By: Robert Silverstein
aking a cue from rock and roll legends like ZZ Top, Robin Trower and Foghat, the debut CD by Southern Gentlemen deserves a listen. Hardly a newcomer to the hard-rock music scene, the group's lead singer and guitarist, David T. Chastain earned a stellar reputation with his acclaimed solo albums and his guitar work in the band Chastain. With "Exotic Dancer Blues", Chastain has recorded an album that mixes hard-rock, blues and Southern rock. A cross between Jimi Hendrix, Duane Allman and Stevie Ray Vaughan, Chastain readily admits to his fondness for early '70s roots-rock adding, "Obviously listening to the material will bring back memories of the legendary blues rock from such bands as early ZZ Top, Robin Trower, Hendrix and even some Skynyrd influences. We just play it a little heavier! That was the style of music that I was first attracted to when I started playing." Displaying some of his first ever vocal recordings on disc, Chastain and his bandmates Kevin Kekes (bass) and Dennis Lesh (drums) command enough sheer rock energy to blow the roof off.
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