For those just tuning in, “Highwater Haulers is a New England rock and roll outfit starring Meaghan Casey on rhythm guitar and vocals, Taylor Brennan on electric guitar and vocals, Alfie Purcell on bass and Ryan Jackson on drums”. That’s according to their bio and, in all of our years doing this, we don’t think we’ve EVER seen the members of any band referred to as “starring” in and we think that’s the coolest. Also the coolest? The unique hybrid sound that the quartet bring to their debut full-length Puncher’s Chance.
The title track is striking and immediate with the dual vocal attack of Meaghan Casey and Taylor Brennan colliding immediately followed by the full force of Brennan and Casey’s dueling guitars along with Purcell’s bass and Jackson’s drums backing it all up to make the opening driving ditty an enrapturing one. On that note, “Line Up” is shimmery and glistening with a tubthumping kind of stomp from Jackson as Casey delivers one of many a compelling tale to be found on Puncher’s Chance as “Soul to take” follows suit offering similar sonic stories peppered with some Alternative Twang.
“Girl Named Sin” is an acoustic-driven bluesy number that’s sobering and somber yet soulful with that way that Casey yields the mic while “Highway Crosses” is in a constant state of thunderous rhythmic rumbling from Purcell and Jackson. Brennan handles the lead vocals for “Too Tired” with airs of late ’80’s Tom Petty, “Glow” gets the banjo going for a sweet and serene soliloquy, and “Roots” doubles down on Casey being the Highwater Haulers’ own soulful songstress with the way her voice exquisitely weaves in and out of the sonic fabric that Brennan, Jackson, Purcell, and Casey collectively conjure.
If you like it fast then “Housefire” is for you with a Rawkin’ track that’s just as much a modern Rockabilly jam as it is a Guitar Gods’ delight thanks to Brennan’s solid shredding and then “Fall into the Wind” wraps up the Puncher’s Chance fervor with a nice little bow on this solid closing piano-laden anthem.
Puncher’s Chance makes its’ way to your earholes on March 22nd and you can be the first on your block to hear all the new tunes when you head to Highwater Haulers’ main site here. For more from Highwater Haulers, including upcoming live shows like the big one coming up on May 25th at Boston Calling (!!!), follow them across the information superhighway by clicking here or here.