STRUTTERZINE: ESQUELA ‘A SIGN FROM GOD’ (LIVESTOCK!/HEMIFRAN/SWEDEN IMPORT) 

Out of upstate New York, USA comes ESQUELA, a band with a rootsy rocksound that already delivered 3 albums during the past 10 years. Now it’s time for their 4th album of this shared female/male vocal driven 70s sounding band. Their line up consists of vocalist Rebecca Frame, lead guitarist Brian Shafer, Chico Finn on acoustic and vocals, Matt Woodin on guitar, Keith Christopher on bass and Mike Ricciardi on drums. Together they create this classic authentic 70s American rootsy rocksound with catchy melodies and a mostly strong uptempo rocking approach, with as highlights Not In My Backyard (NIMBY), Oradura, Rest Of My Life, First World Problems and 1861, while the only calmer song is the closing track Wait For Me, which is a nice ballad. They sound a bit like TOM PETTY, NEIL YOUNG, CALEXICO and such, but still with an own identity due to the shared vocals and especially the powerful vocals of Rebecca sound very impressive. Check them out at: www.esquelatheband.com

 (Points: 8.1 out of 10)