Sparrow Blue can’t wait to hear (and play) That Rock ’N’ Roll in their raucous, rough-hewn new single and video — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
The Alberta sextet have managed to do something rare: Make old-school rock sound fresh, energetic, and punchy. The result is this rowdy country-rock nugget, the latest single from the band’s 2024 album No Lies, No Tricks. The single captures the pent-up energy and angst the pandemic created for everyone, especially musicians who weren’t able to perform.
“That Rock ’N’ Roll was a direct response to being locked down in 2020,” the band say. “It came from the frustration of not being able to connect with people in a live setting and missing the freeing feeling of a full PA pumping through your body. The song evolved into an anthem of passion and love for live music, our fans, and appreciation that one day we will be on the road again.”
That verve comes through loud and clear. Singer Des Parks’ rusty rasp and slightly southern delivery reach through the speakers to grab your attention. Meanwhile, guitarists Chad Plamondon and Jon Dombroski lay down some rockabilly-ish riffs that keep the lean, mean tune rolling down the tracks and gathering steam. The rhythm section of bassist Caden Doyle, percussionist Russell McCann and drummer Liam Holm hold down the backbeat and groove with sacrificing oomph. Blend of Georgia Satellites, Stray Cats and Guns N’ Roses circa The Spaghetti Incident? and you get the gist:
“I’ll take what I can get cause it’s been a while ya know
The tremble and the shaking when the lights start getting low
I feel it in my heart running rhythms at full speed
Good God, in this moment I’ve never felt so free
I just can’t wait to hear that rock ’n’ roll.”
That Rock ’N’ Roll is just one of the highlights of No Lies, No Tricks album, a record the band describes as a “loose concept of a gunslinger’s journey through time and space while staying relevant to the modern world and the human condition.” The group, who cite classic influences like Mountain, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Led Zeppelin, have shared stages with The Trews, Finger Eleven, The Sheepdogs, Rick Springfield and The Pursuit of Happiness, among others.
Watch the video for That Rock ’N’ Roll above, hear more from Sparrow Blue below, and fly on over to their website, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
