Kicking off the summer season with a bang. A little about these Gentlemen...DUSTIN DOUGLAS & THE ELECTRIC GENTLEMEN’s dynamic, heavy, swagger- injected, sexy & dirty, blues-influenced rock n’ roll brings vintage sound and vibe to modern ears. The band’s much-anticipated third album Black Leather Blues via Mo Mojo Records underlines this and much more.
“All I’m trying to do is continue the tradition of The Stones, Zeppelin and The Faces,” says Dustin Douglas. “Take the traditional blues spirit, mix it with some heavy rock n’ roll and play it for a new generation. But it ain’t your poppa’s blues,” he adds. “I listen to Rage Against the Machine as much as I listen to Muddy Waters. That blend of influences is what makes it unique.”
Fronted by the transcendent lead guitarist/singer/songwriter Dustin Douglas, The Electric Gentlemen—rounded out by drummer Tommy Smallcomb and bassist Matt “The Dane” Gabriel—command the stage with virtuosic musicianship and classic-rock spirit mixed with punk rock attitude that leaves even the most discerning music fans falling in love with their style at the end of any live show.
On the 10-song Black Leather Blues, Pennsylvania’s Dustin Douglas & The Electric Gentlemen put the pedal to the floor, asking for no mercy with heavy riffs, huge hooks and memorable, blues-inspired rock n’ roll rhythms that takes listeners on a familiar yet fresh musical journey.
Black Leather Blues was recorded at Eight Days a Week Studios in Northumberland, PA by Paul Smith (Badlees) who engineered and co-produced the album with Douglas. It was mixed by Brian Moncarz (Alice Cooper, Our Lady Peace, Phillip Sayce) and mastered by Brian Lucey (Black Keys, Royal Blood, Arctic Monkeys, Buddy Guy, Doyle Bramhall II, Green Day, Liam Gallagher, Elvis Costello.)
The album was launched with the single/video “Broken,” described by Rock and Blues Muse as “a soul-cleansing shot of progressive blues/rock minimalism that’s as much about the space between the notes as the notes themselves. Dustin Douglas is a first-class guitar shaman, weaving together spellbinding riffs and solos that transport listeners directly into his world.” The publication added: “His vocals are strident and strong, expressing the hard blues inherent in 21st Century life.”
The album’s second single/video is the rhythmically dynamic and lyrically pointed “Why Would You Say Such A Thing,” which underlines the band’s ability to create modern blues-rock with plenty of attitude and drama. “From the moment I wrote it, I felt it would be a signature song for us,” says Douglas. “It defines what we do as a band. It has a big riff, danceable rhythm, catchy chorus and an ole’ school broken-hearted, blues-inspired lyric.” “Why Would You Say Such a Thing” is destined to be one of the band’s best-received songs.”
BLACK LEATHER BLUES is the follow-up album to DDEG’s 2018 release, Break It Down which charted on The Blues Album Charts, Blues Singles Charts and Blues-Rock Single Charts. In 2018, the band took home two Steamtown Music Awards (Scranton, PA) for both “Blues Artist Of The Year“ and “Album Of The Year.” Notably, again in 2019, they found themselves with 3 Steamtown Nominations—Guitarist Of The Year, Video Of The Year for “Broken” and Live Performers Of The Year—as well as an Independent Blues Music Award nomination for Blues/Rock Song of The Year for “Out of My Mind.” On top of that, the Central PA Music Hall Of Fame nominated the band in 2021 and 2022 for “Blues Rock Band Of The Year.”
The Outcrops will get the concert started. The Outcrops play music with heart. They have dug their roots into the music of rock n roll, blues, funk, and soul legends. Within their show, they often pay homage to artists such as BB King and Aretha Franklin, and bands such as The Grateful Dead and The Band. Their original music stems from that same soulful soil, ranging from gritty blues to upbeat Americana.