The Cold Year - Live @ KRCL

​The Cold Year

​Live @ KRCL
self-released; 2015

3.5 out of 5

By Ted Rogen
​

The Cold Year comprised of Matthew Skaggs (guitar/vocals), Columbia Jones (drums) and Mitch Shepherd (bass) are a band that did something I thought was pretty inventive in order to get some hype for their upcoming album.

Instead of releasing a couple of songs they decided to release an EP entitled Live @ KRCL that seems like an uncut version of their interview with the DJ at the station as well as a couple of songs they played live. It’s pretty cool in that you do get to know a little bit about the band themselves as well their music.

It starts off with an eighteen-second intro from the DJ basically introducing the band before they play “The Guillotine.” I was digging the groove about thirty seconds in. It moves along slowly with a jazzy vibe. Skagg has a good, arguably a great rock voice. He is quite dynamic and manages to hit all the right notes with the live performance. There is a bit of a White Stripes vibe when the band rocks out in the chorus and the outro contains a solid blue lead. 

The band then gets interviewed for almost seven minutes. This is the break where you learn a little about the band while the DJ tries to pull off some jokes that really don’t land. It’s a good interview but after hearing it once there is really no reason to listen to it again. 

“Nashville's Full” is another slow moving song but I didn’t mind it. Some bands can’t pull off a slow moving mosey vibe but these guys can. I was again impressed by the vocals and in fact the whole band. I didn’t mind the slower tracks one bit but I was glad they ended the session at 90.9 with a faster more upbeat song entitled “Kid’s Last Week” that displayed some of their versatility.  It’s a jangly rock/pop song that gives a tip of the cap to garage rock. 

The Cold Year will be releasing an album in the not too distant future and this little teaser is indicative of good things ahead. Cheers.

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