Gary Hiland Trio – Catch Me
Moondog Music – MOONCD2603 [2026]
Rock On – Devil In High-Heels – Catch Me – Tomorrow – Dirty Stroll – Keep Movin’ On – Easy And Free – Don’t Say No – I Don’t Mind – Gipsy Woman – It’s A Shame – Make With The Lovin’
There are two ways to approach Rockabilly and Rock’n’Roll. Both have their merits and are equally valid, although they are radically different. The first is to follow the path laid out by the genre’s illustrious creators and try, within those rules, to contribute one’s own, more or less modest, contribution. The second, more perilous, is to say, “Come on, old man, let’s see what you’ve got!” and take music that’s over 70 years old as a starting point to push the boundaries and create something new. Fewer people take this path because it’s easier to go off the rails (to take the metaphor to its logical conclusion). Among the resounding successes of this type of approach are, of course, the Stray Cats, notably with the superb Choo Choo Hot Fish, or the Black Crabs, to name just two examples. It is this second option that the Gary Hiland Trio has chosen.
The group consists of Gary ‘Kari Kunnas’ Hiland on vocals and guitar, Tommy Dahlstrom on drums, and Janne Anttonen on double bass. They have previously played in the Hi Fly Rangers, Daryl Haywood Combo, Maibell and the Misfire, the Cosh Boys, the Toreadors, Husky and the Sandmen, and Hi-Speed Rockets. It is this rich experience that allows the members of the Gary Hiland Trio to draw on all their resources to deliver a truly exciting gumbo. On this album, traditional rockabilly rubs shoulders with more neo-rockabilly tracks, and you’ll find a menacing instrumental alongside songs with a stronger country influence. The band’s only criterion seems to be, “Does it sound good?” But what makes the result so exciting is not a juxtaposition of styles, but rather an assimilation aimed at creating a style unique to the group. And believe me, it works! Add to that perfect musical mastery and solid compositions and you’ll quickly understand why this album should quickly find its place in your collection.
Buy it here.
Fred “Virgil” Turgis
