Manitoba Rock n Rolla

Richmond, Kentucky--that’s just south of Lexington--brings us Manitoba Rock n Rolla. They’ve been writing and recording albums since 2013; Rock n’ Roll is their May 2021 release. They use the standard five-piece rock band lineup (two guitars, vocals, bass, drums) with some added keyboard parts. Per their Facebook page, keyboardist Cory White has joined the group, rounding them into a sextet.

So what did they put on this disc? They call it a “90s alternative throwback with a hint of glam,” but it’s more straight-ahead late-‘80s rock to me. These are guitar-based rock songs with good use of open chords, distorted chunky rhythm figures, guitar leads everywhere, and the occasional keyboard part worked in. Lyrics tend to look back at sepia-colored youth (“Don’t you wanna be sixteen again?”), and make clear the musical ties to their hair-band/metal influences. They’re not breaking new poetic ground here (“in the dark you light the way / within the night we’ll find the day”), but they do solve the mystery of who actually liked Def Leppard’s Adrenalize.

The band uses two vocalists, and each brings a very different sound and approach. One is a growly baritone; he’s got a great rock voice, but the songs he sings tend to have a little less melody. The other vocalist has a thinner, higher tone, which is also a fine voice for rock. The issue is he’s a baritone trying to sing tenor parts and as such can get a little pitchy. They’re almost assigned to the wrong tracks--I wonder if some songs would work better if they flipped who was the lead vocalist.

Fans of straight-ahead rock will be at home with “Every Minute of Forever,” “Four Churches” and “Overboard.” The band takes a less-aggressive, almost country-rock turn on “Pete Rose,” “Dim the Headlights” and “Origami,” although “Origami” teases us with a harder-rock riff before taking that country turn. The arrangement for “Origami” is quite well done--it features some tempo changes, a breakdown section and an outro round with multiple vocal layers. The mix doesn’t do it justice, though, with the double-stop guitar licks up a bit high, interfering with the vocals.

There are some fine moments sprinkled throughout Rock n’ Roll. The lyrics for “High Horse,” delivered from the anti perspective, land just right. “Tickets & Turnstiles”--ironically a love song sequenced just after “High Horse”--could be a hit in the hands of the right Nashville artist. The highlight is the epic “Hidey” with its wide-open, riff-driven jam section. The band does a fine job letting the music breathe and building us through a nice rise and fall.

Get yourself a copy of Rock n’ Roll before they’re gone--like Too Fast For Love, it may well be a collector’s item in a few years.
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Lead singer of Manitoba Rock N Rolla, Tony Caroll, said Friday night was "a bit chilly for a bald man."

Despite that, the evening was perfect for enjoying local music at the Third Annual Electric Berea Band Showcase.

Friday evening, starting at 6 p.m., the Spotlight Playhouse's parking lot was alive with music. Bluegrass music, to be exact. The E.K.U. Bluegrass Ensemble kicked off Electric Berea with lively tunes such as a classic mountain murder ballad ­­- ­one which ensemble member Isaac Brooks said was his grandmother's favorite.

When the Ensemble's performance was through, those enjoying the music had the chance to enjoy the two food trucks which served the event while the next band prepared to play. Barn Yard Grub and Catfish Bucket kept everyone well fed with burgers, barbecue, fried fish, fried chicken, and more.

Next up was The New Developments, who played a funky mix of jazz and pop and left everyone with the catchy line, "the funky funky bus," stuck in their head. To finish up the night was alternative rock band Manitoba Rock N Rolla. The band concluded the evening with killer guitar riffs and a colorful light show.

Electric Berea's band showcase has three reasons for existing, according to Jeff Richey, the chief conspirator of Electric Berea. He explained the event is meant to provide local artists the chance to perform and educate the populace of Berea and the surrounding area of the diversity of local artists and provide citizens with free options to see those artists perform.

The following evening, April 24, was meant to host the second half of the Third Annual Electric Berea Band Showcase. However, with wet weather in the forecast, organizers decided to move the second and final half of the showcase to May 1.

Due to scheduling trouble, Elvis Cocktail, who was meant to open up the night, had to cancel. However, The Jeff Richey Experience (JRE) was able to fill in. According to a Facebook post by Electric Berea, the JRE will be featuring Anything But Sue's, Erin Grace. They will be opening up the event at 6 p.m. The Facebook post tells listeners to expect "a mix of JRE favorites with a splash of Erin's sassy songwriting and singing!"

The showcase will also feature The Sparrow Hawks, who Richey said play folk-rock and Americana. To close the show, Kanashii will perform. Kanashii is a band whose name means 'sad' in Japanese, and Richey likened to Nirvana.

"You can really see the distribution of genres and performers by location," Richey said in a previous Register article. "The majority of the acts are from here in Berea, but some are from Richmond, some are from further south, some from further east. And we're all over the map genre-wise, from country and bluegrass to rock and indy to funk and Americana and grunge. So, hopefully, we have something for everyone."

The showcase is free to the public. The music will begin at 6 p.m., and the bands will be performing every hour, on the hour, until 9 p.m. So, if local music and food sound like an excellent way to enjoy your Saturday evening, head out to Electric Berea's Third Annual Showcase on Saturday, May 1. - Richmond Register