Bop, mod, and rockabilly aren’t dead, despite what you might think, because Corpus Christi’s The Blind Owls (Josh De Leon – guitar and vocals, Jesse De Los Santos – guitar and vocals, Carlos Garcia – bass and vocals, Dylan Romel – drums and vocals) are not only keeping it alive, they’re blaring from the clubs to the house across the street.
“Goodbye” shows off the band’s obvious early Beatles influences, but don’t dismiss that wicked surf guitar in it and almost punk styling on the chorus. “This Ain’t True” has Buddy Holly-like vocals and guitar work, and “Don’t Bother” is a bellowing mod-rocker with a bass lick so good from Garcia that it’s probably gotten him laid numerous times.
“Hypnotized” brings psychedelia into the mix, which is always cool with me. “That Girl Is Mine” has great guitar work from all three axe-men and Romel’s tick-tock drumming shows how sometimes simple techniques are best. “Come On” is pure fun power pop that would make Buzzcocks proud. The bluesy rock of “Unwanted Man” gets better with each listen, and “Cold Hearted Woman” has Romel cutting loose with some of his best chops.
The Blind Owls are keeping a sadly neglected genre of rock alive while others in their age bracket are whining about how terrible the Warcraft movie is. Keep at it, lads.
Keep your mind open.
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