Hurry Up is the debut full-length album from the crew of A-list New Orleans-based veteran sidemen known as Captain Buckles. It was recorded at the famed Dockside Studio (Dr. John, B.B. King) in Maurice, Louisiana by the renowned engineer, Justin Tocket, and produced by the band. Hurry Up is being released on cassette, digital download, and streaming services on November 14th.
The majority of tracks on Hurry Up are funky, rockin’ instrumentals written by guitarist Alexander Mallet: kickin’, and organic. Captain Buckles takes risks, grooves and moves with powerful chemistry and a punk, irreverent attitude that prompts listeners to feel good to be human. “Bus Station Blues” and “Raindrops on Mardi Gras,” are soulful slinky tunes featuring masterful vocals by keys man Rob Davis. “This Time” is a rock ballad by a close friend of the group, Michael Darby.
After years of incubating, Captain Buckles has found its own trademark sound steeped in the grooves and funk of New Orleans and the elements that make American music emotionally moving and stylistically unique. The band jams hard while emphasizing musical exploration and dynamic subtlety, showing the inspiration from of icons like The Meters, Allman Brothers, and The Band but utilizing those influences to create a style all their own.
The members of Captain Buckles include New Orleans-born-and-raised Rob Davis and Ezell Smith Jr., as well as Los Angeles transplant Smitti Supab, Pennsylvanian Phil Breen, who’ve both played professionally in the Crescent City for 13+ years. Florida ex-pat Alex Mallet is the newcomer of the crew, having arrived a mere eight years ago. Before forming Captain Buckles, the members had performed with each other in various lineups for years between touring as backing musicians with national and international acts like Eric Lindell, Samantha Fish, Russell Batiste, John “Papa” Gros, Glen David Andrews, and many others. They transitioned to working as a distinctive, butt-shaking unit all their own two years ago, a no-nonsense brotherhood of hard-working sidemen, championing good vibes and an intense love of music.
Today, Glide is offering an exclusive premiere of the standout tune “Bus Station Blues.” The song is a slow-burning work of funkified bluesy soul, complete with smoldering guitar and organ. It also serves as a proper showcase for the musical prowess and chemistry possessed by these musicians, who know how to stay faithful to the rich R&B traditions of the city they call home. There’s an ease to the way they cats gel with one another, which surely comes from years of sharing the stage together.
Smitti Supab describes the inspiration and process behind the tune:
“It was really affirming for Rob to share this song with the band, since he wrote it years ago and has been performing it for years but hasn’t released it yet, solo or with any other project. It showed a lot of trust in us and our vision of putting out heartfelt tunes without overthinking, or having an overly loaded agenda. The parts came together pretty quickly in the studio, and everybody said ‘yes’ to any ideas Rob or anyone in the band came up with, and that felt nice and unforced.”
LISTEN:
