4477 - THE RENEGADE SAINTS - Mercy Saints Alive! (2008)

THE RENEGADE SAINTS
''MERCY SAINTS ALIVE!''
APRIL 23 2008
68:28

1/Justice/5:14
2/Phoenix/5:23
3/Treadmill/4:14
4/Come Around/5:07
5/Like Some Folks Do/4:45
6/Thin Layer/5:31
7/A Letter Home/5:42
8/Strong Medicine/4:03
9/Still In Love With You/5:19
10/It's Only Rock 'N' Roll/6:34
11/Tara/3:50
12/This is My Life/7:15
13/Relief Highway/5:05

Dave Coey/Bass
John Shipe/Guitars
Al Toribio/Guitars
Mike Walker/Keyboards
Ned Failing/Drums

ABOUT
By CD Universe
The Renegade Saints cut a sonic diagonal across the Americana soundscape-from classic Southern jam, to Heartland Rock, to the gritty power of the Pacific Northwest. Four songwriters, three vocalists, and three lead instrumentalists ready to shred on cue, The Saints exhibit musical exploration reminiscent of those ancient multi-fronted bands like Fleetwood Mac, The Who, Pink Floyd & The Eagles! Albeit, with a 1990's injection of aggressive excitability. These guys honed themselves through ferocious touring, typical of the decade spawned them. And finally, after a decade, "Mercy Saints Alive!" gives fans the live album they've waited for. Recorded at the McMenamins Great Northwest Music Tour, it captures the characteristic raw power of an arena-rock-band-at-heart-playing-in-a-small-venue. Intimate, yet powerful. Back in 1994, they released a popular CD, "Fear of the Sky," from which nearly every song received airplay--on commercial, college, alternative, and Triple A formats. Since those halcyon days of independent music in the 90's, the individual Renegades keep working, cranking out dozens of albums, scattered amongst acclaimed acts such as Lea Krueger, Tony Furtado & Dirty Martini. Now they're back with the four original members: Bassist Dave Coey, Guitarists John Shipe & Al Toribio, and keyboardist Mike Walker. They've added their 5th drummer, Ned Failing (a fellow road-dog from The Strangers.)
While dutifully dusting off their old favorites, The Saints have also added new material from their more recent bodies of work in Kerosene Dream & John Shipe Band. Furthermore, as the reunion gigs mount, brand new Saints' songs have appeared out of nowhere, and landed themselves on "Mercy Saints Alive!"
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4337 - THE RENEGADE SAINTS - Fear Of The Sky (1994)

THE RENEGADE SAINTS
''FEAR OF THE SKY''
1994
66:26

1. Psychotic Sex Fire /4:49
2. Delivered /6:28
3. Window /5:29
4. Thin Layer /5:12
5. Something Good /5:39
6. 1968 (Fear of the Sky) /5:20
7. Thinking Tree /4:55
8. Million Dollar Smile /5:31
9. Know By Now /5:59
10. Rockets /5:07
11. Tara /3:50
12. Deep End /8:07

Dave Coey/bass, vocals
John Shipe/vocals, guitar
Al Toribio/guitar, vocals
Mike Walker/keyboards
Drummers (in chronological order)/Matt Reynolds, Mike Partlow, Andy Mitchell, Mike Partlow, Dave Austin, Ned Failing

REVIEW
by Randy Krbechek
Renegade Saints, Fear of the Sky (River Road Records 1994) -- Here's a rare combination -- a debut album for both a band and a label. River Road Records, a new label out of Minneapolis, has signed the Renegade Saints as their first act. This five-piece band make an auspicious debut on Fear of the Sky; if only radio can find them, they should catch fire.

The Renegade Saints are based in Eugene, Oregon, and consist of Mike Walker on Hammond organ and piano, Dave Coey on bass and vocals, John Shipe on guitar and vocals, Alan Toribio on guitar and vocals, and Andy Mitchell on drums. With a sound that is dominated by the richness of a Hammond organ, three-part vocal harmonies, and rockin' rhythm and guitar, Renegade Saints conjure up images of Santana and The Allman Brothers.

Featuring three lead singers, Fear of the Sky doesn't settle into a single groove -- rather, each singer brings his own spin to the fold. When asked what message they were trying to convey in the album, John Shipe said, "Everybody is fucked up in some way or another, so we should quit giving each other a hard time about it. One way to say that in music is to open up and make yourself vulnerable."

Mike Walker adds that his biggest learning experience was "coming to college at a time of existential bewilderment. I was ripe for enlightenment and was given much food for thought, both in and outside of school. Anecdotally, riding my Sting Ray off a four-foot drop because Evel Knevil made it look so easy taught me several things. Some things aren't as easy the pros make them look; the laws of physics require a ramp in order to gain elevation; and always cover your nuts when throwing yourself into a freefall."

On their best tracks, such as "Thin Layer" and "Something Good," the Renegade Saints deliver a heady, rocking mix that sounds like a cross between Big Head Todd and Blues Traveler. However, the real highlights of the album are the more countrified/acoustic numbers like "Tara" and "Deep End." In particular, the splendid gospel harmony vocals on "Deep End" sounds like they came straight off the great new album from the Subdudes (Annunciation, on High Street Records).

"Deep End" is a true showcase for the talents of the band, and a song that deserved considerable air play. Fear of the Sky ought to be a big crossover hit, as River Road Records has found a real gem. But if you haven't figured it out by now, let me make it plain -- there's no justice in the music business. Bands are judged based on their label affiliation instead of their true talents. So be fair and open minded -- give the Renegade Saints a chance, and you'll like them.

ABOUT
The initial run of The Renegade Saints was 1991-1996, during which, they toured ferociously over half the country, ran in-and-out of various recording studios, and flirted with major record labels. The result was a well-received 1994 release, "Fear of the Sky." Nearly every song from "Fear of the Sky" received independent radio airplay. “Delivered,” became a modest hit on West Coast commercial radio, while “Tara” was in regular cable rotation. Hundreds of live shows put them on bills with: Bob Dylan, Blind Melon, Jimmy Cliff, Los Lobos, Jerry Joseph, Leftover Salmon, Cherry Poppin' Daddies, Hootie & The Blowfish, Better than Ezra, Rusted Root, & Zero. Since those halcyon days of independent music, The individual Saints have continued to work steadily, scattered amongst various solid, acclaimed acts such as Kerosene Dream, John Shipe Band, Lea Krueger, & Tony Furtado. Recently, they’ve dusted off the old material, with better musical chops, better voices, better clothes (but less hair and shorter solos). They’ve also added new material from their more recent bodies of work. The reunited Saints bring back the four original members: Bassist Dave Coey, Guitarists John Shipe & Al Toribio, and keyboardist Mike Walker. They’ve added their 5th drummer, Ned Failing (an old fellow road-dog from The Strangers.) Currently, individual Saints remain creatively very busy—Toribio & Failing in particular--with Tony Furtado & Dirty Martini respectively. (Not to mention Shipe’s continued work as a solo artist.) Dave occasionally plays with Bart Ferguson and four out of five Saints play intermittently as Mexican Gunfight.

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