BILLY THE KID & The Regulators – Nice Ain’t Got Me Nothin’ (2023)
BILLY THE KID & The Regulators are a high powered, guitar driven, blues-rock band based in Pittsburgh. Lead singer Billy Evanochko is widely-known across the Steel City for his impassioned lyrics, seductive vocals, and stinging guitar riffs. Together with his band, The Regulators, they deliver a well-balanced dose of funky driven bluesy rock n’ roll, with heart and soul being the main ingredient.
The four-piece outfit display big-league taste and talent on their new release ”Nice Ain’t Got Me Nothin‘’, destined to The album is an outstanding set of classic rock music that touches on a variety of styles and feels from vintage to contemporary and gets lowdown with them all. ”Nice Ain’t Got Me Nothin’’ punches hard but also shows the kind of skills that bring nuance and expression to the forefront.
BILLY THE KID & The Regulators clearly know where they want to go and wastes nary a note in the process of getting there. The group have been blasting their rocking blues from Pennsylvania home since 2000. They’ve become known as one of the mightiest acts in their region and have also rocked innumerable clubs, concerts, and festivals around the country.
Evanochko kicks things off with his title cut “Nice Ain’t Got Me Nothin’.” It’s a fully-energized blast of modern-day blues rock that’s well-written and muscular. It’s a classic heartbreak song with a crisp, funky pocket and outstanding performances at all positions. Billy is an excellent singer and guitarist with a strong identity and a vocal tone that cuts through the band. The whole group slays this one, especially the rhythm section. Drummer Ben Davis is the man and puts the entire arrangement in gear.
“Sweet Honey Child” downshifts into a more hip-shaking feel and features Billy ripping on slide guitar. Keyboardist Owen Dougan-Bacha is a large presence here and his piano licks are tight and rhythmic. Billy’s bold vocals keep things focused on the microphone and come off as intuitive and real.
One of the best cuts on Nice Ain’t Got Me Nothin’ is the hardcore slow blues “Bullshit Barbie.” It’s all about trouble and deception in the game of love and Billy hits it with his best back-alley style. His guitar solo is volcanic from the jump, letting his blues fall down like rain. Lyrically, he holds nothing back, so don’t play this one at the office.
The hard funk of “Bang Bang Baby” is also an album highlight. The bass line drives the beat right through the floor and Billy throws down everything he’s got on top of it. It’s a dance-til-you-can’t situation that will put any size crowd in motion with its live-off-the-floor sound.
Other can’t-miss cuts include “Shake That Thang” and “Nasty Habits.”
”Nice Ain’t Got Me Nothing” comes off like a turning-point release that will exponentially raise Billy The Kid & The Regulators’ profile. The album is full-on hot sauce from end to end and shows Billy Evanochko to be an artist a lot more people need to experience.
Play it loud and let your speakers burn.
01 – Nice Ain’t Got Me Nothin’
02 – Sweet Honey Child
03 – Bullshit Barbie
04 – Say You Wanna Woman
05 – Shake That Thang
06 – Bang Bang Baby
07 – Nasty Habits
08 – Ain’t No Fun
09 – Steppingstone
10 – Sweet Honey Child (Acoustic Version)
Billy Evanochko – Vocals, Guitar
John Bartholomay – Bass
Owen Dougan-Bacha – Keyboards and vocals
Ben Davis – Drums and vocals
BUY
billythekidandtheregulators.com/
