Black Leather Blues
By Mike O’Cull
Swaggering blues/rockers Dustin Douglas & The Electric Gentlemen go hard and aim high on their new record Black Leather Blues.
The new set drops April 14th, 2023 on Mo Mojo Records and was tracked at Eight Days a Week Studios in Northumberland, Pennsylvania by Paul Smith (Badlees), who engineered and co-produced the tracks with Douglas. Together, Smith and Douglas did top work capturing the blues/rock/punk hurricane that Douglas and his fully-charged rhythm section put down. Once in the can, the record was mixed by Brian Moncarz (Alice Cooper, Our Lady Peace, Phillip Sayce) and mastered by Brian Lucey (Black Keys, Royal Blood, Arctic Monkeys, Buddy Guy, Doyle Bramhall II, Green Day, Liam Gallagher, Elvis Costello).
It’s a multifaceted, ten-song collection equally full of the soul of the past and the fury of the present.
Lead guitarist/singer/songwriter Dustin Douglas and his band The Electric Gentlemen (drummer Tommy Smallcomb and bassist Matt “The Dane” Gabriel) are an absolutely lights-out crew of true believers who are able to bring the edge back to American-style rock and roll. Based in Pennsylvania, the three players exhibit a masterful command of hooks, riffs, and attitude that could only create high-value music. Black Leather Blues is the band’s third album and finest work to date. They’ve been in a state of continuous evolution since first making the scene in 2016 and are now on the verge of the breakout they’ve worked so hard to achieve.
The record kicks off with the stomping “Why Would You Say Such A Thing.” It’s a wide-open rock song with a danceable groove that will move any crowd that hears it. Douglas is an excellent singer as well as a mighty guitarist and he fully owns this one from the first bar. His rhythms are crisp and his solos roar. Drummer Tommy Smallcomb shifts into half-time for a couple measures in the middle of Douglas’ lead break just to heavy things up before getting back to the main pocket. The tactic works swimmingly well and adds to the song’s overall appeal.
“Why Would You Say Such A Thing”
“Burning Down” is a strong classic rock-inspired jam that gives Douglas all the space he needs to rip the strings off of his guitar. His style contains chordal and melodic ideas that hit differently than most of his peers and he will keep you listening closely to hear what he does next. No cookie-cutter player, Douglas is always immersed in his own depths and his lines and ideas are distinct and original.
The mid-speed chugger “Broken” is the album’s first single and showcases the heavier side of the group. The main riff is in Sabbath/Zeppelin territory and Douglas wails on vocals over its top. The figure changes during the course of the arrangement enough to keep you guessing and the band seamlessly executes each variation. Douglas, Smallcomb, and Gabriel flow like a singular entity on this one, intuitively using sound, space, and time for maximum intensity.
“What You See” is Stones-ish grit adapted to the modern world. The energy level is overwhelming and the way the band interprets this bit of rock DNA is beyond impressive. Douglas has one of the best organic guitar sounds going these days and the way his overdrive blooms when he sustains a chord is a thing of beauty. His tone is angry but articulate, making everything he plays push towards the front of your awareness.
Black Leather Blues is a winner from end to end and will undoubtedly open up infinite new doors for Dustin Douglas & The Electric Gentlemen. In an era where many feel that genuine rock music has run its course, this crew serves up a musical kick in the teeth that proves that idea to be a complete falsehood. This is the music we all need right now. Highly recommended.
Dustin Douglas & The Electric Gentlemen website
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