We are always in search of something. And TheSpool is always in search of something that stands out. Something different, something deeper, something that touches the roots of all things. And tonight on Record Store Day in Kuala Lumpur, TheSpool discovered Rollin’ Sixers.
Consisting of Eddy Lim on the vocals and the blues harp, Khairil .M. Bahar and Henry Tan (with his signature hat and Joker card placed on top) (btw Henry, I’d love to see you play your mandolin) on the strings, Jay Kughan on bass and Ian Stewart on the drums, this 5 piece band hails KL and plays dirty blues, inviting lads (and at times curious kids like me) to relive their good old days where blues rule the airwaves.
Kicking off with Werewolf Snuff , it seems like it’s gonna be a good start for the night. Like a child knowing that he’ll get his favourite toy by the end of a shopping trip. The song pretty much set the pace and tells you what to expect from the rest of the album. Loads of string bending, heavy distortion, high pitched blues harp substituting the vocals at some part and of course, the quick and hard drum beats. One thing I really love about the album is that the mixing is pretty well done. It’s just that I was expecting it to be somewhat, heavier/dirtier.
Followed by Devil Won’t Gimme A Raise, a song about working such a bad job that you just felt like quitting but you can’t. The song is super suitable for a bar fight (yes i love the rhythm) or when you’re fighting with your boss about how fucked up your job is and all you want to do is flip his table but you can’t cause you have your love child and your girlfriend to feed at home.
Another Lie, Bedroom Light and Don’t Say Goodbye on the other hand is pretty different than the rest of the songs of their self titled album. It was pretty much good ol’ classic rock. Less dirty, less blues harp. Still good, though it’s slower. I believe this is the side of Rollin’ Sixers that’s pretty much sensitive and heartbroken (what was I saying, of course Rollin’ Sixers are heartbreakers 
) .
It has been said, “No woman no cry.” Well, believe it or not, having no woman leaves you blues, said Rollin’ Sixers in their song No Woman Blues. Then, followed by their current single, Hard Love, in which the vocals sounds like Eddy was singing through a megaphone or whatever it is, it’s real hard to figure out the words unless you’re blasting the song through your sound system. Well, that’s how it’s supposed to be enjoyed. Loud. (And accompanied with a beer as it’ll sound better the more you drink)
Starting off slow, Never Famous slowly evolves into a familiar tune. Which reminds me of Alice in Chains’ Rooster. Probably it’s the Wah pedal at the start. As the build up ends, the song slows down for an interlude of strings and bass. Perfect is the word. Like you’re getting your favourite band’s concert ticket at a suitable price, kickass venue and on a date that you don’t have to work. Or even care about getting up for work the next day.
The end is rather long, as Blues for Sarge, is 20 minutes long. Which is why they refused to play it during live sets. If they do play it during live sets (and yes I know they’ve played it once) count yourself lucky. This song takes you on a journey, as Rollin’ Sixers show you the roots of blues. Mainly on tambourine and what sounds like an acoustic guitar (correct me if I’m wrong), it feels like the never-ending ride on the cab and you watch your meter shoot up while you only have 10 bucks in your wallet. Don’t worry, quit looking at the meter (or your watch in this case). Sit back, relax and listen to the blues of Rollin’ Sixers.
While the Sixers are so awesome live, I believe that more of that ‘dirtiness’ they get on their live sets can be transferred into their recorded materials.
Rollin’ Sixers:
Website: http://www.rollinsixers.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rollinsixers
Twitter: @666ers
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/rollinsixers
Reverbnation : http://www.reverbnation.com/rollinsixers
