Angels Got His Back. The Bard Band

The Band is no longer among us, with only one member still alive (Garth Hudson), enter The Bard Band. The way Angels Got His Back opens, I feel like I'm back in the cinema in Breda, decades ago, watching 'The Last Waltz', which, a few singles aside, was my introduction to The Band.

The Bard Band "was formed in 2017 by college friends Jamie Pagliaro (acoustic guitar, lead vocals) and Michael Schreiber (keyboard, organ, vocals), who had lost touch for two decades. The lineup grew to include Dave Menez (bass guitar, vocals), Mike Potenza (electric guitar, vocals) and David Kolk (drums, percussion, vocals)", as  the bio says. Angels Got His Back is the band's first full length album after an EP called 'Come Back Often'.

On the album The Bard Band takes the listener on a trip down memory lane of American and British classic (folk)rock music with as much rock influences as there are soul ones. Fans of these mixes will find a lot to their liking on this album. Take the title song, the second on the album. You will find Van Morrison as much as the Michael McDonald era The Doobie Brothers. With his raspy, well-aged voice singer, guitarist and songwriter Jamie Pagliaro fits the bill of these kind of songs perfectly.

Okay, don't come to me complaining that 'you do not hear anything new on Angels Got His Back'. In that case you've missed the point of the album. These men, all moving on in life are writing originals in the style that they loved when younger. And doing a great job at it, I can only add. The Bard Band are on a roll here. The songs are spot on and the sound is so clear. From the acoustic guitar to the warm organ, from the bass to each hit on the drums, all can be heard in great details. What it shows, is that these men know what they are doing. Producer and mixer Ray Ketchem deserves to get full credit for his work on Angels Got His Back.

Photo: Jamie Pagliaro

The only thing that I can hold against The Bard Band is that it all sounds ear friendly. Besides Pagliaro's voice there is no danger in Angels Got His Back, underscored by the Eagles style harmony singing, like in 'We Are Such Stuff'.

With seven songs the album is over far too soon. I wouldn't have mind a few more songs in this style. The Bard Band really lays it on with a warm sheen over its music. With all the post punk energy flying around these days, The Bard Band's music is exactly the right antidote to balance things. What a nice album it is.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

You can listen to and order Angels Got His Back here:

https://thebardband.bandcamp.com/album/angels-got-his-back