The Lonely H Get Their Domestic Beer'ing On

Concrete Class offers a refreshing dose of Americana

The Lonely H
Concrete Class
Release Date: Jun 9, 2009

When classic rock outfit The Lonely H and their newest release Concrete Class come across the speakers, you’d better hope you’ve got a can of PBR in one hand and a one-night stand in the other. Their sound is unapologetically Americana — as their MySpace page reveals, influences include The Eagles, Midwest diners, and Fleetwood Mac. After listening to the album, I’m wondering whether or not they fly the American flag at their shows. Obviously, this sound could be perceived as cheesy and overworked. However, the foursome manages to distinguish themselves on a number of levels from typical bar band fare.

On a purely superficial level, I’ve got to give these boys some credit—and yes, the term “boys” is not just meant as an endearing classification. These kids are all in their early 20s, but they manage to sound like 50-year-old men that have been hanging out in dive bars singing along to karaoke for decades. I never thought it was possible for an original band to sound like a cover band, but I half-expected The Lonely H to bust out “Livin’ on a Prayer” or “Don’t Stop Believin” at some point on the album.

Claiming that they sound like a cover band comprised of 50-year-old men may not sound like the most shining endorsement, but here’s how they make it work. They have some of the most organic and beautiful four-part harmonies, juxtaposed against classic rock guitar riffs. You’ve got to hear it to believe it, and there’s no better example than “The River.” Compared to the rest of their songs, it’s got a solid acoustic foundation with backwoods lyrics that beg to be sung out loud. Their voices all play their own unique role, and the result is close to perfection.

Not down for ethereal harmonies? The Lonely H is at their Americana best on “Other Side of the Water.” Between the opening guitar line and lead singer Mark Fredson’s strong, yet raspy voice, it sounds like a classic in the making.  While this track doesn’t push the bar band vibe to its breaking point, the final track does. First, did they have to call it “Girl From Jersey?” Now they’re just asking for trouble. On the rest of the album, the instrumentation at least appears to have a sense of fun and improvisation behind it. On “Girl From Jersey” though, it sounds like they’ve used pre-programmed guitar and drum parts. Beyond that, the passionate vocals are entirely absent—this song just sounds like it’s gone to pasture.

During a summer that seemed to be destined to be one big indie-electronica dance party, it’s nice to know that every now and then, listeners can indulge in a pretty decent rock ‘n’ roll sound. Just watch out for those Jersey girls.

You can find tour dates for The Lonely H here.