Whiskey N' Rye

Whiskey N’ Rye are a five-piece rock band hailing from Seattle, who formed in 2013 but are already ready to release their second album Sick Soul Summertime. They are centred around singer/songwriter, guitarist and producer Philip Lindholm and they describe their music as ‘roots-rock’. That is an apt term as their music is a hybrid of rock, blues, country and Americana, with even aspects of Celtic folk thrown into the blend.

The result in an intoxicating and uplifting sound, as evidenced on opening track Bottleneck Blues. It is a riotous combination of country, blues and rock featuring a plethora of instruments, including some great bursts of bluesy harmonica and even stabs of brass. Lindholm’s strong, easy-on-the-ear voice is aided by some effective use of backing vocals (both male and female) and the rolling barrelhouse-style piano solo is a nice touch. With an instantly catchy, anthemic chorus, it’s a perfect start and a potential single.

Blood in the Water is a bit harder-edged, driven along by distorted bass, rich Hammond organ and a gritty lead vocal. The stripped-back verse contrasts well with the full-on chorus and features some biting lead guitar from Greg Pascale. The title track, and first single off the album, comes next and it’s a smoky, sultry rocker with Lindholm pleading: “I’ll give you sapphires and diamonds if you’ll just give me the time...”. Its huge chorus is infectious and perfect for radio.

You Shook Me All Night Long shows their more delicate side, an acoustic country-tinged ballad with some gorgeous strings and vocal harmonies, while A Storm Is A-Comin’ and Scene Unseen are both excellent, upbeat songs. Laid To Waste slows the pace down and provides further contrast through a male/female joint lead vocal with Beth Whitney. However, it is no cheesy duet, but in fact lyrically quite dark and poignant: “I have tasted pain…tell me lies…do it again…“.

Down Lonely Girl is yet another piece of songwriting that shows a real knack for pop hooks amongst all the country and blues influences, making this a band with real commercial potential. The heartwarming Saving Grace extends their musical range even further with a distinct gospel/soul tinge that brought to mind the Stones classic Shine A Light. The closing track At A Graveside is a moving instrumental, with more of the Celtic folk influence first heard on All Night Long.

Overall, this is a very impressive and highly enjoyable album from a band who have found their own sound through combining several genres in an accessible way. Whereas country and blues music can sometimes be formulaic and clichéd, Whiskey N’ Rye filter these styles through a keen pop sensibility to create music that could become popular on the Bon Jovi/Nickelback scale, given time. With a sizeable fanbase already in place, this could well be the breakthrough album that sees Whiskey N’ Rye go stratospheric. - Faulkner Reviews

In this age of one-and-done disposable artists, Whiskey N’ Rye continues to make great music. Philip Lindholm just gets better and better as a songwriter, and the current lineup consisting of Philip Lindholm: Vocals & Guitar, Carson Dent: Drums, Greg Pascale: Guitar, Alex Atwood: Bass and Marco Longo: Keys, has really gelled into a tight unit.

The album cover
The album cover
Whiskey N’ Rye are about to release their sophomore album, “Sick Soul Summertime”, where they dish out rock, blues, roots and soul-driven tunes, succeeding impressively. The good news is that on this release the band’s original sound is completely intact, notwithstanding some member changes from their previous release. All the new members have done, is literally add fuel to the already brightly burning fire. And quite frankly the band has never sounded tighter.

This album in particular, has so much range. It’s a statement of what Whiskey N’ Rye sees and is able to capture musically. The guitar-harmonica trade-offs is cool on so many levels – the sound, the attitude, the energy. The reason I enjoy this band so much is because, no matter where they seem to land their collective inspiration, it falls in a place that is timely and aligned with some inexplicable vibe that I feel too. Maybe it’s just what happens in my life but, more likely it is the way that Whiskey N’ Rye evolve – doing what they want to do and reflecting their experiences in the music.

The songs on this collection run the gamut of subject matter and style, and of course Lindholm has pulled out another gem with the first single and title track off the album, “Sick Soul Summertime”, a smoking arrangement of a left-field, rock and blues crossover. Yet for me, great as it may be, this is not the best track on the album…not by a long shot. Instead, almost everything that comes immediately afterwards is! From track 4 onwards, namely “You Shook Me All Night Long” to “Scene Unseen”, “Laid To Waste”, “Down Lonely Girl”, “Saving Grace” and “At The Graveside” are in a category apart. These standouts feature a large supply of ballads, which are strong and dramatic slow-burners, handcrafted for Philip Lindholm’s ever-emoting vocal chords.

As I explained before, the whole album speaks to me. But these specific songs are those rare occasions when you simply connect with the artist on every metaphysical level.

Blues-rock influenced music tends to favor musicianship first and foremost, and then occasionally you’ll find a band that is also willing to push the field in new directions. Whiskey N’ Rye is surely concerned about moving their sound into the future, with outstanding songwriting, awe-inspiring musicianship and vocals. They manage to sound both high-flying and respectably unpretentious at the same time.

This is high-energy blues-based rock with intelligent and original lyrics, together with unexpected and sophisticated chord changes. “Sick Soul Summertime” is a powerful addition to any real music lover’s library. - Toneflame

There's a part of my brain that judges rock music by how many cars I could tolerate on the road while a certain song is playing. Aerosmith songs made after 1987 for instance, I can tolerate in a full-blown traffic jam (usually with the window rolled down so I can hear the traffic, instead). Certain Black Sabbath songs I can listen to in very light traffic, so I can weave in and out of the cars. Billy Joel? The car needs to be parked. In a garage. While I'm in another part of the house digging out my AC/DC albums.

This morning, while I was out driving from place to place, the latest single from Whiskey N' Rye, Sick Soul Summertime, popped up and after listening to it, I have come to a verdict:

One car. From the second the song starts, you want to flip off the vehicle next to you, floor the gas, and take in the big open skies as you move in one direction - forward.

Go ahead. Listen for yourselves:

Whiskey N' Rye is a rising roots-rock band out of Seattle “who seems to be on the fast track to stardom” (Indie Band Guru). The band formed in 2013 and quickly became known for its explosive live show, touring nationally at some of the best clubs and festivals around (House of Blues, Crocodile, Harlows, Tractor Tavern, Secret Society, etc.). The debut album - a fusion of blues, rock, and Americana - has been picked up by over 200 radio stations across the country, as well as widely popular television shows and networks (The Real World, Kardashians, NASCAR, Discovery). Buzz now surrounds the band, whose online following has swelled to over 35,000 people. Independent Music News has described their sound as “honest American rock music with soul. The band is stellar and the songs are phenomenal.”

I had a chance to listen to their upcoming album, also titled Sick Soul Summertime - currently available for pre-order through the official Whiskey N' Rye site - and I can say that this is one of the few new bands that "gets" rock music. From the album's eponymous track to their cover of AC/DC's You Shook Me All Night Long, to the soulful Saving Grace, Whiskey N' Rye shows that they drink deeply from the well of rock and their musicianship shows off a diversity that music has been sorely needed - as they have the tempo going at a million miles a second and then switch to a tender ballad, or a style that would bring a tear to any southern rock fan's eye.

Whiskey N' Rye's members are as follows:

Philip Lindholm: Guitar, Singer/Songwriter, Producer
Carson Dent: Drums
Marco Longo: Keyboards
Greg Pascale: Lead Guitar
Alex Atwood: Bass

Whiskey N' Rye is a touring band, and their live shows are jam packed (the footage in the video for Sick Soul Summertime was taken from live performances). If you want to know more about the band, or find out when they will be playing in your area, you can catch them on Facebook, Twitter, or get updates directly from their own site, and watch their latest videos on YouTube.

I need their new album in my collection. You do, too. One listen will tell you this is going to be marked by music historians as a classic album that the rock landscape has needed for a VERY long time! - Terischore

Whiskey N’ Rye is a roots-rock band in Seattle, known for its explosive live shows. The band formed in 2013 behind the eponymously-titled “Whiskey N’ Rye” debut album written by singer/songwriter Philip Lindholm, and includes three graduates from the Berklee School of Music who headed west after graduation. The band is now touring, supporting the new record and taking on the road a contemporary sound that draws heavily and unabashedly upon classic blues, rock, and Americana influences.

There is no best way to describe the music of Whiskey N’ Rye as they have such a unique and fresh sound that fuses elements of country and rock with some blues and alternative, making it impossible to pin down in one confined musical sphere.

Their songs seem deceptively simple. At first blush, “Until The End” appears to be a sweet little love song; however, the lilting female choral and Lindholm’s smoking vocals, give a rich, distinctive texture that reeks of a Whiskey N’ Rye signature sound. Don’t be fooled, though – these guys can rock with the best of them. Give a loud listen to “Before the Cock Crows”. Those guitars will rattle your windows!

As with all Whiskey N’ Rye material, the lyrics and melodies are mature, tightly woven and mighty damn catchy. See if you can resist up-tempo songs like, “Bootlegger”, “Making Love” and “All I Ask”, or heartrending slow burners like, “Until The End” and probably the best two tracks on the entire album “Rebel Man, Pt.1” and “Rebel Man, Pt.2”.

The musicianship throughout this Whiskey N’ Rye, is solid and very, very clean, while Philip Lindholm’s vocals are crystal clear and slice right through you on every line. I really don’t know if this album could be any better. - Jamsphere

I admit, I’m not the biggest blues fan, but when it’s done right, it’s amazing. I’ve heard a lot of bad blues acts in my life, so I wasn’t sure what to expect from the latest release from Whiskey N’ Rye, and then the first track hit. “Bootlegger” is the first song off of this record and it stunned me, it was like a jolt to my jaded system. Every element is in place to mold blues, rock, alternative, and roots sounds into one melodic song. The structure is very much what you’d expect coming out of the late 90s alternative rock explosion. The same spirit that made Hootie and the Blow Fish, Blues Traveler, and Counting Crows famous is found here. This is not to say that the band sounds like those acts, because they don’t, they tap into their own sound, and it’s evident from the first tracks power to the second track’s catchy chorus.

The guys in this band know how to play well and you never feel that you’re listening to an independent release, you’re listening to something more. It’s this type of power in the structure that is compelling about the record. You’ll have a hard time not tapping your feet as the album progresses through transitional stages of heavy blues explosion, and rock sensibility, without losing that pop sound at times. The vocals are done clean, and when the harmonica hits, it’s not just another layer it becomes its own personal element, which is hard to do.

Stand out tracks on this release include the aforementioned songs, and “All I Ask”, “The Open Road”, “Before the Cock Crows” and “Seattle Drinking Song”, but all the tracks flow together quite well. I’m always impressed by the bands that can tie things together in a fluid motion. You never feel like skipping a song, because you most certainly have a bigger picture to enjoy. That’s how powerful Whiskey N’ Rye’s delivery is, it makes you want to set aside 30 some odd minutes to just sit back and enjoy the themes of classic American influenced music.

The sum of the parts work well, and if you were to take away one element, you would still have a strong alternative record, but when you tie in all the pieces, you get something outstanding, and that’s what makes this a must have. If you see their names on the marquee, you better get a ticket, because this will most likely translate well into a live performance. You can take a listen to their release by checking out their soundcloud page here, and hear what I’ve heard, an incredible take on a mixture of genres that works very well. I like it, you’ll like it, so listen up. - Sell Out Records

Considering the impact of music in our lives, we are reminded that there are bands that make music, and there are bands that inspire cultural revolutions. Some bands take the stage for a fleeting moment, perhaps we recall their one or two chart topping hits, but we might be unable to recall their name. The fact is that when an artist puts their heart and soul into their music, it shows, their music is powerful, and their records are passed down from generation to generation. Their sound provokes a response, their words have depth, and their stage presence commands attention. Bands of this caliber are a rarity within the modern music scene but, they do exist and are making their way to the front and center-stage.

Emerging with an allure that has not been seen since the early ages of rock, Seattle band Whiskey N’ Rye has unleashed their self-titled album ‘Whiskey N’ Rye’. As one of the most powerful releases of 2014, the album is an inventive production that bridges the elements of classic rock styles with contemporary American insight and artistic brilliance. Generally, when listening to a new album, there might be two or three tracks that really stand out and capture a listener’s interest. This is definitely not the case with ‘Whiskey N’ Rye’; the entire album conveys each and every song with resounding energy. There are times when artists opt to tell stories that are directly related to their personal experiences, making an album a little too inward and foreign from the listeners’ perspectives. This particular album does the exact opposite by telling a story that brings listeners into the experience by establishing an authentic context that is not only all-encompassing but highly relevant.

The band’s style, which is composed of blues, rock, and Americana elements is present throughout each track on the album giving it a signature sound. The compilation works masterfully to deliver varied sounds and flavor, a demonstration of the band’s musically diverse background and stylistic expertise. The album which was written by singer-songwriter Philip Lindholm consists of 10 rigorously composed pieces that incorporate a myriad of musical techniques, styles, and themes that work together in a cohesive manner to deliver an enjoyable listening experience.

Although all of the tracks on ‘Whiskey N’ Rye’ deliver their own rush of sound, there are a few that really stand out with remarkable distinction. The band opens up with “Bootlegger” an energetic rock song that is reminiscent of Lynyrd Skynrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama”; the song emanates a strong traditional American vibe with down-home harmonica action and guitar play. The band changes up the vibe on the album with some slower tempo tracks such as “Until the End” and ” The Open Road”, a legendary example of thoughtful storytelling through songwriting.

Another track that really stands out is “Rebel Man, Pt. 1″ an artistically composed piano solo that tells a story all of its own without the use of a vocalist. The inclusion of this track functions well to demonstrate the bands quality and skill as avid instrumentalists. Behind “Rebel Man, Pt. 1″ is a dynamic rock piece named Rebel, Man, Pt. 2″ which has a stronger guitar focus as well as lead male, female, and background vocalists. Lyrically speaking, “Rebel Man, Pt.2″ is one of the most profound tracks included on the record and it will definitely resonate with fans; it has an unusual chilling effect that lingers on after the song concludes.

Whiskey N’ Rye’s debut release of their self-titled album is bound to be one of the most notable undertakings of 2014. The album is a unique blend of various rock elements from earlier influences combined with contemporary stylistics making it an all-around phenomenal music find. Though each track on the album displays different aspects of rock, blues, and Americana styles; the band has in fact managed to deliver a striking sound.

Word on the street is that this band puts on one amazing live show; so of course we had to take a peek. Check out this really awesome video of Whiskey N’ Rye performing live.

Hailing from Seattle, Washington, Whiskey N’ Rye's style can be described as Americana, Roots-Rock, capturing the depth of American tradition and spirit through their music. Having nailed down the top spot for Roots-Rock on Reverbnation, the ban formed in 2013 and continues to do some serious damage with their unparalleled sound. The band’s polished sound comes as no surprise considering three of its members graduated from the world-renowned Berklee School of Music. On a steady upward journey, the band has no plans of stopping and is currently touring sharing their deeply rooted sound with adoring fans. Hopefully you are lucky enough to catch these born stars live as they are known for lighting up the stage, in the meantime keep up with their latest music, news, and upcoming appearances on the band’s official website www.whiskeynrye.com.

Listen to ‘Whiskey N’ Rye’, now playing on SoundCloud.

Join other Whiskey N’ Rye fans on the tweetosphere by following them on Twitter @whiskeynrye

We love Whiskey N’ Rye and you should too, so join us and thousands of their other fans on the band’s Official Facebook page. Help spread the word and get these rockers heard! - Glitter and Stilettos

It is not extremely common but sometimes a band gets together and quickly rises to the top of their genre. This takes an extreme amount of hard work and dedication as well as some luck finding the right mix of bandmembers that all have the same ideals and goals. We recently discovered Whiskey N’ Rye who seems to be on the fast track to stardom.

The Seattle based roots-rock band formed only last year but has already risen to the top of the Reverb Nation charts for the genre. Whiskey N’ Rye is made up of truly talented musicians including three graduates from Berklee College Of Music. The band shows the drive that will take them wherever they want to go. They are now touring heavily behind their new record with gaining new fans along the way.

The band recently released the self-titled album Whiskey N’ Rye. The 10 track record provides a contemporary sound with elements from all over the map including blues, rock, americana, and soundtrack genres. The opener “Bootlegger” is a large anthemic song that sets the tone for the rest of the album. There are country touches as well here to welcome all lovers of music to the party. “Make Love” is more of a straight ahead alt-rock track while “The Open Road” harks back to the folk rock of the late 80’s. The album takes an interesting turn with “Rebel Man Pt 1” which is a beautiful piece of music that would fit well in the soundtrack of an emotional indie film. We come full circle with the closing track “Seattle Drinking Song” with its group chorus and welcoming feel. Discover the band for yourself at: http://whiskeynrye.com/ - Indie Band Guru

Seattle, Seattle. Your people have so much enthusiasm when it comes to their city! But who can blame them? Macklemore and Ryan Lewis are polishing four Grammys, Russell Wilson’s got some fresh Super Bowl bling to take care of and it has to be said that the little sea town in the Puget Sound has got some kinda magic going for it this year. Seattle-based rock band, Whiskey N’ Rye are yet another success story bursting to be told. They’re eponymous debut album is a soulful effort that is a pleasure to listen to and, like any proud product of the northwest, never forgets its roots.

As an album, Whiskey N’ Rye stares the world down from the perspective of an adventurer. On the album’s first track, “Bootlegger”, the band explores a deep yearning to get out and affect the world with the imperative lyrics, “gotta run before we run out of time”. There is an innate tension that resides with the song as well. The singer describes his new found freedom on the 6am train out of town with the pained paradoxical expression, “Never did it hurt so bad/ Never have I felt so free”.

That special kind of tension seems to permeate the entire album. It allows Whiskey N’ Rye to explore what it feels like to chase one’s life experiences at full ramming speed. “Make Love” for example, is a song about the hunt for the perfect woman. In the world of Whiskey N’ Rye, that woman just happens to be “a little crazy” and sends seductive mixed signals as a matter of course. “Rebel Man pt. 2” tells story about the inspiration and motivation in the face of a life that “pulls you apart into a million pieces that never fit quite back”. It’s a rough reality that anyone willing to actively pursue his or her dreams has to face at some point. Listening closely to the tail end of the track reveals some the band’s thought-provoking questions on what can happen when that level of restlessness is present at a societal scale as well. There’s definitely a lot of food for thought here.

The musicality of the album is definitely another one of its strong suits. From the stalwart violin counterbalancing a fluttering piano on “Rebel Man, Pt. 1” to the “Seattle Drinking Song” with its humorously aching fiddle, the instrumentation of “Whiskey N’ Rye is a real mood setter. The majority of the album holds closer to more of a roots rock feel, with head-banging drums, swirling electric bass and guitar riffs. It’s the kind of music that would set either a big backyard party or a big outdoor festival on fire, sprinkled with just the right tracks (hear “Until The End”), to make you want to put your lighters in the air and wave ‘em like you just don’t care. The album has a vibrant, energy that is great to listen to. Rock on guys! You can officially count me as a passenger on the 6 a.m. Whiskey N’ Rye train. - Digie Indie

‘Bootlegger’ is laced with lap steel, harmonicas, and cowboy boots. It’s an uplifting tune that you’ll want to add to your summer playlist, and ticks all the right boxes when it comes to bluesy rock.

‘Make Love’ heads in a grittier, moodier direction, with a driving guitar section that explodes into an exciting lead part which isn’t without its occasional surprises.

‘Until The End’ brings things down a little, with a more stripped back acoustic flavour. There’s a bit of a Ryan Adams vibe – the track wouldn’t be out of place on ‘Gold’ – with gorgeous female backing vocals and a soaring strings section.

‘All I Ask’ has it all – honky tonk pianos, gospel vocals, screaming guitars, and wailing harmonicas. It’s a blues number that pulls out all the stops that delivers on every level and is impossible not to enjoy.

‘Come Back Home’ continues the driving road-trip tunes – namechecking the band along the way – while ‘Rebel Man’ parts 1 and 2 create a sprawling epic vista that builds and builds as its story unfolds.

The album concludes with ‘Before The Cock Crows’ – a guilty pleasure of hair-metal, with its tumbling drums and squealing guitars – and a final sea shanty, ‘Seattle Drinking Song’ for good measure.

Whiskey N’ Rye deliver tunes in spades, and their debut album is well polished. Check it out. - Cross Radar

Anyone who claims that rock and roll isn’t what it used to be clearly hasn’t heard of these stunning musicians. Whiskey N’ Rye, roar with their unique fusion of roots, hard edge rock and Americana. Probably the most compelling quality of this band is how seamlessly they stay true to a pure, old school sound while keeping their music relevant to today’s listeners.

Whiskey N’ Rye is great to clean to, listen while drinking coffee, cruising on the road, or hanging out with friends at a party. The rich vocals and from the gut playing, will remind you of a past somewhat lost, but longed for in our reincarnations of the musical eras that came before us.

It was with some trepidation that I played the album for the first time. Was this going to be just another indie rock band that had one great song but not much else? One listen was enough to get an answer: Clearly not. Yes, most of the attention is on the singer. Philip Lindholm is terrific, but make no mistake, this is a real, very tight band.

Considering the constant stream of drivel that the pop music market offers us, this is honest American rock music with soul. The band is stellar and the songs are phenomenal, just take a listen to standouts “Bootlegger”, “Until The End”, “All I Ask”, “Come Back Home”, “Rebel Man Pt.1” and “Rebel Man Pt.2”.

There is no doubt that this album is a winner on many levels. Philip’s voice grabs you by the short and curlies and doesn’t let you go until the end of this intense 10-track sonic blast. These folks are not one-trick ponies. To be honest I’m almost surprised that this band is not receiving the press they deserve. But then again, their sound is just so far on the opposite end of the music spectrum from the majority of Autotuned releases today, that I expect to see them fly fiercely under the radar for a while.

The album is great, not a bad song on it. All parts of a song, not just a good guitar solo or catchy vocal hook, are what makes really good music and Whiskey N’ Rye definitely show their talent for building great music in this album.

Whiskey N’ Rye offers a rich Americana sound beyond the pop slog that is on the radio today. Enjoy the whole album! - Independent Music News