indie underrated

Fat Mezz has arrived with a new EP.

Fat Mezz Loves Cooter, hasn’t left our rotation. The Wildwood based supergroup has finally released original music for the first time. The two song debut kicks off with the infectious blues rock flavor of Pretty Blonde Noose. The songs nostalgic dynamic suggests a classic scope of influence. We hear comparisons to David Bowie, Elton John and Bruce Springsteen. The track is upbeat, raucous and fun. In a band where every member sings and slays, the song’s writer guitarist Kurtis Foster has honored bassist Dom Levy with the opening lead vocal. The arrangement includes an electrifying guitar solo in the 2nd half, a trademark of the groups reputation as a great live band.

The subsequent How Would You Know features guitarist Billy Thoden at lead vocals, and introduces the writing partnership soon to be known as Levy/Thoden. We hear elements of blues and soul to match a notable influence of The Beatles. Like the Fab Four, Fat Mezz sing with a raw passion that adapts every song with a youthful fury. Unlike your local boomer band, they make the classics sound young again. How Would You Know has a catchy bluesy shuffle to the arrangement, a nod to the bands secret weapon, drummer Corey Chodes. Elements of country shine through in the production, with twangy guitar swells and gospel organs lifting the chorus. The classic vibe is an attribute of the method, as bassist Dom Levy shared that “the bass is double tracked at points with a fender 6 bass using some of the recording techniques of Brian Wilson”.

Fat Mezz is your classic supergroup where every member shines with proficient musicianship and rare persona. Their fans are grateful in how they’ve already helped rekindle Rock and Roll’s fading flame in the shore towns and suburban clubs they frequent. With a string of successful shows they’ve proven Rocks timeless nature, and despite their success, have remained humble. The bands charming humility breaks through in moments like when they admit that How Would You Know only took 15 minutes to write. It’s reminiscent of how the iconic Manager Andrew Loog Oldham locked a young Keith Richards and Mick Jagger in a kitchen to instigate their first foray into songwriting, a trial that developed the classic As Years Go By.

Dig into all of Fat Mezz Loves Cooter, and drop the band a Follow while you’re there. Rumor has it they’ll be dropping some new music soon.