Sure Fire
Groove – EP #1 (Independent)
Sure Fire Groove are a four-piece folk-blues and
Americana outfit from Chicago. Their loose, relaxed style seems to have evolved
from multiple sources, from contemporary roots acts like The Avett Brothers and
Simon Felice’s various projects to Southern rock bands like the Allmans and the
Black Crowes; their English counterparts, the Stones and Faces, together with a
hint of Grateful Dead. That’ll be manna from heaven for many listeners, and
Sure Fire Groove do everything possible to live up to expectations.
“EP #1” provides a three-track primer for the new
album they’re currently recording (their debut album “Wooden Horse” was
released in 2008), and does more than enough to whet the appetite and leave us
wanting more. The band has been together for a decade, playing more than 300
gigs, and that experience shows throughout the collection. Vocals entwine and
harmonize beautifully, and the musicianship is subtle though never underplayed.
All three tracks are excellent. Opener “Got to Get to Heaven” is a muscular
blues-rocker, which recognizes that its power lies in its restraint rather than
slash and burn theatrics. Middle cut “Sit” arrives on acoustic guitars, superb
vocals and undeniable pop hooks – it’d sound wonderful on the radio. Concluding
with “Call the Captain”, its folk-rock vibe and
upbeat acoustics are a joy to hear, and it might just be the best thing on the
record – by a cat’s whisker.
Phil S.
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