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August 1, 2005 3rd Coast Music 3rd Coast Music - ..103/192 August 2005 DeSOTO RUST (self ****) Very disarmingly, these Philadelphia-based roots rockers don't dream of world domination, they're perfectly happy to share the Delaware Valley. "American roots music is making a strong comeback," says lead guitarist David Otwell, "and we want to be one of the bands making it happen in this area." However, with a distinctive sound and three members who can sing and write strong songs, Otwell (one), rhythm guitarist Ray Hunter (seven) and bass player Mike Simmons (four), with drummer Dave Reeve staying in the background, they deserve to be more ambitious. Simmons, who also produced and mixed, wrote the standouts, 100 Year Flood and For What It's Worth, but the material, all original except for Red Simpson's Close Up The Honky Tonks, hits a very high standard for a band that's barely a year old but which can sound like The Band at its best. - John Conquest June 20, 2005 Roots Music Report DeSoto Rust drives their music home on this CD. This band has everything necessary to place a major dent into the Roots Rock music genre with the release of this album. This is cool ass Roots Rock music with a distinctive sound that will turn heads anywhere this album is heard. DeSoto Rust release a high-spirited album that presents a sound only DeSoto Rust can deliver and this is what every band looks for in a new release. June 15, 2005 Freight Train Boogie DESOTO RUST DeSoto Rust... (DSR Music) I liked this CD from the opening Credence-like guitar chords. Singer Ray Hunter has a deep, resonant voice and his songs an edgy, roots rock feel. But this is a band with more than one card up its sleeve, as bass player Mike Simmons also contributes more countified rock songs and (quirkier) vocals. The two styles make for a more extensive sound and assure that the simple, twangy guitar/bass/drums sound never gets dull, with sparser tunes such as Simmon's [sic] "Kansas City 6 am" and "100 Year Flood" co-existing with Hunter's grittier "Stronger Than The Knife" and the opener "Morgan Rhule". Things get a little thin when they try out some straight country ("Jim Beam", "Close Up The Honky Tonks"), but Desoto Rust is a vital band with a lot to offer. Philadelphia has been sending some fine Americana music out into the world as of late and this independent release is no exception. Released late 2004, reviewed by Michael Meehan. March 7, 2005 Americana UK Philly Band Try to Keep the Twang Torch Burning. Here’s a find, sneaking out as a self released album sold by the band, DeSoto Rust describe themselves as a "twang band” with a mission to bring back roots-rock music in their area (Philadelphia, if you ask). And by any yardstick they generally succeed with an assured sound and songwriting that is way above what one generally expects from a band with no label backing. The album jumps out of the starting gate with “Morgan Rhule”, a hard rockin’ train song with the singer “Cursin’ and a drinkin’, sweatin’ and a bleedin” while shovelling coal on a train with the eponymous hero. Immediately the band sound like a cross between Creedence and Steve Earle with powerful drawled vocals and a killer riff. Several other songs continue in this vein with stories of hard drinking men, hard luck stories and trucks, with great riffs and roaring vocals. Standouts are “Can’t Sleep at Night” where the bass guitar propels the tune as if it’s barreling down the highway and “Austin Lights” where lyrics such as “And they try to push that kodachrome, Shootin’ blanks and changin’ robes, It’s black and white to me” are enigmatic and evocative at the same time. Many bands would be content to fill their album with such fare but DeSoto Rush can tap into a more reflective and laid back style also and these songs are the icing on the cake here. “For What It’s Worth”, with female harmonies by Christine Havrilla, is a jaunty lament by two ex-lovers looking back on a relationship with excellent country fiddle playing as the pair duet like some rhinestone sparkled couple. Best of all is “100 Year Flood”, a story about the perils of living by a river (The Mississippi?) and having to watch the water level, knowing that one day your life’s work could be washed away. Here they sound almost like The Band in their heyday. The album finishes with the one cover, a nice bar band rendition of “Close Up the Honky Tonks”, exit, heads held high. With two vocalists to add light and shade and some very assured playing the band sound confident and deserve to be heard. For a self released album this is mighty impressive and deserves to find a wider audience than the lucky ones attending their concerts. © 2005 Americana UK Sunday, February 27, 2005 South Jersey Courier-Post © 2005 Courier-Post/Gannett Newspapers
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