Strange Roux Boogie Man Total Riot Records Strange Roux's debut EP, Boogie Man, serves up a traditional brew of classic Southern rock, made exotic with a spicy seasoning of modern rock motifs. Lead singer Michelle Cunnigham's bluesy vocals are more haunting than soothing, giving the songs a sharper tang than more rootsdriven Southern rock. What really sets Strange Roux apart, though, is their masterfully minimalist use of drum and bass. Tony Frickey (drums) and Eric Burgess (bass) give the songs their pulse, holding the beat at a brisk and continual cadence; stripped down, these two seem more fi tting for a pop-punk act than classic rock. Listen to the drumming during the refrain on the title track, and the bass and drum line on 'Midnight Dancer' and you'll hear it. It is this energetic pop simplicity that allows the complexity of the guitar work to shine. Jason Kareores and John Thompson have a bluesy sound that brings to mind Led Zeppelin- this is best exemplifi ed in the track 'Yellow Moon Blues,' the album's standout track alongside it's eponymous opener. The album's most fun tune is the rabid hard rocker 'Gator Bite,' a fast and furious punk-meets-Southern rock rager. Boogie Man gives a unique update to a classic rock sound. Rather than diluting it's essence like many modern rock efforts, the album's pop sensibilities accentuate the distinctiveness of it's infl uencing style-even giving it a more danceable, indie-rock feel. A solidly conceived fi rst act from an exciting up-and-comer. -Greg Roques Where Y'at Magazine The Roux is the base for many traditional Cajun dishes - a dark, boggy broth that defines the texture and boundaries of a recipe. It's also a blank canvas, given image and intensity by it's unique blend of seasonings. These extracts are often clouded to the eye by the thick, murky march of the sauce... but like a preying alligator lurking in a foggy swamp, the flavors are waiting to sink their teeth in. Strange Roux's swamp rock stew is brewed much like this: a spice rack of musical inspiration - dating from the '30s till today - seasoned in a soup of Southern blues. Where Y'at sat down with to discuss the evolution of the band, their upcoming album, and their insistence on only playing original music. Strange Roux is: Michelle Cunningham - Vocals Jason Kareores - Guitar/Slide Tony Frickey - Drums Eric Burgess - Bass John V. Thompson - Guitar Where Y'at: You guys went through several changes this year. Tell me a bit about where you are now. Kareores: The biggest change was bringing on Michelle as our new lead singer earlier this year. In the two years Strange Roux has been playing, we've only had male vocalists. She's added a whole new personality and feel to our songs, especially the old ones. Thompson: Michelle makes all the difference. Many of our songs start off with a heavy guitar riff... The listener anticipates this heavy, masculine voice. A soulful, feminine voice comes as a surprise... it's a pleasing contrast. Kareores: When we auditioned for a new singer earlier this year, we weren't looking for a female singer. We auditioned maybe eight people before Michelle showed up. She was the first woman, and we knew she was it. WYAT: [Michelle] What is your vocal inspiration? Cunningham: Amy Whinehouse has been a huge influence, that '50s soul sound. I'm also really into '20s and '30s Jazz, singers like Billie Holiday. I didn't take up singing until after college; I got my start performing with New Orleans street musicians... I still do. WYAT: Describe your song writing process. Thompson: It usually starts off with one person - an idea. Someone will come up with a line or a riff, then everyone will experiment and build on it. That's how all the songs end up being our songs - we all add our own flavor to it. It's a layered process. Burgess: We really try to focus on the dynamic of the group. For example, if Tony comes up with a beat, I need to think, how am I going to hold the rhythm? That's where the layering happens. Also, being a roots rock band, it's all about the guitar work. Kareores: The lead sw
