Hillstomp, one of Portland’s finest bluesy punk bands, made a stop in Talent Oregon at The Talent Club during a recent tour in support of their new release ‘Monster Receiver’. To be honest, I wasn’t sure how they’d be received in such a small town in Southern Oregon.. but low and behold fans drove in from all over and literally packed the house. Hillstomp put on an impressive show that included many innovative type homemade noise makers that they’ve become known for such as buckets, chains, car parts, and a washboard, just to give an idea. Their downright gritty and high energy show had everyone on their feet dancing and singing along.. with a mosh pit to boot. If you get the chance to see Hillstomp, do it now before the venues get larger because this is one of those bands that I can see exploding on a grander scale.
Hillstomp’s new release ‘Monster Receiver’ was recorded by Juniana Lanning and John Shepski at Fluff and Gravy over the spring of 2018, the album finds the band challenging the stereotypes once again. Producer, John Shepski, and mixing engineer, John Askew (Richmond Fontaine, Laura Gibson, Wild Flag) teamed up to drive the Hillstomp sound into more experimental territory. The drums and guitar are pushed to the limit on screamers like “Hagler” and “Snake Eagle Blues”, while the gentler sounds in “I’ll Be Around” and “Dayton, Ohio” seem to stop time for a few minutes. Featuring guest appearances by Anna Tivel on violin, Erik Clampitt (Hook & Anchor) on pedal steel, and David Lipkind (I Can Lick Any Son of a Bitch in the House) on harmonica, the record flows seamlessly between grungy folk, garage rock, and tender ballads. Dare I say that there’s even a disco/funk number buried in there that feels right at home. (Hillstomp bandcamp)
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