Lokal Loudness | 48VOLT Energizes the Soul Bar with Debut

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48VOLT Energizes the Soul Bar with Debut

By Stoney ⋅ May 23, 2008 ⋅

48volt Now I’ll be the first to admit that lately I’ve been a bit slack as far as getting out to see local shows and no one has to tell me how much worse I’ve been at kicking out show reviews. My fingers are telling me well enough by the awkwardness due to lack of keyboard usage lately. But that’s all just murky water under a slightly worn bridge so when it came to my attention that American Skin was set to be reborn as 48VOLT, I made it my personal mission to catch the band’s “debut” set at the Soul Bar.

For me, missing this night would be like chipping a night out of my personal evolution for you see, there’s a personal history here. One that goes way back. Back before the precursor to this here website even came to be. And that history’s name is Brian Panowich. So you see, for me, missing this special night would be like missing a birthday, in some ways like missing an anniversary. I can mark a lot of things in own history by points in Panowich’s life, whether it be by association, or guilt by association, I leave it to those in the know to make that call. I’ve seen Brian WANT to be in a band, ATTEMPT to be in a band and in many cases, SHINE in a band. We’ve shared the stage, shared bandmates, we’ve laughed and cried together, we’ve even been at each others throats a time or two. I’ve been there for just about every band debut he has been involved with…how could I not keep THAT streak alive. But before you mark this down as just another proud tearful moment in my eye…first and foremost I always let the music do the talking.

48volt The joy of seeing many familiar faces was punctuated early by a mad need to visit the facilities, unfortunately just as I made the decision to brave the Soul Bar restroom in my typical procrastinating fashion, 48VOLT decided to finally hit the stage. No bladder was going to keep me from missing this set. Besides, now I had an excuse to avoid the Soul Bar latrine.

Already forewarned of musical change, apparently for the better, I was a bit taken aback by 48VOLT’s first number “Biloxi” as it felt very much like an American Skin tune but with a closer listen, subtle nuances of newness were scattered about. I guess for the major AMSKIN fan these may be more obvious. This new tune drives fast and turns a mean hook on the chorus courtesy of a stomping beat and backing vocals from drummer Brian Allen. For those AMSKIN fans in shuddering fear of major change, the guys left a few old articles in the luggage just for you to hold onto.

48volt “Half Life” keeps the drive over 55 and once again takes an opportunity to “hook ya” in. I could be wrong but this may possibly be the first time that Allen has stepped out from behind the backing mic chiming in on a solo part here and there. Also distinct here is the bass style of long-time Augusta vet Dave Newhall. Always considered a one-of-a-kind bassist round these parts, Newhall’s presence was wildly felt through 48VOLTS debut set, but other than on one other occassion not as much as on this new tune.

Starting off with a rough and tumble Les Paul scratch, courtesy of bassist turned guitarist Chris Livingston, “Pagan” is a cock rock punk-a-billy romp that is all fun and all rock. Newhall jumps straight into a bass walk-a-thon that could even bring a smile to the stiffest Cheap Trick or Aerosmith fan.

48volt As the lone survivor from the AMSKIN days, “Circles” is just one straight up badass rock song. Chunky, thick and heavy on the low end, “Circles” is a guitar rock fanatic’s wet dream with Livingston and his guitar twin Brian Reynolds pounding out the songs slow grinding melody. On first comparison I would have to think something along the lines of the band “Cry of Love”. If that leave you clueless, a quick search on youtube might help you out. You’ll thank me later.

The “right turn”, as Panowich put it, occurred during the next song, “Girls of West Texas”. Reminiscent of more modern Americana acts such as the Drive-By Truckers, this new composition slowly grooves along until the chorus grabs hold about halfway through. What makes this song is the way it just kind of hypnotically floats you along until the big launch kicks in.

48volt Serving as perhaps the epic ballad of the evening, “Furthest Star” is very soul-stirring much like the Black Crowes “Seeing Things” or even the Stones “Wild Horses” but is injected with enough 48VOLT emotion to stand up on its own. If this is just a hint of where 48VOLT is headed then a bright future lies ahead.

Carrying on in similar fashion, “Sweetest” (this may not be the full title as I am going by a copy of the band’s setlist for reference only, of course) gets the prize for big chorus and finish of the night. Easily my favorite song of the night, this newbie contains all the things that makes a song great. A verse that sucks you in, a knock out chorus and a blistering finish.

To close things off 48VOLT would jump clear into that country sound that Augusta has been talking about since the buzz about this band started creeping around town. An ode to Panowich’s father, “Elvis Earp” could easily turn into the bands sing-a-long drinking number. Looking around mid-song, it almost seemed like at least half of the crowd had figured out the chorus and were singing along.

48volt It would not surprise me if there were skeptics mulling around just waiting to see if they had merely got the curtain dropped over their eyes or if this reincarnation of sorts would be an actual u-turn. Make no mistake, there’s no denying the nuances that made American Skin what it was, a good full-on rock band. You don’t just shake those things off entirely. But while a part of AMSKIN may have migrated over to this new amalgamation, 48VOLT as a whole is a new vibe; an old sound injected with a shitload of new parts. Some may not agree with me but for my ears, 48VOLT is an improvement over the old flesh that was American Skin. The chemistry still lives, only now it has better songs to get it through the ride home.