Now Playing: Until The Sun’s ‘A Night At The Rhythm Room’

Phoenix blues-rockers Until The Sun has a new album out now. It's titled A Night At The Rhythm Room. But first, for those of you not yet familiar with the act in question, a bit o’ background.

Until The Sun

According to the band’s official website, Arizona-based American band Until the Sun Is “a rocking blues band…formed in 2017.” The group roster features Alyssa Swartz on vocals, Brandon Teskey on lead guitar, Chris Tex on drums, and Jay Zarecki on bass guitar. Their rockin’ resume includes a pair of previous platters including their debut disc, Blackheart which dropped in 2019, and their second album, 2021’s Drowning in Blue. The band has performed in “national shows”, “world renowned venues”, and has opened for a number of well-known blues and rock artists.

Signature Sound

Although they have previously described themselves as a blue band, Until The Sun’s signature sound is a mix of multiple music genres including blues, alternative rock, indie rock, jazz and psychedelia. The act’s more obvious influences include Etta James, B.B. King, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Jimi Hendrix, although each member has their own additional individual influences as well.

A Night At The Rhythm Room

A Night At The Rhythm Room is a 10-track live album with a running time of 47 minutes. It is an album of mainly new, original Teskey tunes, a previously released song and two covers. It was recorded at the historic blues venue, The Rhythm Room.

You can literally hear them working hard on their musicianship and overall performance with no real studio net. Teskey discussed the live recording online. He recalled:

“The show that was filmed nearly didn’t happen. There were dozens of factors working against us. Up to just days prior we were unsure if the recording would actually take place, while the whole time we were practicing more intensely than ever before.”

He said: “I was almost in disbelief when it did happen. But the show that was captured went great. The album consists of mostly new material and I think it’s the best thing we’ve done.”

Teskey briefly spoke of the inspiration and the end results as well: “We wanted a live album with mostly new material, like Hendrix did with the Band of Gypsys. Something that stood alone as a piece of work instead of a live version of previously released songs. Overall I think it’s the best material we’ve ever put out.”

Tex added: “Playing the Rhythm Room during the COVID pandemic was a once in a lifetime event, as well as energizing since music has been therapy for so many people during these trying times. I was impressed by the sound quality and the energy we captured in our live show! I feel like the recording certainly captured our raw and powerful blues rock sound!”

Swartz concluded, “My favorite thing in the world is to perform in front of a live audience. It was so exciting to be out playing our hearts out for everyone who came out!”

Track by Track

The album opens on the emotive “Battle Cry.” It’s an effective and immediate introduction to the quartet’s fusion of individual musical elements. It comes complete with funky rock riffs, and strong vocals and percussion too.

The ballad-like “The 4th Turning” is another example of the band’s focus on fusion. The flexibility of the group’s signature sound is evident and effective as well. The song is anchored with a driving bass as the vocals and other instrumental elements stretch a bit.

The next number is a solid, slow blues bit “Hell Of A Thing”. Despite their love of rock music, they can still work within the more seemingly simplistic genre of traditional blues. It’s actually more challenging to present personal ideas within the given restraints. Here they musically mourn a relationship forever altered by a change in personality.

“Death In Disguise” is an early fave of fans and critics alike. It’s a strong example of their original material. It’s a sharp, initially slow-driven song that focuses on a relationship gone wrong. It is admittedly practically a prerequisite for a blues rock band yet the original perspective makes it work.

“Diamonds In The Dust” follows here. It is largely a subtle throbbing, percussion-propelled piece that exemplifies the act’s live stripped down no-nonsense approach on this live release,

The sixth songful serving is “Unborn.” It somehow seems to include elements of Americana music somewhere. It gives the song a sense of uniqueness.

The seventh selection is “At Last.” It is an ambitious unaffected audio adaptation of a soundtrack song co-written by American composers in 1941. It was famously covered by blues songstress Etta James for her 1960 platter of the same name. Swartz strives to work it!

“Arisen” is an anthemic offering. It is highlighted by a cleverly included call-and-response, dramatic vocals, and an almost intense rhythm.

Also included here is the slow blues tune “Burning Home”. This is the only previously released piece on the entire album. Originally appearing on the group’s second disc, Drowning in Blue, it not only offers one more example of their original tracks but also provides an example of how said original actually sounds live outside of the studio.

The closing cut is “Whole Lotta Love.” Including a cover song or two on an album by a new or indie act is a great way to make a connection via a sense of shared love and familiarity, it can be challenging. Luckily, the band remains faithful to the overall spirit of the original and the excitement of a live performance seems to push Swartz to where she needs to be. Undoubtedly, this works well as a live encore.

Overall…

Overall, this album is a gutsy, ambitious, unabashed unpretentious effort to present largely previously unheard songs, live, free of the protective net of a full-blown studio. Just making the attempt is courageous enough for any band let alone at an early stage in their career. It is much to their credit that they succeed in showing the world just what they can do in a live show. So, check out Until The Sun’s A Night At The Rhythm Room; because it’s a “Hell Of A Thing!”

(Images courtesy of Until The Sun)