades ago also called “Things You Left Behind.” It made me wonder if subliminally Erik picked up on that song & used the idea here differently with no malice intended.
Finally, “The Hatfield Action” & “King of Tears” — both drenched in a Del-Lords tradition with pure fiery eloquent rock ‘n’ roll fibers. A truly remarkable way to close out an impressive album.
Highlights – “Fort Defiance,” “Ghosts of the Chelsea Hotel,” “Cutless Supreme,” “Jokerman,” “The Gutter & The Stars,” “Things You Left Behind,” “The Hatfield Action,” & “King of Tears.”
Musicians – Brian Ewald (electric guitar/organ/pedal steel/piano), Cliff Hillis (electric & acoustic guitars), Dennis Schocket & Keith Christopher (bass), Tim Smith (guitar), Greg Schroeder & Phil Cimino (drums), the Ordinaries (bgv) & Tommy Stinson & Sarah Borges (vocals).
An 8-page stitched lyric insert is included. Color image of Erik courtesy of Bandcamp. CD @ Bandcamp & Apple + https://www.erikvincenthuey.com/
Enjoy some of our previous coverage here: Interview: Erik Vincent Huey Brings Coal Dust To “Appalachian Gothic”