On a rainy day in Edinburgh, in an unassuming pub on cobblestone streets, three lads from St. Albans were pulling instruments from their cases and setting up on a stage in the back of the old brick building. One of them, a grinning well-dressed man in a long peacoat was holding a beautiful Gretsch guitar. Another was wielding an upright bass, and the third a snare. I knew instantly I was in for a good night. After a bit of conversation, and the typical hurry up and wait tedium that is the true dull reality of the life of a touring artist, the lights went down, the amps flicked on and I was treated to one of the most electrifying 40 minutes of punk tinged old school rock n roll I’ve seen in years. This was my introduction to one of the most entertaining and talented rock n roll bands on the scene today. This was the night I met The Zipheads.

Now, less than a year later, those wonderful greased-up rockers have delivered a slick new collection of 12 instant classics called Rock’n’Roll Renaissance. If you listen close to these cuts, you will be treated to a sonic tour of the history of one of the most beloved and historically significant musical movements of our time. In these tracks you will find traces of Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, Buddy Holly, Bo Diddley, and Brill pop stars like The Crystals or The Shangri-Las. You will hear the punky spirit of the Stray Cats and The Living End, the power pop perfection of Dave Edmunds, the soulful of crooning styles of Jackie Wilson and Nat King Cole, not to mention a plethora of other diverse stylings. This disc has it all and it delivers expertly in every case.

The record’s title track kicks things off with a brief overview of the genre and it’s fight for relevance in modern times. A stomping beat and pleasantly distorted guitars set the stage for the entertaining romp that lies in store. As the track barrels forward, we are treated to layers of strings and bombastic horns, all setting the stage for what may just be the rock record of the year.

“Happiness” picks up the baton with a little more 70’s style punk spit n growl, but played with all the style and skill of a well-rehearsed rockabilly outfit. Chuck Berry riffs abound, as Ray Waters extolls the virtues of placing self preservation over outward validation, delivered with a sneer and a grin. The shuffling jump blues number “Hold Tight” follows with a guitar centric high speed train ride of a rock n roll romp, while album single “How Do You Like Me Now?” Opens with a reverb drenched Spanish style guitar lick, complete with strings and bells, only to give way to a brilliant pop hook filled banger of a tune. A tale of resurrection and triumph plays out over the roughly 3 and a half minute run time, buoyed by some excellent guitar work and an ear worm of a chorus that would make RFK Jr. twinge with jealousy. If this doesn’t stick in your head faster than Phinneas Gage’s Tamping iron, I just don’t know what to tell ya. Maybe get your ears checked?

“Incestuous” is a punch in face with a sugar-covered fist. Quick and sharp, fun and witty. This tune is bound to get your head bobbing and toes tapping. “Why Say You Do?” would have fit easily onto an old Ricky Nelson release. Ray croons and swaggers through this song with bubblegum perfection. It’s a masterclass in pop songwriting, but maintains the razor-sharp hooks and jabs that fill this disc from bottom to top. The doo wop breakdown alone is worth the price of admission. 

As the album moves into its back half, we are treated to everything from classical pomp and hot jazz swingers to Crickets-esque jungle beats and sugary crooning that wouldn’t feel out of place in the American Songbook era of classic pop. We are even treated to a chilled-out reggae-flavored rendition of the Jackie Wilson classic “Lonely Teardrops”. How could you not love these guys?! 

Rock’n’Roll Renaissance is one of those rare releases with absolutely no skips. Trying to pick it apart to parse out flaws and imperfections would be an exercise in futility. This thing is a slab of solid rock n roll gold. The Zipheads have outdone themselves and cemented their legacy as a top notch act to watch out for. This will likely stay in my top 5 records of the year, if not the last 5 years. Rock’n’Roll Renaissance delivers on all fronts and demands repeat listens. Don’t believe me? Give it a listen below and find out for yourself.