Before Keylock the band was formed, Aaron Keylock had already made a name for himself, propelled by a solo album in 2017 when he was 18 and already had a thousand shows under his belt. Being the only hippie kid in his town making rock-n-roll music, he had a lot to say so he flew out to Los Angeles to let the world know who he was. The album captures who he was as both an artist and person at the time, and it was met with high praise and a full year of European shows opening for other amazing bands. Being a rock-n-roller since he was 11, it had been a long time coming but in a way, it was also the first step of the journey. . .
What really stands out is that despite his youth, he had already found a sound and niche for himself. Influences include the rock-n-rollers of the past - B.B. King, The Rolling Stones, The Black Crowes. The strong identities of Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, and Neil Young played a part with their interesting lyrical phrasing, leading Keylock to devote his vocals to a similar style. Such aspects are prevalent within the music itself, but do not assume that Keylock relies solely on his influences in regards to the sound that leaps off of his album Cut Against the Grain. What you hear is indeed inspired by the past but, more importantly, you also hear the undiluted shout of determination that has always been present in rock-n-roll.
While a debut album typically contains shuffles where an artist is still trying to discover who they are, there is little of the sort in this case. All the songs have their place, including “Falling Again” which is more strong in a lyrical sense relying less on a guitar melody. While not as widespread as his other songs such as “Medicine Man,” songs like “Try” are more drawn back and mellow, an interesting contrast to the otherwise guitar-heavy music that shows a more sweet side to the music.
It is obvious from the music that confidence and defiance alike flow through Keylock’s soul. With lyrics detailing frustration with love and a strong establishment that he is who he is whether one agrees with him or not, this album captures everything that the spirit of rock-n-roll has always had. It is refreshing that the blues also contributed to Keylock’s sound, as the track “Just One Question” exhibits in just over six minutes. The singles of “Against the Grain”, “All the Right Moves”, and “Spin the Bottle” all proclaim a strong sound, but it is within tracks like “Just One Question” where the English guitarist really shines with a simmering, lingering guitar part and vocals that cut through you. The entire album is great from the first track to the last, which is impressive considering 1. It is Keylock’s debut and 2. The age he was at when he made the album.
Even at his young age, Keylock had found his sound and place in the rock-n-roll scene in London through electrifying, exciting solos and a voice of authenticity. This has given him a solid platform to dive into his strengths as a musician and do his part to infuse rock back into the counterculture. Currently, Aaron Keylock has a new band named Keylock, who have released two singles that display how he has improved as a guitarist and leave the future full of excitement and wonder.
Personnel:
Produced by Fabrizio Grossi
Lead Vocals & Guitar: Aaron Keylock
Drums: Mike Hansen
Bass: Fabrizio Grossi
Keys: Sam Lustig
Backing Vocals: Garrett Holbrook, Andrea Grossi and Francis Grossi
Aaron Keylock - "Just One Question"
Aaron Keylock 'Cut Against the Grain' album Spotify link
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