Based in Sacramento, the
U.S. Roughnecks are the last bastion of authentic American hardcore. Fast and furious, the band's Hellcat debut album
Twenty Bucks and Two Black Eyes is tough and incendiary as evidenced by blistering, anti-authority odes like "Serve and Protect," the hometown anthem, "Sacto's Alright," plus frontman Mike Hennessey's tough tale of youth on the street, "Summer of '96." Bassist
Big Jay (who also doubles in the
Bastards) is the band's rhythmic rock, but the muscular, chaotic roar of the
Roughnecks isn't easily contained. Hennessey is a hardcore throat in the purist sense, so there's little melody to be found, but shout-along rockers like "Saturday Night" and "Midtown Nights" will thrive for years among the circle pit denizens. Hard yet heartfelt, the
U.S. Roughnecks are tough as nails, and this is short-haired rock & roll at it's finest. ~ John D. Luerssen