Some days I wish I’d been born a few decades earlier. There was a time when you could turn on the radio and hear excellent music from all walks, instead of the focus-grouped crapola that gets shoveled through the airwaves these days. Now, unless you want to consume what’s being spoonfed to you, it is necessary to go out into the world and search out the good stuff yourself. Thank the lizard for the internet. Allow me to point you in the direction of Sons of Roswell, fellow searchers.

These four fellas from Muscle Shoals play the best authentic rock music I’ve heard in a long time. They’ve got power and attitude to spare. Formed in 2005 in the sweat-soaked interior of an auto-body shop, Sons of Roswell have quickly become one of the rising stars of today’s rock n’ roll scene. With a comfortably classic sound that’s also got a fresh taste to it, they’ve been storming down doors in the South East, and people are beginning to take notice. They were Coke’s “Artist of the Month” last year, though they didn’t receive any free cokes. What’s up with that Coca-Cola? The least you can do is keep your bands caffeinated! They’re currently engaged in a regional tour, and will be stopping in Birmingham a few times. I got their self-titled LP at a Bottletree show a few weeks ago, and I don’t foresee removing it from constant rotation any time soon.

The disc is frontloaded with tasty grooves and memorable hooks. It’s got the riffs and it’s got the melodies! There really isn’t a song that I dislike on the album, though it gets a little muddy in the middle. It’s got what counts though, a kick-ass start and a strong finish. The best of the bunch is a feel-good track called “Losin’ My Mind”, and I’ve been waking up with it already stuck in my mind. Singer Kevin Keenum can vault his pipes up into the Robert Plant stratosphere, but he’s also a smooth crooner. Either way, he sings the lyrics as if his soul depended on it, and why shouldn’t he, he wrote ‘em. I’ve had enough of these whiny indie vocalists who sound bored with themselves. The rest of the band ain’t no bunch of slouches either. Jay Burgess can lick it up with the best of ‘em, and Chris James holds down the low end while holding up the melody. I’ve loved melodic bass lines since I heard the Kings of Leon do it, and Chris pulls it off well. Pulling it all together is J.D. McCorkle. McCorkle plays the skins with such wild abandon I was afraid his arms might detach, but he kept it tight the whole time! That’s just what I like to see in rock drummer. In short, all pieces of Sons of Roswell are breaking it down in full tilt mode. You owe it to your hear-holes to get out to see them as soon as possible.

Good thing they’re playing this Sunday at The Nick then! The show starts at 10 p.m., and I don’t want to hear any whining about having to work in the morning. If you absolutely must miss it, and I’m talking family emergency here, than you can come out to The Nick on February 23. That date is a Saturday, so you’ll really have no excuse. See you at either, cause I’ll be at both.

This post was written by Sam George and brought to you by r3vrb.com and the color blue.