Nobody can deny that at one point in their lives they have indulged in the narcotic like sensation of pop music in its myriad of forms. There’s no doubt that those polished surfaces go down smooth and easy with little or no after taste, but there is something to be said of the musicians from down in Texas who are known for dodging the safety of a formulaic process to concede full submission to “the song” with nothing but the complete faith that it will go where it needs to go. The songs may rebel against your expectations, may have some rougher edges that leave a perceptible trail, but the after taste is really just what you want. A hint, a reminder of an experience not yet over, and it’s that kind of writing that truly brings artist and listener together in a way that becomes a very personal matter. Six Market Blvd. writes those kinds of songs and they are about to establish their stronghold in the independent music scene with the release of their sophomore album SHAKE IT DOWN.
Six Market Blvd. hails from Stephenville, Texas, home of Tarleton State University where Clayton Landau (lead vocals, harmony, rhythm guitar), Josh Serrato (lead rhythm guitar, 12 string guitar, harmony, piano and organ), Ben Hussey (lead vocals, harmony, electric bass, stand up bass) and Dallas Neal (drums and percussion) met and formed the band in 2008. The precise elements needed for a successful recording band they had in spades right from the start: multi instrumentalists, solid songwriting core, fluid song structure and comprehensive harmonies. So, in 2010 they released their debut album RUNNING ON SEVEN, which earned them two Top 25 singles on the Texas Music Chart with “Man Alive” and “Misery And Me.” An additional nod came from the Texas Regional Radio Awards who recently voted them Best New Band. The elements for a successful working band is something they have fined tuned over the years though it seemed for a while they were bringing in just enough to pay their dues. Today the band is setting foot on much bigger stages like the infamous Larry Joe Taylor’s Texas Music Festival and playing alongside of veteran musicians such as Stoney LaRue, Wade Bowen, Jason Boland and The Stragglers, Adam Hood, Brandon Rhyder, Band of Heathens, Micky and the Motor Cars and Reckless Kelly. Now positioned to stake their claim at the forefront of the touring circuit, Six Market Blvd. is ready to SHAKE IT DOWN.
SHAKE IT DOWN produced by Bart Rose and Six Market Blvd. hits the open market on May 22, 2012 and kicks off with the first single “Say It,” a gritty groove infused attitude that heralds the notion that this band was built to perform. On this album no “rock” is left unturned and there are plenty of these gems available like “Mailbox” and “Santa Fe Train,” but the defining aspect of this band is the harmonies and melodic flow that carries you away before you even realize that the lyrics are just as powerful. The solemnity of “Getting Older,” the sweet easy sway of “Still Water Pillowcase” and the wrecking ball that is “In The Name Of Us” will quite literally steal you away into a nostalgia that is comparable to the classic 70’s stylings of bands like America and Pure Prairie League. Then the lyrics emerge and you’re roped and tied. Stories about when love is good, when love is bad, when it’s time to stay and when it’s time to leave are all beautiful renditions of the wonderful life drama that we all enjoy, and bespeaks the comprehensive talents of primary lyricists Clayton Landau and Ben Hussey. The 13 tracks that are presented here is 100% a collective effort by each member of 6MB, and it’s that kind of collaborative commitment that transforms an average band into an eminent presence in the listener’s life.
