SHOTGUN HARBOUR – Down Here (2012)

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SHOTGUN HARBOUR hails from Yulee, Florida, and since its inception in 2009 seems the band has grabbed a strong fan base throughout the U.S. Southeast.

The shotgun guys debuted with an EP two years ago and last December the quintet presented their new material “Down Here”, a collection of really well rounded rocking songs.

Despite their name, Shotgun Harbour aren’t another sleazy or Sunset Strip-like act, they are a modern hard rock outfit with an updated style and a sound propelled by strong guitar riffs.

The five piece includes Blaine Dickinson (Lead Guitar), Brock Dickinson (Vocals), Jordan Lloyd (Bass), Justin Monds (Rhythm Guitar) and Matt Braddock (Drums), all young musicians playing with energy and fire.

Although modern in approach, these rocking songs are firmly rooted in American classic acts. Shotgun Harbour has the ability to take on heavy subject matter, yet still make the songs ridiculously contagious and enjoyable.

“Daisy Duke” opens with great catchiness, followed by the groovy title track “Down Here”. In the lyrics you are able to appreciate Shotgun Harbour’s intentions: “… listen to our music loud and turn it on, this is how we do it, Down Here… “. And they rock good!

We have next the hard rockin’, slightly southern “Yesterday”, followed by the clean guitar driven ballad “Trust Me” crafted with obvious radio approach, and then “Time To Run” rocks hard again yet with sustained melody.

“Liar Too” is one of the highlights to me. This track has much more detailed arrangements going from slow vocals and instrumentation to a swelling cascade of guitars full of intensity.

“The Cover-Up” is an uptempo rocker which reminds me in the chorus Collective Soul yet the song skeleton is bluesy hard rock inspired. “Open Road” bleeds more groove again, while the ballad “Day Late Friend” recalls Nickelback but in a good way.

“Too Far Gone” is a quite furious track featuring breaks in the middle and razor riffs – the heaviest piece on the album – which ends with the modern semi-ballad “I Am Here”, another radio oriented tune not good as the previous.

Shotgun Harbour is a more than interesting rockin’ band with a modern approach without sounding colourless or bland, on the contrary, there’s a lot of energy and freshness in “Down Here”.

Solid catchy songs, good sharp vocals, thick twin guitar walls and a fat rhythm section (especially loved the drums) is the motto of this recording sporting an excellent production & mix for an indie.

Really good stuff.

01 – Daisy Duke

02 – Down Here

03 – Yesterday

04 – Trust Me

05 – Time To Run

06 – Liar Too

07 – The Cover-Up

08 – Open Road

09 – Day Late Friend

10 – Public Enemy

11 – Too Far Gone

12 – I Am Here

Brock Dickinson – Lead and Backing Vocals

Blaine Dickinson – Lead Guitar

Justin Monds – Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals

Jordan Lloyd – Bass, Backing Vocals

Matt Braddock – Drums

BUY IT !

itunes.apple.com/us/artist/shotgun-harbour/id344254612