Featured Live Music Artist of the Week - Loudmouth

So this is definitely a Throw Back Thursday kind of post - since I will be referencing a concert from almost 20 years ago.

So, why bring them up now?  Because football.

During a crucial part of the movie Varsity Blues, Loudmouth's song "Fly" is featured.  It's during the game right when the West Canaan Coyotes begin their comeback in the big game.  So, this wasn't just some song that played during a scene people were getting popcorn - this song was played during an important moment of the film.  And why not - it rocked!!!

Loudmouth was a Chicago-based true hard rock 4-piece band.  These guys weren't grunge, they weren't metal, they weren't glam, they weren't jam rock, they were honest-to-goodness play-it-loud in-your-face HARD ROCK.  And it was good hard rock - that I-want-to-sing-along-with-every-song type hard rock.  No screeching vocals, no growling vocals - just hard hitting clear and loud lyrics.  Memorable lyrics as well - easy to understand and easy to remember.

The music was hard rock at it's finest - loud guitar, heavy bass, big drums, driving forth, loud music.  The way hard rock was meant to be played.  Anthem rock would be a good word for it, but not Bon Jovi type anthem rock - more like Kiss - but heavier and louder.  Sort of like The Who, but without the artsy-aspect.  Let's just say - HARD ROCK.

Their initial album contained 8 songs, and was re-released by Hollywood Records with 12-songs later on.  The CD is still out there, and easy to find.

On to the show.  I happened to see them quite by chance, I was at a show at The Metro in Chicago, and they were handing out free tickets to a Loudmouth-headlined event.  Heck, free tickets to live music at The Metro?!?!?!?!  Of course I wasn't going to pass that up - and man, I was NOT disappointed!!!

These guys come out loud and in-your-face - and they leave loud and in-your-face.  (I guess Loudmouth is the perfect name for the band).  The band consists of lead/rhythm guitar, bass guitar, drums, and vocals/with guitar.  The band came onto the stage with a huge hard-hitting first song - flew right into the second song, briefly introduced themselves to the crowd, and went right back to another in-your-face song.  The entire set was loud and energetic - and energetic and loud.  The songs were filled with energy, the crowd was filled with energy - and the band was filled with energy.  They even had a surprise bringing out a guest harmonica player for a song or two as well.  And this isn't Bob Dylan harmonica - this is ROCK & ROLL harmonica - played more like an electric guitar or a drum than some wind instrument.  It was just as in-your-face face-melting as the rest of the music.

The band made excellent contact with the audience both downstairs and upstairs - and had every single person in The Metro rocking.  People were literally exhausted when Loudmouth finished their set.  This music demanded attention from the audience - and tired the audience out!!!  And that, my friends, is Hard Rock defined!!!

20 years later - I still remember every word to all 8-songs on the debut CD - 20 years later - and I still recall watching the concert!!