Rock Is The New Roll

Here are five new artists who are in heavy rotation in the halls of Rock is the New Roll H.Q.

John R. Miller

Cutting his teeth playing with guitar bands in the Shenandoah Valley, John R. Miller soon added the fiddle to his oeuvre which started his Americana journey. His grit, storytelling acumen, and countrified sensibilities are on full display on his latest record, The Great Unknowning.

These Wicked Rivers

Shades of Deep Purple, these Derby-based riff machines deliver a swagger that is palpable. Their upcoming record, Fire and Folklore., should be a scorcher. Coming from an ethos just before grunge scorched the earth, consider them living proof that the guitar solo in rock bands is alive and well.

Ghosthounds

The rustling of the leaves that you are hearing is the buzz surrounding this band of newcomers that combine an outlaw heft with a lead singer with soulful pipes that brings to the mind’s ear the devil child of Darius Rucker and Sam Cooke. The new record, Justified, comes out in August.

Zac Schulze Gang

Their cover of Tony Dowler’s Robert Johnson inspired “Hellbounds On My Trail” tells you all you need to know about this band and their reason for living. Brash, swinging hard and chest out is the way they go about their business.

Sam Elmore

Once a fixture on the D.C. punk scene, Sam Elmore turned his skills to a more eclectic Americana, Roots Rock bent. Think The Hold Steady with a side order of the Waterboys with some serious songwriting chops.

His latest long player, It’s All On Fire, is out now.