by Erik Ritland
Rambling On is a seriously fun blog and podcast covering sports, music, culture, and more. Check us out on Reddit, Twitter, Facebook, or at our website.
Who: Left Lane Cruiser
Where: Longfellow Roots, Rock, and Deep Blues Festival (a benefit for Patrick's Cabaret)
When: Saturday, July 18 at 7:00 PM (Harriet Brewing stage)
The boys in Left Lane Cruiser, who hail from Ft. Wayne, Indiana, have released an album of gutsy blooze rock practically every year since 2006. Their 2015 release, Dirty Spliff Blues, is somehow grittier than anything they’ve ever done.
And that says a lot.
Part of the reason is the addition of Joe Bent on bass (which they hadn’t had prior) and skateboard slide guitar. Yes, you read that right: Bent plays his skateboard as an instrument. And it sounds fan-fucking-tastic. Evidence? The manic solos on “Tres Borrachos,” “Tangled Up in Bush,” and the aptly titled “Skateboard Blues.” Pretty intense.
Left Lane Cruiser. From their Facebook page.
Nastiness and raunchiness are amped up on Spliff, from the weed anthem title track to raucous, hyper-sexual “Heavy Honey” and “Cutting Trees.” Relentless, punk infused stompers “Whitebread and Beans” and “All Damn Day” and droning, minimalistic John Lee Hooker workout “Elephant Stomp” are other highlights.
Although all their records are worth listening to if you dig filthy hill country blues (and you should), Dirty Spliff Blues propels Left Lane Cruiser into a completely different stratosphere. The only way to get the ultimate LLC experience, though, is to see them live. Catch them this Saturday at 7:00 PM on the Harriet Brewing stage at Patrick’s Cabaret’s Roots, Rock, and Deep Blues Festival.
Erik Ritland is a writer and musician from St. Paul, Minnesota. His blog and podcast Rambling On features commentary on music, sports, culture, and more. He was also Lead Staff Writer for Minnesota culture blog Curious North. Support Erik's music via his Patreon account, reach him via email, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.
Although all their records are worth listening to if you dig filthy hill country blues (and you should), Dirty Spliff Blues propels Left Lane Cruiser into a completely different stratosphere. The only way to get the ultimate LLC experience, though, is to see them live. Catch them this Saturday at 7:00 PM on the Harriet Brewing stage at Patrick’s Cabaret’s Roots, Rock, and Deep Blues Festival.
Erik Ritland is a writer and musician from St. Paul, Minnesota. His blog and podcast Rambling On features commentary on music, sports, culture, and more. He was also Lead Staff Writer for Minnesota culture blog Curious North. Support Erik's music via his Patreon account, reach him via email, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.
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