The Bluefields w/Lisa Oliver Gray: at The High Watt (Nashville, TN) Fri. February 22, 2013

The Bluefields w/Lisa Oliver Gray

Pop/Rock

Nashville Scene Critic's Pick …

Composed of three mainstays of Nashville’s rock scene, The Bluefields specialize in post-Beatles, post-Stones rock ’n’ roll. On last year’s excellent full-length, Pure, onetime Georgia Satellites frontman Dan Baird joined Jason and the Scorchers drummer Warner E. Hodges and former Royal Court of China singer Joe Blanton to make a record of stunning formal virtuosity — the oddball licks and solos support equally idiosyncratic songwriting. Powered by a sardonic guitar riff, “Ain’t Nothin’ Wrong” sounds like an especially manic NRBQ homage. Meanwhile, “Repair My Soul” rocks along in sprung rhythm over a relentless drum pattern. Pure is a compendium of rock ’n’ roll influences from 1970 through the late ’80s, although you may hear an early-Beatles reference about halfway through “Ain’t Nothin’ Wrong.” Formalist rock ’n’ roll should always be as funny, charming and savvy as this — these guys make it all sound so easy.

—EDD HURT