The Neybas is another example of what makes Connecticut rock. This particular southern New England band combines elements of funk, jam band, and Americana roots and gathers them into one sold rock sound. Like other Connecticut bands, The Neybas rock right on their own terms, with enough of a wad of originality to keep the listener interested.
Opening track “Are You Ready” takes the concept of catchy rock and roll music to a high level. One can be drawn in by singer Russ Waesche considerate pacing, his backing singers’ quick chorus, pushy guitar chords, and or the rhythm section’s steady pulse of fills and low end thump. One feels oneself moved along by the direct, driving grooves and the upper register lead guitar that rides that rail. It’s is certainly a toe tapper.
“Live It Up” skips to a brisk keyboard and a crunchy guitar rhythm. It moves swiftly from its rhythmic hop to a slippery lead guitar that winds all around a twitchy groove. The listener can appreciate how it’s all layered for a stronger effect or one can follow a single instrument to hear how coolly it moves in and around the spaces left open by this nudge of instruments.
“Billionaires,” a whimsical slap at the oligarchs who want to control everything from the auto industry to space travel, gets its character from the lead vocal charisma and a sense of whimsy.
“Wake The Funk Up” finds all of the band slapping out attractive bits of instrumentation. Guitar synthesizer makes things frisky while a soft keyboard touch inspires a more emotive reaction. A bracing chorus sounds part life anthem, part classic R&B style. It’s a pleasant ride through a bright city when these players unleash their snappy approaches, giving this piece plenty of kick and plenty of soulful appeal.
“Good Stuff” feels as fun as jumping up and down on your bed when your parents aren’t home. Its rocking chair groove is deliciously thick, leaving room on top for a rocking keyboard part. Added interest comes from a jumpy vocal line and an edgy guitar that cuts through the funky atmosphere with an even more fiery burn. There’s a piano line dropping old fashioned rock and roll notes that allure the ears while motivating the feet.
Moving into sweet ballad territory, “Strawberry Moon” is as sweet and gentle as the pedal steel melody singing out behind the lead vocal. Not only does this piece offer a break in the middle of peppy, upbeat songs, it glides into the heart and soul with tasteful aplomb, something we feel moving us along like a gentle arm around the shoulder. Its pretty notes glide like birds with open wings.
“Natural High” builds steadily, from an acoustic rocker to something that takes greater wing, lofty, making the listener feel it’s up swoop with a wide, emotive chorus before getting more lift, more wind under its wings with a candy sweet lead guitar melody and a puff of swirling organ work.
“Mission Control, Are You Receiving?” finds Waesche putting his NASA style language over a rangy pedal steel line. The effect feels large, expansive, like one is truly drifting through the cosmos with zero gravity on the capsule. Its catchy acoustic guitar driven chorus keeps it grounded, down to Earth so to speak, as it all feels tender and isolated. Being lost in space and not in the Dr. Smith kind of way, is an effective metaphor for loneliness and a metaphor for when having company again feels way too distant.
A feisty rocker, “Radio” dances to a pushy groove. Sprinkled with shimmering organ, a bossy electric guitar progression, and an amicable personality voice, it smacks its way forward with a determined pluck. It’s an action packed song that makes one want to dance and sing along to its hefty doses of rhythm guitar and a tasteful lead guitar winding through the fun atmosphere.
“Give Love” combines a sweet lead vocal line with an even sweeter harmony vocal wrapped around it. Well composed, the lilting groove and the tap dancing instrumentation above keep a persistent kick in the middle of everything. Its incisive lead guitar adds another layer of intrigue while the puffs of vocals continue to provide warmth and flow to this pop ditty.
“Your Body And Mine” is another tight funk rocker from this spry combo. Its numerous guitar notes keep it fun and frisky while its lead vocal keeps the ear with its steady delivery of hip lyrics. Somersaulting guitar notes fit the lyrical, vocal parts like a glove, that snugness being what makes this piece so gripping. It’s a fine example of ensemble playing, the combo smacking things forward in good chemistry.
“Have Mercy” gets its character from a soulful organ line. Each time the organ rises, the listener rises with it, a sloping ride that carries us along with it. The listener can feel this one as much as listen to it. Everything sounds so good around that keyboardist’s spiritual journey through this song. He keeps this one ebullient enough to carry the bunch of instrumentation growing out of it.
Closing track “Road To Mississippi” features an alluring percussive pulp. Its primitive, well augmenting arcing organs, seesawing electric guitar, and a lead vocal chorus mashup that keeps things catchy. Lyrically focused on racism of the past, the old voices can be felt in the wind of melodic glides and organ swoops. It’s a haunting song inside a pop song, and that makes it one of a kind.
The Neybas must be the pride of Connecticut’s music scene. They turn elements of Americana, funk, and jam bands and fuse them into something accessible and fun. This user friendly Hello, Earth album should be played on all New England local and college radio station formats so aspiring young musicians can find out how its done, mashing composition, quirky instrumentation, and a sense of fun into something new and different. Produced and recorded by John Bolduc at Massiphonic Studios in Manchester, Connecticut, Hello, Earth inspires with its robust sound.
