PAVEMENT PRINCESS – First Night Out +1 (2018)

“First Night Out” is a proper title for the debut album by Dutch duo PAVEMENT PRINCESS. Though they already knew each other somewhat vaguely from the local rock circuit, it was during a jam session Rene de Bie and Erwin Arbon discovered their mutual passion for classic ’80s melodic hard rock and AOR.

Both musicians had been – and still are – in bands playing different rock genres, nevertheless soon a collaboration was in the making. Writing and recording songs together, each discovered the other one’s favorite rock bands and styles. The collaboration became a project, and Pavement Princess was born.
A bass player in many other bands (MindBeacon, to name one), Erwin also just loves to shred his electric guitar strings. In Pavement Princess, people can hear Erwin playing melodic solos, rhythm and bass guitar, and keyboard as well. Combined with his excellent songwriting, producing and mixing skills, Erwin could be called a human centipede indeed.

Rene earned his fifteen minutes (well, it was actually a few years) of fame being a rhythm guitar player for Dutch metal band Goddess Of Desire, but he’s also been the lead singer in a band called Nomansland for more than 20 years.
In Pavement Princess, besides writing lyrics and music and performing lead and backing vocals, he plays some rhythm guitar and handles the drums as well.

The music of Pavement Princess can best be described as high energy ’80s influenced anthemic arena rock. It contains lots of melody, pounding drums, strong guitar riffs and catchy choruses.
“First Night Out” is a fun and entertaining throwback to one of the best times in music.
First track “Out on the Streets” gets the album going and the rocking never stops. They have a great mix of melodic / hard / AOR and a dash of glam, and then they put their own distinctive sound.

They go from guitar driven songs reminiscent of Autograph and Tyketto and then hit us with some really great upbeat 1987 MTV style tracks like “If That’s the Way You Want It” and “Sweet Samantha”.

Rene’s vocals remind me of Ted Poley from Danger Danger with great range and tons on melody, while Erwin can really lay down some awesome riffs and leads plus that lovely synths.
I love how they don’t take the easy way out and fill the album with rock ballads but instead put plenty of “meat” behind every song.

“First Night Out” is just a great, pure ’80s styled rock n’ roll good time. These guys would have no problem standing right alongside some of the great new bands like Midnite City, Sisters Doll and Kissin’ Dynamite as well as the greats like Danger Danger, Firehouse and Poison.
This is definitely an album you want to listen to if the aforementioned acts – and especially this timeless genre – is among your favorites.
Highly Recommended

01 – Out On The Streets
02 – Land of Make Believe
03 – Danger in Your Eyes
04 – Happy Ending
05 – If That’s the Way You Want It
06 – Put Your Hands Where I Can See Them
07 – Sweet Samantha
08 – Daddy’s Cryin’
09 – Lift Me Up
10 – Your Favorite Rock Song

Rene de Bie – vocals, rhythm guitar, drums
Erwin Arbon – lead and rhythm guitars, bass, keyboards

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www.amazon.co.uk/First-Night-Out-Pavement-Princess/dp/B07F9V5J1S