Graveyard BBQ: ‘Rx For Sx’

GRAVEYARD BBQ
Rx FOR Sx
Released May 25, 2016 (Dirtcore)

Review:
Graveyard BBQ is, essentially, one guy originally from Waltham, Massachusetts, USA who relocated to Los Angeles, California to chase his dreams. Brownbag Johnson writes the songs, plays all the instruments, and sings his ass off on Rx For Sx. That’s impressive enough, but he also does that on the previous three released EPs, The Raw, the Rippin’, and the Righteous (2013), The Road That Lies Ahead, (2014) and Creamskull Boogiez (2015). Rx For Sx is the fourth in a quadrilogy of EPs which cover themes of booze, rock and roll, blues, and, in the latest case, sex. Sleaze Roxx recently interviewed Brownbag Johnson about the latest EP and a bunch of other stuff as well.

Let’s take this EP in order. “Interlube” is 49 seconds of really nothing except a female pleasure palace. Graveyard BBQ often has intros, but this one is uninspiring. It doesn’t even serve as a good intro to the blazing “Gimme Some Sugar, Mama”. This is just a great song with cool vocals and an interesting guitar line. No more cowbell needed. Brownbag is indeed the “Hotdog Man”, which is the next song on the EP. It is a combination of Muddy Waters’ “Hoochie Coochie Man” and Van Halen’s “Ice Cream Man.”  A really fun blues tune with a wicked slide guitar and unique drum line.

“Organ Grinder” also uses a slide, a talk box, and an organ for another big sounding blues rocker. “Entresmission” is a fun little filler bit that has Big Willy, the international moustache rideoff, and a 976 hot chick offering five cents to “Ride The Stache”.  This track first appeared on Graveyard BBQ’s Greatest Hits Volume II and has been reprised here as the introduction to “Ride The Stache.”  “Stache” is a great blues/hard rock song that doesn’t take itself seriously. It has become one of Graveyard BBQ’s best known songs over the years. Finally on the EP is one in a long tradition of Brownbag Johnson‘s attempts to make a cover sound bigger than the original. Taking on “Fire” by Jimi Hendrix is a tall order and, for a one man band, he pulls it off pretty well. I hear lots of emotion and energy in the professional mix.

It is difficult to take Rx For Sx in totality, without considering what has come before. Graveyard BBQ describes itself as “dirtcore” – mashing together blues and heavy metal – with a whole lot of success. It’s been a week now and I can’t stop hitting shuffle on the whole discography. Rx For Sx is a “Strongly Urge” to check out, as is all of Graveyard BBQ’s back catalogue.

Track List:
01. Interlube
02. Gimme Some Sugar, Mama
03. Hotdog Man
04. Organ Grinder
05. Entresmission
06. Ride The Stache
07. Fire

Band Members:
Brownbag Johnson – vocals, all instruments

Additional Musicians:
Scott “Howlin’ Jack” Campbell – additional vocals (6)
Lili – BBQ girlz backup vocals (6)
Karen – commercial bits (5), BBQ girlz backup vocals (6)
Melanie Gentile – BBQ girlz backup vocals (3)
Big Bill – commercial bits (5)
Dougman – commercial bits (5)
Matt Odabashian – organ solo (4)

Production:
Produced by Brownbag Johnson
Co-produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by Chris Collier (1-5, 7)
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Jim Foster (6)

Band Websites:
Official Website
Facebook

Reviewed by Metal Mike for Sleaze Roxx, July 2016

Graveyard BBQ‘s “Organ Grinder” song:

GRAVEYARD BBQ – ORGAN GRINDER

featured on the Graveyard BBQ E.P Album, “Rx for Sx” (2016)”Organ Grinder” was written & performed by: Brownbag Johnson of GRAVEYARD BBQ. Copyright 2016. DIR…

Graveyard BBQ‘s “Fire” song:

GRAVEYARD BBQ – FIRE (JIMI HENDRIX- COVER)

featured on the Graveyard BBQ E.P Album, “Rx for Sx” (2016)”Fire” was written by: Jimi Hendrix, copyright 1967.And, performed by: Brownbag Johnson of GRAVEYA…