Music review: Roadcase Royale – 鈥楩irst Things First鈥�
When you pair the rock edge of Heart鈥檚 Nancy Wilson with the commanding and passionate vocals of former Prince鈥檚 New Power Generation backing singer Liv Warfield, the results are soulfully electric.
Wilson and Warfield are joined by guitarist Ryan Waters and Heart keyboardist Chris Joyner, bassist Dan Rothchild and drummer Ben Smith to form Roadcase Royale.聽
The band鈥檚 debut album, 鈥淔irst Things First,鈥� is an engaging blend of pop and rock drenched in smooth R&B flavorings.
鈥淲e will get loud,鈥� declares Warfield on the opener 鈥淕et Loud.鈥�
The powerful track about female empowerment and taking a strong stand for women鈥檚 equality serves as an impassioned introduction for the rest of the tracks that follow.
鈥淣ot Giving Up鈥� upholds the getting loud theme as the guitar-driven number accelerates right from the start with Warfield鈥檚 vocals matching the band鈥檚 musical muscle note for note.
The melodic beauty delivered on 鈥淗old On to My Hand鈥� infuses a familiar hint of vintage Heart on this uplifting arrangement of encouragement and togetherness.
鈥淭he Dragon鈥� features the band rocking at its hardest as the rough-and-tumble number soars and grinds with a hypnotic vibe that conveys the urge to turn the volume up slightly higher than normal.
As an added treat, the album includes Wilson sharing vocals with Warfield on two vintage Heart favorites. 鈥淓ven It Up鈥� from Heart鈥檚 1980 鈥淏ebe le Strange鈥� gets an acoustic overhaul, while the lovely 鈥淭hese Dreams鈥� from Heart鈥檚 self-titled 1985 release takes on a slight country tinge as a result of its new reworking.
鈥淢ind Your Business鈥� is a live track that highlights Warfield鈥檚 playful and sassy side with a firm warning to mind your p鈥檚 and q鈥檚.
鈥淚t鈥檚 gonna be just fine,鈥� assures Warfield on the gentle album closer 鈥淣ever Say Die,鈥� leaving listeners wanting much more.
鈥淔irst Things First鈥� is a bold beginning for a band filled with plenty of promise and heart.
Roadcase Royale has the honor of serving as the opening act for Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band for a scheduled Pittsburgh performance on September 28 at PPG Paints Arena. You won鈥檛 want to miss this show. And as promised, things are certainly going to get loud for sure.
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Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.