2022 has been a remarkably busy year for Scott Metzger. In addition to maintaining an assiduous touring schedule with vaunted Grateful Dead revivalists Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, the Brooklyn-based guitarist released his first solo album, Too Close to Reason, and has now followed that up with the third studio effort from his enigmatic “Telecaster rock trio”, Wolf!.
Founded in 2014, this musical triptych, featuring Jon Shaw on bass and Taylor Floreth on drums, combines elements of surf, rockabilly, and boogaloo to form compelling instrumental interludes that captivate the listener with a unique and dynamic sound that loathes to be pigeonholed into any one particular genre.
Adult Entertainment, the trio’s first studio offering since 2016’s 1-800-Wolf!, is a genre-bending EP that continues Wolf!’s tradition of paying homage to legendary Telecaster-centric artists such as Jeff Beck, Bill Frisell, and Albert Collins while maintaining an eminently original vibe thanks to Metzger’s inventive guitar-work and some tight interplay between all three members.
Representing the group’s third official release from independent label Royal Potato Family, Adult Entertainment starts off on a strong note with “Ratso”, a surf-inspired number that showcases Metzger’s diverse palette as a guitarist as he effortlessly segues from playing beautiful runs that flow like raindrops to a cacophony of fuzz-laden experimental noises that push the boundaries dangerously close to avant-garde, if only for a brief moment.
“Hedgehog”, with its brooding percussion and searing guitar riffs stands out as the EP’s seemingly inevitable “James Bond-on-acid” moment and is juxtaposed nicely by “Patty Cake”, a breezy jaunt that allows Metzger’s nuanced playing to shine through thanks to the track’s remarkably clean timbre.
The satisfying crunch of Metzger’s distinct fuzz-infused sound returns with “Hey Francis”, a bluesy rocker that grooves on top of some dark undertones before giving way to one of the EP’s standout moments, Hawaiian Shirt, a lilting Caribbean-inspired track that flourishes with some keen percussion work from Floreth as well as a memorable guest appearance from keyboard wunderkind, and Metzger’s bandmate in JRAD, Marco Benevento, whose atmospheric organ adds an element of drama and intrigue to the Cuban-flavored melodies.
The EP comes to a triumphant conclusion with “Cottonmouth”, an impressive instrumental that piggybacks on the previous tracks’ Latin American vibe while also mixing in elements of spaghetti western and Eastern-hemisphere influences. On Adult Entertainment, Metzer proves he’s equally badass as a band leader as he is as a lead guitarist in many of his other ensembles.
One Response
Very interesting and creative! I will look for a live preference for sure!