So-Cal Rocket Dynamics - Too Bad She Won’t Live

So-Cal Rocket Dynamics

Too Bad She Won’t Live
self-released; 2013

3.9 out of 5

By Ted Rogen

So-Cal Rocket Dynamics is a group from North Hollywood who play straight up heavy neo-rockabilly. This is really the best description that the band labels themselves as. The band is a four-piece consisting of Rich Contadino (vocals), Robert Coddington (upright bass), Mark Powell (drums) and Matt J. Britton (guitar). They just released their second album entitled Too Bad She Won’t Live.

If you are looking for an album that has a lot of energy and feels like a shot of espresso straight to your brain Too Bad She Won’t Live might be your best shot. The surge of energy comes from the production, the singing, the heavy walking bass lines, the guitar solos and the metronome-like drumming. My point is that the band brings it for twelve songs rarely giving you any breathing room. After consuming this album a couple of times I was thinking about what their live shows must be like. 

The album starts off with the title track “Too Bad She Won’t Live,” which has the band tearing things up right out of the gate. You are immediately greeted with a kick ass technically proficient bass riff that is coupled with a distorted electric guitar. Within the first 40 seconds the band has enough changes to make your head spin. Needless to say the lead vocal and vocal harmonies were also on point and fit the music to a tee. 

The band continues to ride a wave of energy on “The Monster Inside Me.” The amped up rockabilly is up in your face with a bluesy lead guitar and a cascading bass line. I was reminded a bit of the Dropkick Murphys when I heard the band chant “This one’s for Johnny” on “I Killed Johnny” while “Like A Ghost” takes down the energy by half a notch.

“Girl Named Kerosene” is arguably the highlight of the album. Fun, fast and catchy as hell this song felt something like you would hear on the radio. The band closes with by far the slowest and most mellow track on the album called “The Way You Break My Heart.” It was actually kind of nice after the barrage of noise they pour on you for eleven songs.

Too Bad She Won’t Live is a blast and contains an original flavor that not many other bands are attempting at the moment.

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