Airbourne :: Runnin’ Wild

Take two brothers from down under, who discovered their Uncle’s old records of classic Australian rock bands, such as, AC/DC, THE ANGELS, ROSE TATOO, give them instruments and let them discover their own sound, sort of…so what it they follow the “AC/DC “ formula. You know, huge riffs, tongue in cheek lyrics and backing vocals on huge choruses. So what if there are two brothers on guitar and the singer has a gravel voice. Hell, neither Bon Scott nor Brian Johnson play lead guitar! This is classic hard rock, that’s short and fast, yet laced with blues. Ladies and gentlemen, the party has begun and it’s name is AIRBOURNE. Joel , of the O’Keefe brothers, looks like ANVIL singer-guitarist Steven "Lips" Kudlow and sounds like he went to the same vocal school as Brian Johnson but plays lead guitar like Angus Young. Alright, no more AC/DC references and I mean it.(There were a lot of bands in the U.S. who used the same formula i.e. DIRTY LOOKS, NEW AMERICAN SHAME, FOUR HORSEMEN, SUPAGROUP) Joel’s younger brother Ryan is quite the drummer for his age. Rhythm guitarist David Roads and bassist Justin Street , round out this hard rockin’ quartet. With the help of a strong work ethic , they were soon opening for The STONES and MOTELY CRUE, in support of just one EP. In 2006, the guys, ranging from 18-22 in age, washed up on the American shore to work with Producer Bob Marlette, on what was to become their debut ‘Runnin’ Wild’. Boy did they come packin’, with about 40 songs that had to be cut down to 11. How would this explosive live band translate to tape? By also, bringing in Andy Wallace to do the mixing. What we get are 11 fast paced, in your face testosterone fist pumping rock anthems with singable choruses. Songs about sex, booze, rock-n-roll, in the working class, by some young blue collar guys who aren’t afraid to have fun while they work their arses off. These guys are relentless and full of energy, never slowing down for a ballad. From the opening intro of “Stand Up For Rock-n-Roll” to the Bo Diddley drum intro to the closing song, “Let’s Ride”, these guys know how it’s done. They are stoned drunk from drinking their influences. Check out the ROSE TATTOO meets THE ANGELS stomping title track, “Runnin’ Wild”. Or the slowed down JACKYL type anthem “Too Much, To Young, Too Fast”. If Sin City is your thing, you’ll love “Diamond In The Rough”. So if you want to party and get high on Rock-n-Roll, then get AIRBOURNE.