Credit: Courtesy of the Whiskey Daredevils
One of our favorite local acts, the Whiskey Daredevils have just released their latest effort, American Songbook, and it’s another winner. The disc, the band’s 13th album, commences with the Blasters-meets-Johnny Cash anthem “Big Wheels,” a tune that uses a gnarly guitar solo to show off their heavier side. Other highlights include the twangy surf guitar romp “101.1 Gram Man Bracelet” and the wacky “Bad Times,” a tune that features some sweet pedal steel guitar and hiccuping vocals.

The group recorded the tunes last summer in Detroit at Rust Belt Studios with producer John Smerek. It’s the last record with guitarist Gary Siperko, who left the band in January, and singer Greg Miller maintains the album represents “a collection of songs seeped in the muck of Americana while maintaining the Whiskey Daredevils skewed vision of what rock n’ roll is supposed to be in today’s world.”

The band just got back from a 14-date tour of Germany and Belgium and will have physical CDs on hand when it plays a release party with the Torments and Lords of the Highway at 9 p.m. on Friday, Oct 19, at the Grog Shop. Tickets are $8 ADV, $10 DOS.

This article appears in Oct 10-16, 2018.

Jeff has been covering the Cleveland music scene for more than 25 years now. On a regular basis, he tries to talk to whatever big acts are coming through town. And if you're in a local band that he needs to hear, email him at jniesel@clevescene.com.