Detroit, MI-based group The 3148s has just independently released a string of three new singles culling from firebrand punk and good old fashioned roots rock. The four-piece have been together since the summer of 2015 and consists of Ian Coote (vocals/guitar/miscellaneous instruments), Jason Seifert (bass), Greg Jones (guitar/vocals) and Tom Jones (drums). Apparently, their band name is derived from a legal code, which makes sense since 75% of these musicians are also lawyers.
Hailed by Upstream Indie as “relatable” and “discussing the struggles of modern times with a fun, yet classic feeling,” their new material is a throwback to the days of Counting Crows, The Tragically Hip and Hootie & the Blowfish. Laid-back guitars and crispy drum tones lay the foundation for The 3148s’ (pronounced “thirty-one forty-eights”) varied sound. The band members themselves state that they’ve played a bunch of bars in their home state, so to say that it sounds like something a bar band would put out is very much a compliment in this case. On “Saratoga Ave,” the guitars and bass complement each other nicely, and while the main hook is mainly a drawn out “Yeah” followed by “Aw haw,” it’s a hook that suits their sound well.
Next up, we have “Guillotine.” It begins with orchestrated fiddle that sounds akin to “Nothing Else Matters” by Metallica, but then the heavy drums come in and wow, talk about a swerve! The bass gets fuzzier and adopts a Peter Gunn-centric melody, whereas Coote’s delivery picks up plenty of the energy necessary to make this fast-paced punk song work. “You’ve got the crown / We’ve got the guillotine” goes the grim lyrics of this second song. It’s almost as if this is by a different artist, but the chorus still has that rootsy flavor at its core.
Finally, “Picture of You” is The 3148s’ most bluesy offering. Coote’s higher register sounds great during the chorus, his words sounding quite spiteful of someone he used to know from high school. He and Greg Jones let it rip with the electric guitars, especially during the solos, and Tom Jones once again hits it out of the park with excellent drum flows. This is one of those songs where the influences can be clearly heard, even though they’re morphed into a style that sticks out on its own.
With these three songs, The 3148s have done a remarkable job of honoring their biggest inspirations by filtering roots rock through other genres. Give this a listen. Recommended.