STAGEFRIGHT

"Self Titled"
(Independent)

Anyone remember a band called Princess Pang? Well, Stagefright are a lot like them. In fact, if someone put this album on and didn't tell me who the band was, I would have guessed Princess Pang had reformed. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be the case, but Stagefright are a good band nevertheless. They play gritty, rough, raunchy, bluesy hard rock in the classic 70's/80's style, with raw, stripped down production. They are fronted by a woman named Tracey McLewee, who has a tough, in your face, yet smooth, voice, like Pat Benatar, Allanah Myles, or Jeni Foster (of the aforementioned Princess Pang). Guitarists Terry Clarke and Richard Thwaites can sure play up a storm, cranking out some crunchy riffs and smoking solos. Their influences seem to be from guitarists like Joe Satriani and Gary Moore. This album is chock full of straight ahead, punch packing hard rock tunes, plus one ballad simply called "Ballad", in which they use a keyboard. This song reminded me, just a little bit, of Led Zeppelin's "All My Love". There is also one instrumental track, this also given the simple title of "Intrumental", which gives the two axe slingers a chance to show off their skills. For a band named after a case of the jitters, Stagefright sure has balls! For anyone who misses the classic, vintage sound of REAL hard rock, this band is definitely worth giving a spin to!

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