PREACHER STONE – PayDirt (2014)

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Formed In 2008 by songwriters Marty Hill (guitar) and Ronnie Riddle (vocals) to create a musical style that is reminiscent of real Classic Rock / Southern Rock while staying current with a Hard Rock sound, PREACHER STONE gained immediate attention when one of their songs was used on the popular FOX hit series Sons Of Anarchy.
“PayDirt” is Preacher Stone’s brand new album (their third), and it Rocks.

The members of Preacher Stone claim that they are not a ‘southern rock’ band, just a ‘rock band from the south’, hailing from Charlotte, North Carolina, US. But one listen to their music and it’s clearly evident who their influences are: the sounds of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet and Blackfoot emanate throughout the band’s new effort.
For this type of rock, “PayDirt” shines musically, in the band members’ playing, in the singing, in the production mix and in the material.
The equation is simple; all these guys are born & raised in the land where this genre rules, and it is injected into their DNA.

Their statement of them being a rock band from the south rings true especially on the first two tracks: the opener “Day Late” has a nineties hard rock feeling in Ronnie Riddle’s raspy singing. The second track “Meet My Maker” has opening chords and vocals very reminiscent of Kenny Wayne Shepherd or a little of Bad Company.
But then on tracks three and four “Shreveport Stomp” / “Lousiana Dawg” which go together as one, the southern rock spirit arrives. It’s one of those good ole’ boys, shit-kickin’ romps that has us all giving a hearty ‘Yee-Haw’ and a quick gulp of our shot of Jack Daniels (or as the guys prefer, Texas Silver Star Spirit Whiskey, also sponsor of the band!).

I just love that honky tonkin’ tickling of the ivories in the opening of “Lousiana Dawg”. “And Then Some” which follows as the fifth track, has a definitive Lynyrd Skynyrd feel to it.
In fact, this entire CD has me thinking back to nineties Skynyrd, as on the acoustically filled ballad “Hand On The Bible”, organically played by all the band and sung with style by Ronnie.
“Walk It Dry” is perhaps the more commercial track on the CD (and a highlight) invoking a .38 Special melody and Styx rifs circa their Cyclorama era.
There’s also a great number on closer “All You Know”, a bluesy mid-tempo ballad with a sweet feel.

Self-released and produced with a wonderful warm classic sound, “PayDirt” rocks in an American way.
Preacher Stone has done a a great job mixing Ronnie’s vocals out front with both lead guitars highlighted when they need to be. Underlining the entire record, Josh Sanders on bass and Mark Hill on drums have laid down a solid foundation.
The CD is aptly titled “PayDirt” because they sure have! Preacher Stone is one of these bands that plays from the heart, no gimmicks, no horsesh#t.
Classic Rock is alive & kickin’ at the South of the US.

01 – Day Late
02 – Meet My Maker
03 – Shreveport Stomp
04 – Louisana Dog
05 – And Then Some
06 – Me and Mine
07 – Walk It Dry
08 – Hand On the Bible
09 – Place to Be
10 – Swimmin’ Hole
11 – All You Know

Ronnie Riddle – Lead Vocals
Marty Hill – Guitar
Michael Gilbert – Guitar
Johnny Webb – Keyboards, Vocals
Josh Sanders – Bass, Vocals
Mark Hill – Drums, Vocals
thanks to Hank Hitman Hart

BUY IT !
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