Rob's Co-Album of The Week: Diamond Rugs

Down & dirty, no holds barred, unapologetic rock & roll. That's the best way to describe any music Providence's favorite son John McCauley plays with his fingertips, from the sounds of his own band, Deer Tick, and his side project with Dawes' Taylor Goldsmith and Delta Spirit's Matt Vasquez called Middle Brother. As if one side project wasn't enough, McCauley has joined up with fellow Deer Tick band mate Robbie Crowell, The Black Lips' Ian Saint Pe, Dead Confederate's Hardy Morris, Six Finger Satellite's Bryan Dufresne and Steve Berlin from rock legends Los Lobos to create a motely crew of a band that is so amazing that it'll blow your mind to smithereens after one riff.

Featuring guest appearances by Providence's best harmonica player Bryan Minto, Bucky Baxter and Spencer Callum Jr. on pedal steel, Oscar Utterstrom on trombone and J.P. Frappier on trumpet, Diamond Rugs goes beyond your typical rock band by adding different dimensions and styles to every track. There's so much going on with each song but at the same time they keep it simple with driving rhythms and catchy lyrics, making Diamond Rugs a truly unique band along with having an exceptional album.

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"Gimme A Beer" flat out makes you want to drink, but in a good way. McCauley sings about what he wants in life and at the same time knowing that nobody else really cares so he just wants to crack open a cold one. "Call Girl Blues" is the anthem for any hooker on the corner, a groovy tune that has Utterstrom and Frappier sounding the horns like nobody else. "Big God" has Morris singing about how "it hurts to watch what you love so much" and not being able to experience what you love. "Motherland" is another track that had Morris on lead vocals and it's bluesy as hell, with Minto playing the harp and giving it a southern gothic feel. "Hungover and Horny" is a track any male in his mid-20s can relate to, unless you're a priest. McCauley croons about waking up after a wild night with a mean headache and trying to find his girl so they can do the nasty. 

Diamond Rugs debuted live at South by Southwest in Austin, TX this past March and they'll be having an album listening party at The High Watt in Nashville, TN on April 24th that will be followed up by a epic performance by Deer Tick. Since Deer Tick, The Black Lips and Dead Confederate will each be touring all over the place this summer, its safe to say that Diamond Rugs won't be hitting your local music venue anytime soon. Don't fret and don't shed a tear though, grab a copy of the debut album from the most unique rock & roll supergroup ever created and give it a listen, it'll make everything else in your music library completely obsolete.

- Rob Duguay