The Buffalo Ruckus (from the album Peace and Cornbread)
A disturbance or a commotion, that is the explanation of the word ruckus. A good word, lots of heft to, and a promise of playfulness within the cacophony of sound. Going by definition, The Buffalo Ruckus do the word justice on their recent release, Peace and Cornbread., A strong sense of Indie DIY threads throughout Peace and Cornbread. There is a Roots heart to the songs that never leaves the room as The Buffalo Ruckus climb “Hills and Valleys” on an ever-coursing current as gentle acoustics notes flicker around a solid electric groove. The album is less an experimentation than a sampling as The Buffalo Ruckus roll a lazy rumble of rhythm underneath “Lay Your Love on Me”, hammer a beat down as foundation for the swamp mist echoes of harmony in “Possum”, take a sip of “Mountain Honey” on the sharp-angled riffs of an electric guitar, and tether the psychedelics of “High in the Garden” with determined chords and staccato strums.
Produced at Modern Electric Sound Recorders in Dallas, Texas, Peace and Cornbread features Jonathan Tyler as producer. The vocals of Jason Lovell front the natural Americana of The Buffalo Ruckus with a Rock presence in his soulful delivery as it boards a snaking wiggle of a beat through the hazy morning after of “Born to Die”, shakes out the demons in “Don’t Think We Were Fooled”, and fills “Trouble Southern Sky” with the spirit of Rock’n’Roll. Vocal howls and powerful strums fire up the tracks of Peace and Cornbread, crackling on “You Can Run” as The Buffalo Ruckus head to the hills of the Appalachia’s as they rattle out an answer to “Carolina Calling”.