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The ultimate goal of a jam band is to create a seamless flow on a record, a sort of melodic stream of consciousness. Free Henry! accomplishes this and more.
One song from the local band’s latest effort "Summers on Neptune" transitions with ease into the next, allowing the listener to get lost in the smooth melodies.
Channeling Dave Matthews with just a touch of Sevendust’s Lajon Witherspoon, lead singer Bob Buckley does a masterful job throughout the album, his hypnotic alto voice guiding the listener from one song to another. The arrangements and mixing are top notch as well, as this album could very easily pass for a major label effort.
If there’s one weakness on “Summers on Neptune,” it’s that lead guitarist Alex Foote isn’t featured prominently enough. Nothing against the rhythm section — bassist Derek Presti and drummer Pat Mannella more than hold their own — but the few teasingly short moments on the record where Foote’s play is featured make the listener plead for more. Granted, drawn-out guitar solos are not generally featured by jam bands, but in this case a bit more guitar would have been great.
That in no way, however, diminishes the impact of this record. Calling upon rock influences with hints of jazz and blues, the members of Free Henry! clearly put their all into this album. The listener can’t help but feel a bit better about life in general after taking in “Summers on Neptune,” with the band’s infectious enthusiasm impossible to ignore.
Although their proficiency lies in a genre that's not exactly radio-friendly, the members of Free Henry! possess more musical talent than a good deal of what now occupies the airwaves. How a big-time label has yet to offer these guys a paycheck is perplexing.
This Western New York-based quartet proves that there is actual, authentic musicianship still present in the music industry.
