Silverhawk

Hangover Bicycle Ride

[MULTIGRAIN POP] Under the moniker Silverhawk, Sam and John Densmore (not the Doors drummer, just in case you were wondering) craft a distinctively millennial brand of Americana—think Mellow Gold-era Beck, minus the ironic rapping. Twangy guitars brush up against glam swagger and an Alex Chilton-ish knack for melody, psychedelic flourishes and lyrics about drinking, being drunk, and dealing with the hangover. MATTHEW SINGER, Willamette Week, Feb 25, 2009

"From start to finish, Silverhawk's “Hangover Bicycle Ride” exemplifies everything that is good about contemporary music. This record pushes the boundaries while at the same time honors the classic rock and roll tradition."
Jeremy Wilson, MastanMusic

"...The long-running band led by the brothers Densmore, Sam and John, are Oregonian through and through, tracing roots to Coos Bay and beyond before a relocation to Portland a few years back. One might say they specialize in the feel-good, with songs with titles like "All the Girls Eat Drugs," and "Drinking Makes Me Feel Better," delivered with between-you-and-me grins."
-Jeremy Peterson, OPB Music Blog and In-House Radio host

"Part acoustic boogie, part bar-rock Beck, “Hangover Bicycle Ride” is 100 percent fun. The Densmore brothers have a knack for adding bells and whistles to their material in a way that’s natural rather than intrusive. The result, while crafted and perfected in the studio, still feels organic."
- Barbara Mitchell, Portland Tribune

"...the band does find that glorious balance of serious playfulness -- as on the brilliant power-pop anthem "Drinking Makes Me Feel Better" (which features an infectious lead vocal by Sam's wife, Laura) and the crunchy T. Rex-influenced "Cry, Cry". -
The Oregonian - Bob Ham - Friday, May 09, 2008

"These tracks sound great. I like the whole low fi analog digital vibe. Organic sounds that are chopped up. Yes!"
Jonathan Plum (co-producer Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains), London Bridge Studios, Seattle, WA



"Portland-based Silverhawk’s third album, “Hangover Bicycle Ride,” is like jambalaya. Instead of Cajun meat and veggies in this pot, however, there is T-Rex jangle pop and Velvet Underground proto-punk, seasoned with Northwest spirit and psych-Americana spices. This album, three years in the making, should kickoff a revival of the cool – for lack of a better word – and concise pop song. But that would require people to start caring about music again (fat chance). “Drive My Ass Around Town” parallels T Rex’s “Monolith”; it’s like Rehab’s “Bartender” song but with some actual sonic gusto backing up the I-don’t-give-a-shit lyrics. Sonic gusto, yeah, that’s what the Densmore brothers (Sam and John) and their band has. Silverhawk gets downright sardonic often. Sometimes the mood is breezy like on “Cry Cry” and sometimes it is accompanied by a big stick, like the one carried on “Die Someday” (a la Morphine). A twangy riff and “shhhhh, ahhhhh” launch the first track, “Golden Screw,” letting you know you’re in for a satisfying affair. The band goes out like a bunch of circus punks on the finale, “Rock N Roll Heart.” “If it’s the drugs and the whores and the voodoo that sets you free / then I say, Amen.” I’m a sucker for good bookends. I’m also a sucker for great, creative and artistic music like “Hangover Bicycle Ride.” " Ossie Bladine, Vancouver Voice, 06/08

Westward

"Why would SilverHawk, a pop rock band that has opened for musicians such as Frank Black and The Posies, create a country album that projects images of cowboys and fugitives hopping freight trains? The concept created a Pavement meets Johnny Cash album, that's why."
Music Emissions

Flowers In June

"Silverhawk will stun you like a beautiful new wave pop sunburst..."
Peter Orlov, CMJ New Music Report