The Lonely H, Concrete Class

If you miss the classic rock of the ’70s before it got caught up in the hit-making machinery of AOR radio, or you recently discovered the musical gems hidden in your parent’s album collection, then Concrete Class, by The Lonely H, is an album you’ll want to hear. Released in June of this year, the band’s relentless tour schedule over the past three years shows through in the road-weary wisdom and yearning of its songs. So does the influence of the music they’ve been listening to while traveling, which includes country legends Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash. Even if you’re not that into country, though, don’t head for the door just yet. The country influences are unmistakable, but the album is through and through good-time rock ‘n roll, bringing in the best of greats like The Band, The Faces, and The Eagles, with echoes of southern-fried rock like The Allman Brothers and The Marshall Tucker Band.

Listening to these guys, it’s impossible to tell that the oldest member of the band is a mere 21 years old. Mark Fredson is also the tallest, a 6′ 7″ lead singer with an amazing set of pipes. Ben Eyestone is the drummer, and brothers Eric and Johnny Whitman are the guitarist and bassist, respectively. With talent to spare, they’ve managed to take their many classic rock influences and make them into something all their own, a heartfelt and authentic rock and roll that sounds almost time-warped straight from the ’70s.

Songs like “Cold Blues,” “Going Out West,” and “Other Side of the Water” are standouts and provide the foot-stompin’ get-up-and-boogie energy of the album. “Singer” shows a more mellow side, definitely influenced by The Eagles, and “Phoenix” is a lament about missing a lover that calls up those aforementioned southern rock influences. Another favorite of mine is “The River,” a stripped-down song with just acoustic guitar and some sweet, sweet harmonies. The whole album hangs together very well and has a warm, approachable sound, no doubt helped by the fact that the band recorded the whole thing in analog without any digital influences until it was pressed to CD.

This is feel-good music for warm summer days and cool summer nights. So tilt yourself back in your chair, kick up your feet, and let The Lonely H rock your soul. Better yet, get your sweet self to Rudyard’s Friday, August 14 and boogie with the band live. This is definitely one you don’t want to miss.