Villains News

01/27/2010: 'What's Happening Maine' review of The Villains debut!

THE VILLIANS ARE A BAND TO WATCH FOR IN 2010...NEXT MONTH, TO BE EXACT!
(For the interior of the 1/29/10 issue of “WHP”)

I first heard this band back in early December of last year and my jaw dropped…and I had to wait until now to tell you about them ‘cause next month is the time when they’ll be releasing their very first, self-titled album: “The Villains” (www.thevillainsband.com) on their own label (DCM Records). This six-piece group hails from Atlanta, GA and is made up of Magno (keyboards and vocals), Mike Wilkes (guitar), Jimmy James Schmitt (acoustic guitars and vocals), Dan Call (bass, guitars and vocals), Sean McNally (drums and percussion), and Alan Schaefer (guitars and vocals); their 8-track debut features a sound that reflects their influences (such as The Band, The Eagles, Wings, Atlanta Rhythm Section and Fleetwood Mac) with originals penned by Call with help from Schmitt (on two songs: “Just Another Saturday Night” and “Who Do You Run To?”) and guitarist Peter Stroud (Sheryl Crow and Don Henley) who contributed his guitar, as well, to “You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me,” “What A Shame” and the band’s first hook-laden single, “Let’s Forget About It Tonight.” Myself, I really love their close harmonies (very Eagle-esque, folks!!) and I think that that’s what grabbed me first about The Villains…that and the smoothness of their melodic rock (with their blend of country and pop thrown in for good measure), add to that a mess of extremely catchy tunes and you have one helluva first album!! There is an air of familiarity to the music that awaits you on this great, entertaining album…and The Villains are definitely a band to watch in 2010 and beyond!! (www.thevillainsband.com or www.myspace.com/thevillainsatlanta)

Lucky Clark has spent over four decades writing about good music and the people who make it…he can be reached at luckyc@megalink.net if you have any questions, comments or suggestions!

Lucky Clark
Music in Review