Kevin Bronson on August 17th, 2011

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The Black’s gritty garage-Americana is like a slightly rusted saw that still works, cutting deep into whatever needs cleaved – in this case starry-eyed romance and not a little bit of rock ’n’ roll history. The Austin quartet, featuring Matt Simon (ex-Voxtrot) and Dave Longoria (ex-Trail of Dead) along with Bryan Mammel and Amy Hawthorne, channels the vintage sounds of the ’50s and ’60s (a little bit of the Band, a little bit of Elvis’ swagger), keeping it stripped down for the roadhouses and whiskey joints that we know are still out there, and still work too.

||| Download: “Love Don’t Need a Reason”

||| Also: Check out the band’s Daytrotter session.

||| Live: The Black, along with Western States Motel, play tonight at the Silverlake Lounge. The black also plays Thursday at the Pike Restaurant and Bar in Long Beach.

Photo by Daniel Hill