The evolution of the second-echelon hair metal band
Roxx Gang into the neo-rockabilly band
Mojo Gurus has reached its conclusion on
Shakin' in the Barn, which will be some comfort to confused reviewers who have received copies of previous releases Mojo Gurus,
Drinkin' T.N.T. & Smokin' Dynamite, and
Hot Damn that continued to bear the name of
Roxx Gang, although they were ultimately marketed as
Mojo Gurus albums. Put simply, bandleader
Kevin Steele gradually found it easier to get gigs in this roots rock guise than on the '80s nostalgia circuit, and when a New York showcase drew the interest of veteran producer
Jack Douglas, the die was cast.
Shakin' in the Barn repeats some earlier material -- five songs were heard previously on
Hot Damn, and one of those is the old
Roxx Gang tune "Race with the Devil," while "Who's Been Drivin' My Cadillac?" was on
Drinkin' T.N.T. & Smokin' Dynamite -- but, with a distribution deal through Universal and
Douglas' studio savvy, the new versions are considerably spiffed up. The effect of the transition is what you might expect if
Mötley Crüe suddenly decided they wanted to be
the Blasters: the music is faster, simpler, and has more of a country twang, but it isn't that much different, really. The act just saves a lot of money on hair spray.
Steele clearly has an affinity for the old Sun Records sound, and he has a lot of fun mugging his way through these songs.
Mojo Gurus still aren't as accomplished as, say,
Jason & the Scorchers at this sort of roots rock revivalism, but they may have found a way out of the stylistic box they were trapped in when hair metal went into decline. ~ William Ruhlmann