Blips: Two Under The Radar Bands

J. Roddy Waltson & The Business

MySpace / Website

There is something immediately cool sounding about J. Roddy Walston & The Business – and that’s just in reference to their name, though the same could be said about band’s music too. Hailing from Baltimore and fronted by the piano pounding J. Roddy Walston – who channels the bawdy swagger of Jerry Lee Lewis doused in whiskey and cigarette smoke. Walston & The Business plays a raucous brand of boozy, barroom rock that is full of Southern boogie and crunchy guitar riffs. Think Exile-era Stones mixed with elements of The Black Crowes, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Led Zeppelin.

The band has earned quite a reputation for putting on high energy live shows thanks in part to Waltson pitching his shattered piano bench into the East River during a Rocks Off boat cruise gig this past summer. Back in July, J. Roddy Waltson & The Business released their sophomore self-titled album, and will hit the road as the support act for both Shooter Jennings and Deer Tick on different legs of their respective tours.

– Jeffrey Greenblatt