Alex Brown & the Hepcats – Reckless Ways

The Hellbound Hepcats have been an industrious staple in the Canadian neorockabilly scene for over eight years and approaching four albums.  While they flirted with psychobilly elements for their third album, Turn Me Inside Out, the band’s commitment to old time dance hall rockabilly has been steadfast, and they’ve seldom wavered from their clear mission to reignite the flame of old for an audience of new.  While they may be signed to a label with clear psychobilly leanings, the Montreal trio makes for little comparison with The Creepshow, The Brains, or Raygun Cowboys, instead drawing full inspiration from Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, and Hank Williams, to lift a few inspirations from their website.

For their forth full length, the band has opted to rebrand themselves under the moniker Alex Brown & the Hepcats.  For what purpose does the name change serve isn’t entirely clear (aside from sounding pretty cool, and maybe capitalizing on Alex’s appearance on The Voice Canada), but rest assured the band still makes the same 50’s inspired toe tappers their top priority.  The band’s fourth album (or debut, depending on how you look at it), Reckless Ways, offers up ten new reasons to return to the Hellbound Hellcats for a fourth installment.

Reckless Ways serves up a solid amalgamation of the sound that defined an era, without feeling overly exclusive to any single influence.  For instance, the title track and “Think Twice” both infuse heavy doses of country twang, including a pedal steel and acoustic led foreground that fit perfectly against the thump of Red’s thick upright up bass.  Sometimes they operate just shy of a gunslinger anthem, while during others they’re more of the saloon traveling type, like in the tales of early morning recovery in “Draw the Blinds,” in which Brown describes the consequence of “drinking whiskey to your memory.”  

More readily, the band slips into their rockabilly dance hall shoes with energizing, hip-shaking beats.  Initial single “Twist like Licorice” is a catchy little number boasting bluesy saxophone solos and Elvis inspired energy made to keep a crowd moving.  Big ol’ rockabilly numbers like “Take Me Back” and “What Does It Take” conjure images of polka dot skirts, big red bows, classic cars, drive-ins and dives.  Times may have changed, but Alex Brown & The Hepcats can still take you back, even if you weren’t a resident of the time.

“Shadows” is a curious inclusion early in the record, with Brown adjusting his vocals to a deep and raspy Tom Waits style during a late-track verse.  It’s a shining example of how the band is able to draw upon subtle nuances in an often caricatured 50’s culture, and keep things fresh while staying true to a sound locked in history.

When the curtain calls, you can be rest assured that Alex Brown & The Hepcats has provided a satisfying blast on stage.  Reckless Ways is a highly confident dose of dynamic rockabilly just oozing with style.  From country, blues and swing, to just straight up rockabilly thumpers, Alex Brown & The Hepcats channels the spirit of the past well into the present.