Eli Young Band

05.19.2005 -- Review by: Steve Jefferson

Eli Young Band
“Level”
Carnival Recording Company
April 2005

If you’re looking for the new release from the Eli Young Band, it may be a tough find. Digging through the Y section at the store, you still may not find the album that you are looking for, try looking in ‘Miscellaneous Y’. That’s where the band’s new release “Level” was when I when digging for this unknown band. I have a feeling that they won’t be in ‘miscellaneous’ very long. Their new release is everything you are looking for if you think the Texas sound has moved to Nashville.

{mosimage}
The Eli Young Band is a North Texas creation and has been together since lead vocalist Mike Eli from just outside Houston, Texas met lead guitarist James Young who hails from Irving, Texas. After working together as a duo for years, the two met drummer Chris Thompson from Colleyville Texas and bassist Jon Jones who calls Omaha Nebraska home. The group came together at the University of North Texas just north of downtown Dallas and have now been together for almost five years.

Level is the bands second album, but first under the Carnival Recording Company. This album mixes everything that is good about rock and country to produce a great blend of music. With roots planted firmly in rock, the country songwriting is allowed to show through. Songs like ‘Small Town Kid’ and ‘Highways and Broken Hearts’ show off the great lyrics and great lead singer voice of Eli. Other songs get your blood pumping and your foot on the gas pedal. ‘Level’ and ‘Bring it on Home’ show off the great guitar licks of lead guitarist Young.

But hard guitar licks and great vocals, can’t hide the great storytelling on a song like ‘Everything is You’. The Eli Young Band has the ability to show off the soul of their songs and be able to put the listener in that moment. From start to finish there is no weak link on this album.

The band has had moderate success so far with their first single, ‘Small Town Kid’ climbing the Texas charts. You can feel the love and passion that this band has for music. The band has been touring relentlessly and is booked every weekend until mid August in locations across North Texas, into Louisiana and Tennessee. If you have the chance, go see these guys. They were signed because of a gig they played at the Gypsy Tea Room in Dallas and if this album is any indication, their live show will be off the charts.

I strongly recommend the Eli Young Band’s ‘Level’. But be careful while looking for this unbelievable new album, they will soon have their own label, and they will not longer be found in ‘Miscellaneous Y’.

Website: http://www.eliyoung.net/

{mosimage}

Click here to purchase this CD at lonestarmusic.com

Upcoming Dates:
     5/20                Woody’s Tavern                    Fort Worth, TX
5/21                Fort Fest                                Mexia, TX
5/26                Firewater                                Dallas, TX
           5/28                Saengerhalle                         New Braunfels, TX