Dark Side Review

Josh Hyde 's new ‘ Dark Side ' has nice groove

Music review

By Andrew Griffin The Town Talk
Alexandria-Pineville, La.
Posted: March 12, 2004

“ Dark Side ,” the latest offering from Alexandria's very own Josh Hyde and the Hitchhikers is one of those albums that sounds great in a variety of places — hanging out with friends at an outdoor barbecue, driving around at night, or even at home recovering from a bad break up.

Hyde is a singer/songwriter and guitarist who has a knack for incorporating a variety of distinctive Louisiana sounds — sultry folk ‘n' blues, New Orleans soul, and that distinctive rock guitar sound you're likely to hear in bars and clubs throughout the mid-South. He is was born in Baton Rouge and was first exposed to blues music as a teenager at Tabby's Blues Box. Tabby Thomas, Larry Garner, and Silas Hogan were some of his early influences as a musician.

Dark er themes run through the veins of this record and it actually works well. There is an undeniable authenticity in Hyde 's songs and even a little humor.

“Her Love Runs Cold” is a Fogerty-esque choogler that has Hyde with a spooky vampire girl in the graveyard at midnight . How very Anne Rice.

“She took me walkin' through the graveyard bones / her skin it sparkled like a fine gemstone / the sky was crying by my mouth was dry / all I could see was a midnight sky.”

The funky instrumental “White Bread” featuring Travis Doyle's bubbly Hammond B-3 organ and Jamey Bell's dead-on percussion makes this groovy track a must.

Hyde puts his lonely soul wholeheartedly into the memorable “Big Easy Blues,” featuring guest harmonica player Gary Primich.

“ Skeleton Town ” has an almost mid-60's Merseybeat rock groove that is quite appealing and makes it a standout track.

Eight of the 10 songs were recorded at Bell Recording studios in Alexandria while the final two tracks – Freddie King's “Have You Ever Loved a Woman” and Teddie Morgan's “If It Kills Me” – were recorded live at the Pelican Club. Hyde 's guitar work on these two tracks is some of the best I've heard.

Andrew Griffin: 487-6390;

agriffin@thetowntalk.com




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