From the first guitar strum and Hammond organ roll, you know you’re in for a rare rock ‘n’ roll treat when The Dirty Guv’nahs take the stage. The air is filled with an almost electric feeling, and you just can’t help but move your feet. The Dirty Guv’nahs are destined for greatness.
The band was formed about four years ago in Knoxville, Tenn. as a joke to open for the headlining band at a friend’s benefit and just kind of took off from there. After learning how to really play together, the six guys decided to start taking The Dirty Guv’nahs seriously. The band was voted “Best Band in Knoxville” two years in a row in 2008 and 2009, and has been touring extensively for a couple of years now even playing shows at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tenn., Bele Chere Music Festival in Asheville, N.C. and Wakarusa Music Festival in Ark.
The Dirty Guv’nahs released their self-titled first album in 2009 and recently finished recording their sophomore album at Levon Helms’ studio in Woodstock, N.Y.
“It was pretty amazing to see Levon out in his yard everyday, playing with his dogs and living up in his secluded barn,” said lead singer, James Trimble. “The album itself is sonically our best one yet, in large part to producer Justin Guip.”
The Dirty Guv’nahs cite several artists as their influences, but they always come back to The Rolling Stones. They create a raw, rock ‘n’ roll sound with a slight southern lilt that is immediately familiar and yet refreshing at the same time.
“You know that sound your soul made on the last day of school in high school? Or that triumphant roar that comes out of your mouth after your underdog wins? I’d say we’re trying to make a joyful noise like that,” Trimble said.
The Dirty Guv’nahs’ second album, Youth Is In Our Blood, will be released in July of this year, but samples of some of the songs from the album are released each Tuesday on the band’s website along with the story behind each song.
The first song off Youth In Is Our Blood entitled “Baby, We Were Young,” deals with being young and too idealistic. It’s about “having youth in your blood and thinking you’re invincible,” according to The Dirty Guv’nahs website. It’s a song to which anyone can relate, as with all of the songs from the album.
“Our new CD is a portrait of the hearts of six guys in their twenties that are looking to strike a deeper chord with lovers of rock and roll. Our main objective is to encourage people to pursue community and not pursue a secluded life,” said lead singer Trimble. “There's a real honesty that exists on this record. The struggle of a man in his mid-twenties, trying to find his place in a world full of expectations.”
All of the songs on the upcoming album are written by the members of The Dirty Guv’nahs, and they all get a voice in the songwriting process. Each song is so seamlessly sewn together with their own blend of country, soul and rock ‘n’ roll that all of their voices mesh as one and they become The Dirty Guv’nahs. All of them have made sacrifices for the sake of the band, but it’s worth it because they still believe in the power of music to encourage and to aid people in the path to self-realization.
“There is no greater calling in this world than that of encouraging young people to work hard and to believe in themselves. We're dreamers because our families told us it was ok to dream, and we work hard because our families taught us what it means to work hard,” said Trimble.
Youth Is In Our Blood will be released July 20, and the band will hit the road this fall for a long tour including a spot on The Zac Brown Band’s Sailing Southern Ground Cruise in September.
For more information, tour dates and to listen to The Dirty Guv’nahs, check out www.thedirtyguvnahs.com or www.myspace.com/dirtyguvnahs. The band can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.
