Reigning Sound at the Bowery Ballroom

Greg Cartwright

After playing in a list of garage rock bands including the Oblivians and the Compulsive Gamblers, vocalist/guitarist Greg Cartwright formed Reigning Sound in 2001 in his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. Then in 2004, Cartwright re-located his family to Asheville, North Carolina, and revamped the band lineup. About three years ago, Cartwright was asked to record a promotional EP with help from organist Dave Amels in Nashville, Tennessee. Cartwright had lined up two local friends to round out the band, but both cancelled at the last minute. Amels’ band mates in the Brooklyn soul group the Jay Vons— Mike Catanese (guitar), Benny Trokan (bass), Mikey Post (drums) —  flew to Nashville, learned the songs, and recorded them with Cartwright in a couple of days. This quintet remains the band's current lineup. Reigning Sound’s sixth studio album and first album in five years, Shattered, was released on July 15, 2014.

Once known as a fiery garage rock band, Reigning Sound performed a more than polished set at the Bowery Ballroom tonight. The quintet was even joined by a violin and cello player for the early part of the set. Reigning Sound performed most of the current album, launching with the upbeat "North Cackalacky Girl." Fortunately for fans of an earlier era, driving Elvis Costello-styled rock and roll remained the evening's most prevalent genre. The raw guitar licks of Cartwright's past rave-ups were evident, but were now more contained and calculated, as he often sang closed-eyed with his best Van Morrison rhythm & blues vocal licks. On several songs, Cartwright kept alive a taste of country blues as well. Perhaps it is a sign of middle-aged maturity, but Reigning Sound has begun muting and taming its wilder side, seemingly gravitating towards Americana.