The New American Good Time Boys

The New American Good Time Boys is a cosmic Americana band from Waltham, MA. Their folky, rock n’ roll sounds have a modern but classic feel. Over the summer of 2017 they went from playing open mics to playing venues such as the Hard Rock Café and the Middle East in Boston. This past summer they worked to provide a fun, easy going, but still hard rocking album Drunk By Noon.

Acoustic guitars strums and old timey piano welcome you on “Coffee & Cream.” While instrumentals are pleasant, the lyrics reflect the scary reality that becoming an adult arrives faster than one expects. The coming of age tale when a person must carry themselves like an adult but how can they if we’re still figuring life out. “It’s Captain Crunch and waking up noon. Well I was up so late I watch the sun chase the moon away. Well for what its worth, I’m still drunk.” Bottom line is you’re never ready to grow up but we all have to live with our decisions.

“New York City” is a folky tune. It has a vibrant tempo similar to the track “Coffee and Cream.” If “Coffee and Cream” is about decisions, “Fun With You” is remembering the memories made with your lover. The joyous upbeat tempo makes for an innocent song about young love. Then in the middle of song it breaks out into a good old hootenanny. From gentle kindness the words turn talking about sex and drug experiences shared with your sweetheart in an almost hilarious fashion. It’s sweet, sentimental and vulgar all at the same time. Dirty sentences never come off as overly filthy. It is how people actually talk.

The New American Good Time Boys show off more of their rocker side on “Palm Springs” and “No Money.” The “Palm Springs” sound is like taking acid in the Nevada dessert during the ‘70s with castanets drawing you to run towards the sun. “No Money” is more of a ’50s surfer jam. The change is welcome and allows the band to showcase their range.

​Drunk By Noon is a heart-felt album. It’s a slice of Americana that everyone can appreciate. “Coffee and Cream” and “Fun With You” are easily worth listening to even if you are not into grassroots. Followed by the acid rock tracks “Palm Springs” and “No Money” add to the album’s variety. Even though their name is long the band shows why they earn the title The New American Good Time Boys. - Vidal Granados, Divide And Conquer