photo by: Julia Sachse

Eastbound EP

Titel: Heading South

Vö: 27.09.2024

Label: EBF Music Records 

Distributor: Time Zone Records

With their impressive live performances and their vast music variety, the Allen Forrester Band has made quite a name for itself and has a large fan community to show for.

Josh Allen and Ben Forrester – two New York based guitarists – are the leader of the pack. Their sound is drenched with classic southern-rock, and they have a magnificent way of transporting this onto stage. Combining both their working tools, together with the other band members they are able to achieve an authentic, full sound image, which from the first note leaves no doubt about this bands’ quality.

It is excactly this sonority that can be found on the bands newly presented live compilation “Eastbound EP”, to be released on 27 September, 2024 as the follow-up to the first live EP “Heading South”, which already elicited quite the excitement among fans.

Next to the already mentioned guitarists and founders of the Allen Forrester Band play Hendrik Herder (bass), and Matthias Böhm (drums), while vocals are being contributed by Josh Allen.

All four songs that are on this EP originate from the band’s debut album “Allen Forrester Band” and were recorded live at the Kulturbastion in Torgau in 2023.

And right from the start the first song to be found on this EP - “Stand up” – underlines explicitly that this band is absolutely on the rise without a doubt. The instant feel of southern reference is underlined with Josh’s concise vocals, which contribute very precise to the catching sound of this band. That initial spark is followed with a fire started together with his guitar twin Ben Forrester, which creates a musical cluster that instantly transports you among rough southern pastures. Lyric wise the song lives from positivity; a request, an invitation to refute the complexity of everyday life, to have goals and pursue them, to liberate affirmative energy.

“Burning daylight” seamlessly continues with the southern feeling, also demanding to use your time wisely, because “otherwise we’re just burning daylight”. Supported by the rhythm department Herder / Böhm, the band managed to create a captivating song structure which doesn’t stand far behind from songs like “All summer long” (Kid Rock), or “Double trouble” (Lynyrd Skynyrd). In the studio recording of “Burning daylight” background singer Jade McRae supported the band, but this catching live performance proofs that it also works without. Bravo!

With a whopping 7:18 minutes „Good situation gone bad” is the longest song on the EP, and provides a lot of space for the virtuosic guitar play of the two main performers - and you didn’t have to ask them twice. An energetic drum solo from the man at the shooting gallery – Matthias Böhm - dominates the final chapter of the track, just as to undisputedly proof why he got the job. The fans at least are noticeably excited.

This brand-new sound carrier is concluded with “Running for your life”, starting off with the creaking and snotting sound of the two 6-strings followed by a vocal opening showcasing Josh’s timbre. This artistic performance clearly demonstrates the band’s musical variety, and underlines its ability to take pole position.

Bottom line: Especially noticeable are the homogenous sound pictures, created by the two guitarists, Josh and Ben, who, combined with the rest of the band, create a southern soaked rhythm ‘n’ blues mix, that will most likely with the next studio album (already in planning) inevitably get on the fast lane.

This mixture of aggravating guitar riffs, driven lyrics and a perfectly coordinated production leaves nothing to be desired on this live-EP “Eastbound EP”. The production is done with a kind of structured clarity without watering down the bands rough, authentic sound.

all photos by: Emanuel Schwarz

Translation: Sandra B.