From an early age, Henri Herbert was fascinated by the piano-pounding pioneers Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, and Pete Johnson. Born in France and raised in the UK, Herbert broke onto the music scene as a member of the explosive rock revival band, The Jim Jones Revue. After testing the waters with his own band, The Fury, Herbert made the move to Austin, TX to immerse himself in the rich history of American roots music. He quickly moved up the ranks of professional players and made a name for himself. Now a permanent resident of the U.S., he has become one of the most sought-after blues and boogie pianists in the world and tours extensively around the globe.
His new album Get It While It’s Hot (due out November 7th via HH Records / AWAL – PRE-SAVE) is a musical snapshot documenting Henri’s struggles immigrating to the U.S. in pursuit of his own American dream. Putting the piano back into the forefront of rock and roll, this album is a result of playing countless nights in bars refining a sound – all while navigating the system, a pandemic, and a little heartbreak.
The album title is indicative of how fleeting success can be and how important it is to be in the now. Henri’s dream is still in the making, but he’s a little rougher around the edges. “I’m not here to preach or tell tales – this is just my story as I lived it.”
Today, Glide is offering an exclusive premiere of the lead single “Cold City,” which recaps the hardships of following a dream against the odds, the highs and lows of fame, and the sacrifice in taking risks. “The hustle never ends,” says Henri. “Cold cities have been everywhere on my journey. They’re shiny, and that brightness can shine on you when you’re doing well. But when the chips are down, those lights dim, and the temperature drops fast – you’re on your own. But it’s not a pessimistic song. It’s about keeping on during hard times and learning about self-reliance – the hard way.” Musically, this piano-driven barnbarner brings to mind raucous, booze-soaked clubs where the dancing doesn’t stop. Henri’s vocals carry just enough grit, confidence, and rock and roll urgency to somehow soar over the stomping beat and the relentless energy of his piano playing. While comparisons to artists like Jerry Lee Lewis are obvious, this tune captures Henri’s similarity in sound, vision, and persona to contemporaries like Low Cut Connie, JD McPherson, and King Khan & The Shrines. “Cold City” is the kind of song that balances being both a throwback to piano rock and roll as well as being joltingly modern.
Henri describes the inspiration behind the tune:
“This song is about looking back on tough times and my old life as a dock worker in the UK, before I made jump across the pond to immigrate to the US. I put all the anger I had into the piano solo. I wrote this song in Austin together with Kevin Smith.”
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