In late 2023, then but 20 years old and already touted as a hotshot blues guitarist, Aaron Keylock forswore the axe hero limelight in favour of becoming part of a band. Much against industry advice apparently. Regardless, it’s what he did, forming Silveroller who released one single, ‘Hold’ on Golden Robot Records before deciding that industry model wasn’t for them either, instead opting for independency.
“This isn’t just a band of mates thrown together from the same town, this is a band of folks from all over the country who cover miles to play together, dedicated to the music and each other, with no fixed abode. None of us knew each other before the band,” came the declaration at the time.
“The songs are everything, and we want to take those songs around the world to the rock n’ roll starved folks. We can’t wait to get the record out and let everybody know who we are and what we stand for. If you’re a fan of your rock n’ roll outfits being covered in denim, patchouli and sweat, come and join the travelling rock n roll circus.”
Such was the claim, but reality always worms its way in.
With a line-up of Keylock on guitar, vocalist Jonnie Hodson, Ross Munro on organ, drummer Joe Major and bass player Jake James Cornes (and possibly a short-lived earlier bassist if I recall correctly) that’s the line-up that went out live, not least supporting Jared James Nichols and DeWolff, and the band who recorded this debut EP. Only for Keylock himself to then do a turnabout face, alongside Munroe and Cornes, with it being announced they were being replaced by new guitarist Joey Smith, bass player Dylan Evans, while looking for a new keyboard player ahead of a recent September UK tour.
The reason for the change in personnel, most especially Keylock’s? Something mundane like finding it difficult to live 24/7 with a bunch of guys you’ve got nothing in common with except music perhaps? Music industry economics, especially when you’re starting off, even more likely frankly. How Silveroller move on from here on we’ll see, but the six tracks laid on the At Dawn EP has the band showing early promise.
Oddly, despite describing what they do as being “hi-energy rock n’ roll played with heart and soul, played tight but loose, with the kind of swagger you just don’t hear any more”, the initial impression that opening numbers ‘Black Crow’ and ‘Hold’ offer is distinctly that of early Uriah Heep – Both being heavy on the organ with a touch of melodrama added to proceedings. That stated, Liverpudlian Hodson’s voice has more of a “mockney” attitude, putting him in that Steve Marriott acolyte division and as you listen more closely, yes, should The Black Crowes ever opt for Slade style football chant choruses you can begin to see the influences Silveroller do claim (Bad Company, The Faces and The Rolling Stones and the aforementioned Crowes). Thus, play it a few more times and ‘Black Crow’ comes across with more of a blues bent while ‘Hold’ puts Lenny Kravitz’s ‘Are You Gonna Go My Way’ riff to use on some 70s Stones strutting, alongside some up tempo instrumentalism.
Changing tack, ‘Ways Of Saying’ begins as a carefree ballad, turns up the guitars amid more loud gang vocals and mixes and matches throughout in a raw and pretty exciting manner. While ‘Turn To Gold’ takes on that love-come-lurching dewy-eyed semi-balladeering rock that The Faces could melt a girl’s heart with. Don’t underestimate the deft arrangements in this number, nor Hodson’s vocal pipes as he gives it all he’s got.
‘Other Side’ is a groovy sing-along that adopts a heavier bluesy beat in the chorus, a bit too hippy-dippy at times for some perhaps but it’s worth waiting round for Keylock’s slide guitar solo. ‘Come On, Come In’, a song about surviving despite despair being all around you – it coalesces their stated influences as an emotive ballad that slowly reaches out towards epic grandeur while retaining a rough and ragged troubadour quality about it, while a poignant solo dips in and they also give it a little rhythm ‘n blues rave before coming to a fitting end. That the backing vocals are more tender on this one are also to the song’s benefit, allowing their front man to rage gruffly over those sections in contrast.
“We hope you dig what you hear, and that you come with us on the ride! We wanted to record a snap shot of who we were at the time we went into the studio,” said the band on the EP’s release. Well, if you’re after a raw rock n’ roll outfit pitched somewhere between The Temperance Movement and Reef, this should suit you nicely. It’s hoped the new line-up follows in a similar vein, successfully.
- Review by Paul H Birch.
- At Dawn is available now (from here).
- Facebook | YouTube Channel | Bandcamp
Track List:
- Black Crow
- Hold
- Ways Of Saying
- Turn To Gold
- Other Side
- Come On, Come In
