Caitlin Krisko And The Broadcast deliver well-crafted soulful rockers and heart-wrenching ballads that play out in a well-produced manner while staying shy of being overly slick.
Born in Detroit, raised in New York City and currently living out in North Carolina, leading lady Caitlin Krisko’s influences range from East Coast rock and roll, Motown to roots music. The band features Aaron Austin(Guitar, background vocals), Michael W. Davis (Drums), and William Seymour (Bass, background vocals), and they work well together on record. Having shared bills with the likes of Mavis Staples, Marcus King, Blackberry Smoke, Greta Van Fleet and Robert Jon & The Wreck they presumably must do so live too.
They supported Robert Jon & The Wreck over here in the UK this time last year, now they’re back here again, September through to October, on their own headline tour, having recently released their Blueprints EP.
Six tracks long, a fair few having already seen the light of day as singles, it opens strong with ‘Devil On Your Side’ that’s soulful ska-lite earworm not too far removed from, say, Texas, adding some gospel vocal overdubs in the dying moments. A little folksy, with possibly a harp plucked in the background, ‘Blue Monday’ tells you all you need in its title but stirs gingerly away from true melancholy as a keyboard melody trickles in, keeping it in the modern era but soulfully classic.
‘Piece Of You’ is a far rockier and sexy affair. The tension builds both musically and vocally, with some fine hook line lyrics waiting to be sung along to. This is required playing, and loud, both down at your local rock club and that swish nightclub’s dance floor. It covers all bases. Check out at the video, at the very least.
Topping Spotify’s Blues Ballads playlist, ‘Haunted By You’ is a late-night, one-drink-too-many, piano based but mournful guitar lick inflicted soul-wrenched love-lost blues. ‘Operator’ comes next, another single, and a retro throwback track reminiscent of the soul and rock that originally stormed the singles charts back in the 1960s then made a comeback a decade or so back with the likes of Duffy. Add modern production sounds and an infectious chant-like approach and the box is ticked.
Final number ‘Have To Say Goodbye’ is another slow one, and if there’s a fault with this EP it’s that each upbeat number is followed by one its opposite. The actual song you’ll find harder to fault. My favourite among the downbeat numbers, sounding more personal; apparently the loss of Krisko’s mother influenced much of the writing on this EP. Here, the singer Krisko comes across like a weary Elkie Brooks, the actual vocal arrangement more in keeping with vintage Judie Tzuke (who 80s band were one of the best live acts going).
As a taster of what to expect live, this promises a very entertaining night, and it’s hoped that if a full length album is to follow it extends upon the goals achieved here, in range and variety, while keeping the significant quality Blueprints offers.
