“In the style of.” Or “trendy.”
That’s what “A La Mode” means. And ye gods, this type of rock hasn’t been more popular in years. Mix Skynyrd and ZZ Top with a dash of country and a bootful of attitude, and you’re somewhere near Hillbilly Vegas.
“Miss America” gets things moving with more classic rock than southern rock, all organ swells, Stonesy swagger in the chorus and then a solo that arrives like Billy Gibbons has just nodded his approval from the corner.
“Down The Honkytonk” is Grand Funk-sized and proud of it. Hillbilly Vegas clearly know it too, given that they’ve rebooted it from the 2024 EP, and frankly, why wouldn’t they? It sounds like it was born to stomp around every jukebox in town.
“Let It Ride” is freedom in song form: a man, the open road and the sense that whatever happens next is probably going to involve petrol, guitars and bad decisions. Then “Every Jukebox In Town” heads straight for the honky-tonk. Can I get a yeehaw? It’s a beauty, and proof that Vegas know country-fried rock ’n’ roll as well as anyone doing it.
“Find Me Yesterday” slows things down into a classic ballad shape, and it suits them because everything here feels sincere. Steve Harris has a proper troubadour voice, lived-in and believable, and he sells it without overselling it.
“Mr. Midnight” is as bluesy as it gets, as if the band are on a mission to cram every ounce of feel they can into three and a half minutes. The piano is truly glorious, and if you can get Paul Rodgers on a track, then there’s a fair chance you’re doing something right.
“Feels Good” has a groove the Allmans would have been proud of, while the soul harmonies are pure Skynyrd. If Hillbilly Vegas have a mission statement, it might just be this. “Something Crazy” gets a little more blue-collar, living for the weekend and all that, while “Bound To Run” brings back the ballad, the cowboy heart and the call of the open road.
“I Hope You Know” is mid-paced, mellow and kinda funky, with backing vocals that show real class, before “Holding On” lets the keys tell the story. There’s a feeling all the way through this record that these boys simply love what they do and play what they love.
You know what? There are loads of bands playing this type of music right now. But you know what else? Hillbilly Vegas know that too. They don’t care. They just love rock ’n’ roll.
And on “A La Mode,” that love is very much in fashion.
RATING: 8.5/10
