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By Chris Macias -- Sacramento Bee Pop Music Writer June 27, 2003 Victory Gin's music is like a tallboy of Budweiser bursting straight from the heartland. Stinging Les Paul guitars, shout-along choruses and a down-home demeanor -- it's a fine serving of classic rock made new by the Sacramento band. Shades of the Black Crowes figure in Victory Gin's sound, especially in the Chris Robinson-like howl from singer Devon Galley and the bang-'em-up accompaniment from drummer Adam Dickey, guitarist Bryan Ritchie and bassist Dave Rapa. It's a band of early-20-somethings with roots ranging from Placerville to Citrus Heights and Southern California. Now, Victory Gin is shining in Sacramento's music scene like a butane lighter salute. "There's big guitars and a blues kind of vibe to everything, but we definitely don't want to be a '70s rock band," said Ritchie. "It's not that I don't like that music. But we're just trying to write songs, and they sound the way they sound. We just try to write hooks, man, and I try to think that we can sound unique." Victory Gin's latest batch of good-time rock can be heard on its new self-released album, "My Soul Responding." To celebrate, the group is embarking on a double shot tonight: First, the band will perform at Cesar Chavez Plaza, and later in the evening will head over to Old Ironsides for another gig. The new album, however, is more like an EP, with six new tunes and one live track. "My Soul Responding" originally was supposed to include two more songs -- and the liner notes still bear this early track listing -- that were produced by Brian Wheat, the bassist for Tesla. Pairing Victory Gin with a member of Tesla is a snug fit. Both bands share a hearty Led Zeppelin influence and celebrate a workingman's kind of rock that's bound in denim. (Though the members of Victory Gin don't cite Tesla as an influence, they could probably do a mean version of Tesla's "Little Suzi.") Yet the tracks with Wheat will have to wait. Though he has become a fan of the band and recorded Victory Gin at his home studio, nobody was happy with the final results on "Running Away" and "U-Turn." "Brian didn't like the band at first, but then he saw us live and said, 'Let's go work on some songs,' " said Ritchie. "First, we were going to do three songs, then we did two, but we didn't finish them. We figured that it would be better to release them when they were ready and not do it just to do it. It's not a big deal." So Victory Gin scrapped the Wheat sessions and released "My Soul Responding" anyway. After all, new merchandise means a new stream of income to fuel future tours. And Victory Gin is a band that likes to take road trips, gigging as far east as Cincinnati and all over the West, including stops in Seattle, Salt Lake City and Denver. "The live show is definitely our strength," said Ritchie. "Our musicianship is also really good, and definitely has saved us on some nights. The recording studio is relatively new to us, and we can't afford to be in the studio that long. We can't stay in for a month and do a real colorful album. But I think the new album captures our live sound best. People have said, 'That's now how you sound live.' " Such tracks as "Won't Be Long" and the live version of "U-Turn" are certainly a kick in the jeans. Even when Galley sings about being "Fated To Fail," stacked vocal harmonies and strummy guitars keep Victory Gin's glass half-full. Meanwhile, the band will take its show on the road in August, while re-recorded versions of "U-Turn" and "Runnin' Away" will likely crop up on a future album or EP. "We're at the top of our game now," said Ritchie. "More than musically, we've grown as friends and brothers. We're on a mission." Almost famous? Check out the artist's website: http://www.victorygin.com Track List: 1. Won't Be Long 2. Someone Else's Blues 3. The Favor 4. Fated to Fail 5. Message 6. No Complaints 7. U-Turn Live @ Old Ironsides April 5th 2003 Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
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