Description
Victor Wainwright and the Train’s Memphis Loud explores other Southern cities, with horns pulled straight from New Orleans and a bombast from Huntsville, Alabama, birthplace of Ronnie “The Hawk” Hawkins, the singer who brought The Band together. Geographic imprecision not withstanding, Memphis Loud is wild, piano-driven rock and blues that sets a mood, taking you to a variety of times and places.
Wainwright is a singer/pianist, so it’s almost standard to go straight to the Dr. John comparisons. While Wainwright’s voice doesn’t have John’s texture, both punch unexpected syllables to launch the vocals out of the groove, making them pop. Both artists share a love of horns and of course, the piano. Wainwright’s piano playing is impressive and easy to hear in the mix, but it’s often not the center of the song. The title track demonstrates Wainwright’s willingness to share the spotlight with his colleagues. The song begins with uptempo piano and horns alternating turns , settling into a 50s groove that’s part march, part country, and pure throwback rock and roll.
The tracks build slowly out of a rock and roll framework into soul and rhythm and blues but always return back. Memphis Loud feels like Wainwright is building on the work of The Band, adding more complex horn charts and jazzier song structures, but remaining true to the mostly Canadians’ band ideal of celebrating American music but always bringing the song back around to rock and roll.
