1. Jump In 2. Buzz Buzz Buzz 3. Lazy Bone Joe 4. Cold-Hearted Love 5. Wrong One 6. Say Hey 7. Dancing 8. Better With You 9. You Won't Find Heaven 10. One After 909
The Flat Tires deliver raw, loud and rhythmic rockabilly on Ahooga, their 2019 debut LP. Formed in Berlin in 2017, the trio set out to play classic rockabilly without frills, combining driving rhythm, harmony vocals and strong melodic guitar work. The result is exactly the kind of high-energy rockabilly that demands to be played loud.
The band's origins are almost as rockabilly as the music itself. The trio came together after drummer Erik turned up late because he had a flat tyre, while Dusty Gray brought years of rhythm-guitar experience before taking on lead guitar and vocals. With Mike Blisters on slap bass and vocals and Erik Graffunder on drums and vocals, the line-up draws on experience from bands including The Roughnecks, the Rhythm Shots, Backwood Boys and Teenage Terror. The album was recorded at Lightning Recorders, with artwork by well known rockabilly artist Marcel Bontempi.
From the opening Jump In and the infectious Buzz Buzz Buzz through Cold-Hearted Love, Dancing and Better With You, Ahooga keeps the emphasis firmly on classic rockabilly energy and strong songs. Add the One After 909 and you've got a blast of high-energy Berlin rockabilly that should appeal to anyone who likes their rock 'n' roll rough, rhythmic and free of unnecessary decoration.
