Roadcase
Royale - Get Loud
One
gets the feeling listening to “Get Loud”, the first single from Roadcase
Royale, that this is a perfect song for this moment in time. The new band,
featuring the talents of vocalist Liv Warfield (Prince’s New Power Generation
band) and guitarist/songwriter Nancy Wilson (Heart) brings together top shelf
talent in a band that sounds much more organic and natural than assembled.
There’s a glow of true inspiration burning off this material and the production
captures that glow with a crispness and sense of balance that makes it an
invigorating and entertaining listening experience from the outset. Joining
Warfield and Wilson in the band are the touring musicians from Heart’s current
incarnation – bassist Dan Rothchild, keyboard player Chris Joyner, and drummer
Ben Smith. Warfield’s musical direction Ryan Waters completes the six piece on
lead guitar. This unique confluence of talents produce a song that is fresh and
yet distinctively recognizable; they fuse light guitar powered rock with light
strands of R&B to magnificent effect. Let’s hope, side project or not, that
a band this good stays together for a long time to come.
Liv
Warfield really owns this tune. Her singing prowess never relents and guides
this song in such a way that it sounds like she’s been waiting to sing this
song all her life. Her voice never tackles a line the same exact way twice and,
instead, she responds to each music moment with artistry that’s impossible to
ignore. Warfield never overshadows the arrangement and players entirely; instead,
she sings as the singer in a band rather than a vocalist soloing with
incidental accompaniment. The lessons she learned during her time with Prince,
life, and a career since then serves “Get Loud” well and the exuberance she
brings to every line makes the song’s message all the more inspiring and
convincing.
The
lyrics are never preachy, never heavy handed, and make their point in direct
language. “Get Loud” is about making sure the world hears your voice and it has
an across the board application – this is just about resistance, it’s about
asserting your identity and refusing to be anything else than who you are and
what you believe. The musical backing for this is ideal. The rhythm section
work allows Warfield to exert her influence over the verses and the entire band
comes together for an amazing chorus. Wilson and Waters play great together –
as a longtime Heart fan, this might be one of the best pairings on guitar Nancy
Wilson has ever enjoyed. The aforementioned rhythm section creates a great groove
for the song and, undoubtedly, it makes Wilson and Waters’ job all the more
easier. This band couldn’t have asked for a better debut. Roadcase Royale is a
band with legs, not some lark intended to consume time between Heart tours, and
Liv Warfield deserves the moment in the spotlight that this band promises to
bring her. “Get Loud” will be exactly what the band’s growing fan base will do
with further singles.
Scott
Wigley
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