Music review: The Georgia Thunderbolts – 鈥楥an We Get a Witness’
Southern rock is still striking all the right notes in the hands of the Georgia Thunderbolts.
The Georgia quintet鈥檚 debut full-length album is a 13-song set that is heavily saturated with a Lynyrd Skynyrd swagger.
鈥淭ake It Slow鈥� is the smoldering opener, featuring a blazing harmonica front and center as lead singer TJ Lyle announces, 鈥淕ot a full tank of gas and I鈥檓 headed down the road.鈥�
Guitarists Riley Couzzourt and Logan Tolbert fuel 鈥淟end a Hand鈥� with an all-out six-string assault that propels a number about being there for each other when times get tough to a fist-pumping intensity that gets the blood flowing and heart pounding.
Rock and blues seamlessly blend on 鈥淏e Good to Yourself鈥� and 鈥淗alf Glass Woman鈥� as the band channels aspects of vintage Free, Bad Company and the Allman Brothers Band.
On 鈥淒ancin鈥� With the Devil,鈥� Lyle warns, 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 keep dancing with the devil and wonder why you鈥檙e still in hell.鈥� Similar to the message of 鈥淟end a Hand,鈥� this number offers up help from the perspective of someone who has lived through the pain and can provide support as well as forgiveness.
The Georgia Thunderbolts pay tribute to the Allman Brothers Band with a scorching cover of 鈥淢idnight Rider,鈥� giving this classic track a heavier feel that shakes the walls and rattles the windows as a gritty modern-day anthem.
The boys prove they can take the foot off the gas pedal and slow it down when needed on the ballads 鈥淪o You Wanna Change the World鈥� and 鈥淟ooking for an Old Friend.鈥�
鈥淐an I Get a Witness鈥� is a fiery arrangement about believing in yourself and ignoring the haters. Lyle takes aim at the critics looking to derail the spirit of the band in the early days when he defiantly proclaims, 鈥淎ll the doubt they had about me/Now they know they were wrong.鈥� It鈥檚 an inspiring message that we can all take to heart when feelings of doubt and failure begin to erode confidence and desire.
鈥淪et Me Free鈥� is a slow-burning closer that features terrific guitar work and impassioned vocals. Lyle once again evokes the charisma of the late Ronnie Van Zant on the track about being free to follow your dreams.
鈥淐an We Get a Witness鈥� is an enjoyable ride that proves the elements of good Southern rock are the same today as they were decades ago.