Review Text
An Introduction: The Walter Michaels Band is loud! Really loud! They are a four man Rock and Roll army. Walter and the band blend blues, classic, southern and country rock to create their own brand of driving rock that is, at the same time, both familiar and unique. To hear their driving rock sound and feel, throw on their CD and turn up the volume. To truly experience their energy and drive, see them live. TWMB have reinvigorated the "Guitar Band". With the combination of not one but two adept guitar players sharing lead guitar duties (and at times trading licks) coupled with the hardest driving rhythm section there is, you have a driving rock quartet to rival all others. The band is equally at home playing a 3 1/2 minute song as they are tearing through a 20 minute jam. Though the band enjoys the studio experience their true passion is performing live. The energy that results from interacting with an audience contributes to the drive the band creates. A fact that has been commented on by fans time and time again, show after show. A Brief History: Walter Michaels began his career writing, recording and performing under his given name Michael Carlisle. In the late 1990's through early 2000's his band Overland enjoyed considerable success being signed to an artist development deal with San Diego, CA based Angelic Entertainment and realizing the release of the bands album "Songs From The Road". In 2002 the track Let You Go received national airplay reaching #26 on the NMW AC Top 40 chart and #98 on the overall Top 100. Around the same time as the band's radio success Scott Combs (keyboard) and Jim Sprague (bass) left to pursue other interests leaving Michael and drummer Rick Fernandez to carry on. Bassist Mike Barry was hired and the band played as a trio satisfying remaining commitments. Long time friend Doug Elliott then took up the roll of bass player as a full time member. Playing as a power trio the band incorporated their blues, classic and southern rock roots to reinvent their sound as a guitar centric driving rock band. In 2003 Michael took the stage name Walter Michaels and re-branded the band The Walter Michaels Band. A short time later the lineup expanded with Doug Elliott switching to rhythm guitar and the addition of Doug Deck on bass. The band continued to develop new material while touring concert halls, open air festival and various benefit shows. In early 2006 drummer Rick Fernandez left the band. Before doing so he found his own replacement, drummer Jan Cocchiara. A short time later, Doug Deck also left the band to take on the roll of manager for the act. Doug Elliott resumed the roll of bass player and Dave Skidmore joined the band on rhythm and second lead guitar thus completing the current lineup of the Walter Michaels Band. The Music: In October of 2006 the band went into the studio to begin work on their first album Road to Redemption. The album was completed in early 2007 and officially released June 1, 2007 (with release on iTunes August 2007). With a total of 16 tracks the band covers a wide spectrum of their driving rock sound including fan favorites of the band's versions of "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" and "Can't You See" as well as a revisit of the Overland tune "Phil's Place". The tracks "Blind Date" and "Ain't No Other Women" show off the band's blues rock side while "What You Believe", "Last One Standing" and "Come On Tonight" highlight the band's classic rock influences. Other songs such as "You Got, I Want", "Deep Blue Eyes", "Life On The Road" and the 10+ minute finale "Sentimental Value" demonstrate the band's pure driving rock / jam band persona. TWMB is best experienced live. The energy of the band's interaction with each other and the audience when on stage is what makes them such a fan favorite. That said, Walter and the guys set out to capture that energy on their current release. Though the current CD is a studio recording the tracks were all recorded live (all members played and sang to
