(Photo by Roshelle Hudson)
In its short time together, Admiral of the Red has quickly evolved from a blues-based garage rock duo into a fully realized, dynamic rock band. The raw roots rock approach of guitarist Matt Hurst and drummer Tom Hudson, coupled with MB Hurst’s visceral vocals and a low-end punch from bassist Chris Reed creates the band’s primal, driving sound, reminiscent of The Dead Weather and Queens of the Stone Age. We talk more with Hudson about the group and what they have coming up.
The Deli: Down and dirty: one sentence to describe your music.
Hudson: Rock and roll with a hint of blues and a tinge of soul. At least that's what we like to think.
The Deli: Give me some background info on the band.
Hudson: Matt [Hurst] and I met in 2012 and shared the same appreciation for the blues/roots rock sound that Jack White, The Black Keys, and Queens Of The Stone Age do so well. Particularly the sound of The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather—we really wanted to capture that big raw sound. We originally planned to maintain the band as a two-piece, but when Matt's sister MB showed up at a practice and started singing, it was pretty much a no-brainer to have her take on the lead vocalist role. After spending a good portion of 2013 coming up with a set list and writing songs, we decided we wanted to make a demo. After a 30-minute phone conversation with Joel Nanos at Element Recording, the demo became an EP and we went into the studio in August 2013 to record it, essentially putting out an album before ever playing a show. Over the last year, we have had some great times and have played great shows. About 6 months ago we decided to bring in a bass player to fill out the sound of the band since our songwriting was moving in a direction that needed it. Since then, we've been working on tightening up as a band, playing good shows, and just having fun.
The Deli: What have been your greatest accomplishments as a band?
Hudson: Well, we've been playing together for about 18 months and even recorded an EP together. While we all have our disagreements at times, we do not hate each other... yet. When you put opinionated people together in one band, it's a big accomplishment to stick together, grow, and better yourselves as musicians.
The Deli: What can we expect from your EP, Almost Free? Do you plan to record again soon?
Hudson: As mentioned above, Almost Free originally was only supposed to be a demo. The goal was to just have something in our hands to give to promoters, friends, and fellow musicians to get the word out and book shows. However, we're really glad that we decided to make an EP instead. The feedback on the album has been positive and we're really happy with the way it turned out. Joel did an outstanding job and provided insight that turned out to be extremely valuable as we started to play shows. Even though it's been over a year now, it is still a good representation of our sound. As for a new album, the plan is to start recording a full-length by the end of this year. We're close to having enough new material for it and can't wait to get back in the studio again.
The Deli: What does supporting local music mean to you?
Hudson: Going to shows, supporting, helping your fellow musicians better themselves. Sort of preaching to the choir here, since the reason our music scene is so great is because so many people already do that.
The Deli: Who are your favorite local musicians right now?
Hudson: This is probably the hardest question to answer. From the more established groups to the newer bands around, there is so much great music happening in KC right now. However, some highlights would definitely be Drop A Grand, The Conquerors, and Katy Guillen and the Girls.
The Deli: Who are your favorite non-local musicians right now?
Hudson: Tok and Bruiser Queen from St. Louis are doing great things these days. We opened up for Leopold and His Fiction from Austin the other night and were just blown away by their live show. Another great Austin band is Not In The Face; they write and play some great rock and roll. Definitely recommend catching any of these guys the next time they come through town.
The Deli: What is your ultimate fantasy concert bill to play on?
Hudson: Queens Of The Stone Age, The Dead Weather, and The Kills.
The Deli: A music-themed Mount Rushmore. What four faces are you putting up there and why?
Hudson: Jack White, Dave Grohl, Josh Homme, and Britt Daniel. Each one of them has a great respect for the history of rock and roll, and do a great job carrying the torch.
The Deli: What other goals does Admiral of the Red have for 2014?
Hudson: We'll be opening for Outsides on Saturday, September 13 at recordBar. This will be our last show for a bit, as we write some new material and get ready to record. Look for us to play again, hopefully with some new material in November/December.
The Deli: Where can we find you on the web?
The Deli: Always go out on a high note. Any last words of wisdom for the Deli audience?
Hudson: Go to shows, go to shows, go to shows! As mentioned earlier, we have a great scene here and the way that scene thrives is by supporting each other. Also, spread the word to others who may not play. I feel there are A LOT of people in this city that don't quite understand how much talent resides here and would really take notice if they were just made aware. Tell co-workers, friends, family, their friends, and so on. We are our biggest supporter, but that sometimes doesn't work when we're all playing different shows on a Saturday night. The mentality should be that there are never enough people listening. Spread the word, but most of all have fun!
--Michelle Bacon
Michelle Bacon is editor of The Deli KC and plays in bands.
