Some folks will tell you that a good recipe doesn't need more than five or six ingredients, and if there's a musical corollary to that,
the Rich Hands are putting it to good use. On
the Rich Hands' sophomore album,
Out of My Head, the San Antonio trio shows how to keep it simple -- basic old-school punk rock tunes with a '60s garage undertow,
Chuck Berry-ish guitar figures, big muscular melodic hooks, a hard-hitting rhythm section, and a vocalist who sounds like a cross between
Joey Ramone and
Sam Llanas. The band's formula may not be complicated, but they choose quality ingredients and serve 'em up right -- these songs roar out of the gate with plenty of energy and fire, and combine classic rock & roll elements with a spunk and excitement that's as fresh as the tomatoes you just pulled from your garden. The
Rich Hands have a real knack for songs, getting a winning ferocity out of traditional themes like "Ballroom Love," "Teenager," and "So Fine," and once guitarist and lead singer Cody Mauser locks in with bassist Matt Gonzalez and drummer Nick Ivarra, they generate a sound that could (and should) fill the dancefloor in any venue where real rock & roll still rules the roost. The
Rich Hands haven't reinvented the wheel on
Out of My Head, but they know how to make it roll and send it down the highway, and if you're in the mood for some high-spirited rock & roll kicks,
the Rich Hands could well become your new favorite band. ~ Mark Deming