The Dirty Clergy

I don’t know much about The Dirty Clergy, but I do know this little 3-track EP definitely grabbed my ears when it first hit NoiseTrade a while back. I love the Weezeresque chug of their guitars in “Shake” and the minor-key stroll of “Ghost Stories.” I hope to hear more from this band in the near future as I think they’ve got some really great moments on this EP. - NoiseTrade

So, here are a band who are bringing back the best elements of classic rock and roll and turning them into something brand new. The Dirty Clergy got in touch with me and after checking their music out at thedirtyclergy.bandcamp.com, I realised that this Alabama five-piece have some killer melodies.
The latest effort comes in the form of Shake, which dropped in April but this is a band who have been around for a while and worked with some big names including Gordon Raphael, producer of The Strokes and Regina Spektor. A demo, two previous EPs and now a third EP means that The Dirty Clergy are no new kids.

Shake begins with the title track, which is a mixture of Biffy Clyro-esque riffs and heart-wrenching vocals from vocalist Brad White. There is even a touch of mellow Foo Fighters in the chorus and it’s a track that leaves you singing and swaying right until the end, when it simply ties itself into a neat bow of melodic guitar feedback.

Drifting into Ghost Stories, the EP takes on an eerie form and starts to resemble a Brit rock group. The vocals are even a little bit like Matt Bellamy at times, which is something that even the most accomplished rock singer would kill for. The faint backing vocals act as spooky echoes and the children’s laughter isn’t really the pleasant kind. Combined with the interference sound, which the track ends on, it leaves you with the feeling that you’ve just been haunted.

Ending with an acoustic recording of Cocaine, Nevada, which appeared on the band’s previous release Revival, it showcases the chilled-out alternative track in a more stark light, allowing the vocals to get a lot more exposure. The simple acoustic is the only sound as Brad’s voice melts over the lyrics of heartbreak and hazy romance. It’s the type of song you hear in the smokey backstreet pubs and clubs, which is why The Dirty Clergy could certainly be a big hit on the London underground music scene.

A great thing about The Dirty Clergy is the fact that they’re looking back to a time where rock music was really appreciated by the masses. Listing a wealth of both British and American rock legends as influences, including Jimi Hendrix, Alice Cooper and The Rolling Stones, they’re actually recovering the reasons why they were such a success. I will be conducting an interview with the band soon, so stick around to find out more about them! - London Music Blog

The Dirty Clergy formed in Winfield, Alabama, in the heart of Bible Belt country, so they come by their rebellious streak honestly.

Co-founder and guitarist Brian Manasco says "Dirty Clergy" refers to a local preacher who sent out nasty, lie-filled emails about the band and its music.

The Dirty Clergy's catchy choruses, smooth harmonies, and pop hooks recall the youthful exuberance of the 50s and early 60s, when rock 'n' roll was synonymous with rebellion, while the punkish, grungy rhythm guitar, active drumming, and impassioned singing provide an urgent, hard edge.

Their recordings are a diverse mix. Winona (Open Your Eyes) off their 2011 album Revival, has a dreamy feel reminiscent of 60’s psychedelic garage rock, while in Mary, Mary, also from Revival, the influence of Led Zeppelin and southern rock can be detected. Revival’s Here’s to Me is a delightful tune that could be labeled 'alt-country' but, as with most music in that genre, hearkens back to the roots of rock. The title song from the band’s latest release, the EP Shake, is upbeat and poppy—a song that stays in the head. But also included is a folksy, introspective Cocaine, Nevada.

The common denominator of this eclectic approach is simple rock, played with emotion, as well as lyrics that aren’t afraid to tackle social and political issues with an outlook that's decidedly distrustful of government and big business.

In Wall Street, lyricist Manasco supports the Occupy movement and issues a challenge: “Whatever happened to you/Whatever happened to me/There's no longer a middle or in between/It's just the rich getting richer/The poor waits in line/Power to the people, it's about time/Tell me now, or we're about to have it out/Right here in the center of Wall Street.” The writing is sophomoric but earnest.

As The Dirty Clergy continue to refine their sound and songwriting—and as singer Brad White, who flashes signs of developing a distinctively charismatic style, continues to mature—the future looks bright for this bunch of rebels. - Round Magazine

The Dirty Clergy formed in Winfield, Alabama, in the heart of Bible Belt country, so they come by their rebellious streak honestly.

Co-founder and guitarist Brian Manasco says "Dirty Clergy" refers to a local preacher who sent out nasty, lie-filled emails about the band and its music.

The Dirty Clergy's catchy choruses, smooth harmonies, and pop hooks recall the youthful exuberance of the 50s and early 60s, when rock 'n' roll was synonymous with rebellion, while the punkish, grungy rhythm guitar, active drumming, and impassioned singing provide an urgent, hard edge.

Their recordings are a diverse mix. Winona (Open Your Eyes) off their 2011 album Revival, has a dreamy feel reminiscent of 60’s psychedelic garage rock, while in Mary, Mary, also from Revival, the influence of Led Zeppelin and southern rock can be detected. Revival’s Here’s to Me is a delightful tune that could be labeled 'alt-country' but, as with most music in that genre, hearkens back to the roots of rock. The title song from the band’s latest release, the EP Shake, is upbeat and poppy—a song that stays in the head. But also included is a folksy, introspective Cocaine, Nevada.

The common denominator of this eclectic approach is simple rock, played with emotion, as well as lyrics that aren’t afraid to tackle social and political issues with an outlook that's decidedly distrustful of government and big business.

In Wall Street, lyricist Manasco supports the Occupy movement and issues a challenge: “Whatever happened to you/Whatever happened to me/There's no longer a middle or in between/It's just the rich getting richer/The poor waits in line/Power to the people, it's about time/Tell me now, or we're about to have it out/Right here in the center of Wall Street.” The writing is sophomoric but earnest.

As The Dirty Clergy continue to refine their sound and songwriting—and as singer Brad White, who flashes signs of developing a distinctively charismatic style, continues to mature—the future looks bright for this bunch of rebels. - Round Magazine

Down & dirty is definitely the way the Clergy like to play it. If you're looking for some good ol' American rock & roll, look no further than this Alabama firecracker. What originally started as a folk duo, quickly turned into a lean, mean, rocking machine. The band has toured from coast to coast with one mission – to spread their gospel far and wide. - Indie Mag (July/August issue) - Indie Mag

Down & dirty is definitely the way the Clergy like to play it. If you're looking for some good ol' American rock & roll, look no further than this Alabama firecracker. What originally started as a folk duo, quickly turned into a lean, mean, rocking machine. The band has toured from coast to coast with one mission – to spread their gospel far and wide. - Indie Mag (July/August issue) - Indie Mag

When a rock band lists its main influences as garage, grunge, and punk, the “grittiness” factor of their music is not likely to be in doubt, and Dirty Clergy's succession of albums has always satisfied in that regard. Their political consciousness—as on the timely and catchy single “Wall Street” about the historic U.S. financial collapse--is just a bonus. A common pitfall for such acts is to stray from their roots and pursue crossover cred at some point by means of a more “polished” makeover. But Dirty Clergy fans who listen to their new EP “Shake” will find a type of growth that's both rare and gratifying: a more complex and nuanced musicianship and studio style that repays multiple listenings through headphones. The fact that the band pulls this off with no loss of intensity, authenticity, or drive is remarkable, and should make serious music-lovers even more excited about what Dirty Clergy does next.

--Dale Short, producer of “Music from Home,” carrolldaleshort.com - Music from Home

Click the link to read the article - Dayton City Paper

Click the link to read the article - Dayton City Paper

"Revival" by Alabama Rock & Roll band, The Dirty Clergy received a 7/10 stars. - Soundofus.com

"I have worked with alot of cool rock bands in my time, but when The Dirty Clergy rolled up to my studio in Texas, I had no idea what a good time I was in for. Their songs come across as some kind of psychological warfare, all full of righteous stories and strong points of view. I totally dig these guys and their music. Highly recommended!" - Gordon Raphael

Although I would've never thought it, the guys from The Dirty Clergy have topped their great two previous releases from earlier this year, Truth Wars and The Breakdown (E.P), with their fantastic new release, Revival. This new one takes the Alabama based band's talents and creativity to a new high with songs like the dark-toned lusty opener Cocaine, Nevada, and the "wake up" rallying message of Wall Street. Other nice highlights to me are Til' There's Nothing Left, the bluesy distortion of Give and Take, and Mary Mary. This album is much deeper and complex than anything the Clergy has ever put together, and they have hit it out of the park! Manasco, Pope, and White also step outside the Clergy's norm with the album's final track Here's to Me, which is a big, but good surprise! This whole album, I like. To make it short, this is a great album from a great band that I expect to see take off to a whole new level in a short matter of time...

B.K.Bryson - Entertainment Editor, The Crossroads Free Weekly - B.K.Bryson - Entertainment Editor, The Crossroads Free Weekly