Year: 1999
Time: 54:30
Size: 125,3 MB
Label: Mackadoshis
Styles: Roots Rock/Jam Bands
Art: Front
Tracks Listing:
1. Noise Like Tambourines - 4:33
2. Blue Eyes Shinin' - 6:59
3. Step Outside - 5:44
4. Leave That Boy Alone - 4:17
5. Keep on Calling - 5:41
6. Left Hand Strut - 4:43
7. Reverie - 4:48
8. When My Time Comes - 4:22
9. Down the Road - 4:12
10. Lonesome Josephine - 5:16
11. Slide Away - 3:49
Left Hand Smoke's 1999 debut announced the arrival of one of the best unsigned bands in the country. Powered by the punchy lead guitar work of Will Mish and the soul-styled shouting and keyboard playing of his older brother Ben, the band's organic grooves immediately struck a chord with Seattleites craving a return to clean, well-played rock & roll that flew in the face of local indie rock hipsters. Formed in late 1997 while Ben Mish and Ronan O'Mahoney (guitar) were attending the University of Washington, by 2000, Left Hand Smoke began to dominate the Seattle scene, breaking house records at local clubs and generating exuberant word-of-mouth buzz as the next band poised to break out of the Pacific Northwest. A self-produced debut, Left Hand Smoke, began to receive widespread regional airplay after one of its songs, the Allman Brothers-inspired rocker "Blues Eyes Shinin'," was featured on the hit TV show ER. Soon after, the band had their second local hit with "Step Outside," a ballad whose subtle groove proved even more successful. In April 1999, original bassist Chris Jensen left the group. The band continued to tour, hiring musicians by the job throughout 1999, before eventually recruiting the permanent rhythm section of bassist Andrew Scaglione and drummer Andrew Cloutier. Only a few steps from stardom, the band's second album, So Many Faces, appeared in February 2001 to strong reviews.
For a self-produced debut, Left Hand Smoke is a startlingly accomplished record. Driven by Ben Mish's bluesy vocals and the jazzy lead guitar work of his younger brother Will, the band's brand of rock has drawn comparisons to the Dave Matthews Band, although their sound is heavier and owes deeper debts to the classic styles of the Allman Brothers and Rolling Stones. They bring a contemporary edge to those traditions, but in the end what sets them apart is excellent musicianship. For his part, Will Mish is one of the best guitarists ever to emerge from the Northwest. A master of rhythm and Wes Montgomery-style blues, he drives a hard groove that keeps the music loose and exciting, while Ben, a classic shouter with a showman's energy, contributes virtuosic keyboard runs and boogie riffs. While the band's music is largely designed for the dancefloor, its sincerity is compelling, and a handful of inspired ballads are an indication that LHS's vision runs deeper than the average bar band. "Step Outside" explores young love with an anthemic chorus and a soulful touch, while "Slide Away" is a runaway rocker with some classic, powerful slide guitar work. "Blue Eyes Shinin'" was featured on an episode of ER, which helped raise the group's profile considerably. The band is still in an embryonic state here (they had no fixed drummer at the time, and bassist Chris Jensen would soon leave), but, except for a few weak moments, their music doesn't suffer one stitch.
Left Hand Smoke
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