The Record Company makes Hangout debut

Posted by Stephen Centanni | Apr 20, 2016 | The Rundown | 0 |

The third weekend in May, Gulf Shores will host the seventh installment of one of the world’s most epic beach parties, the Hangout Music, Beach & Arts Festival. A multitude of festival-goers will travel to the Alabama Gulf Coast to meet a legion of the world’s hottest music acts. Along with them, The Record Company from Los Angeles will make its Hangout Fest debut. The band’s latest release, “Give It Back to You,” has been gathering new listeners with each passing day.

Tracks on their new album showcase many musical faces frontman Chris Vos says are shaped by diverse influences ranging from Howlin’ Wolf to The Stooges. The listener never knows what to expect. Vos describes their rock ‘n’ roll sound as leaning heavily into “the roll” with a firm footing in “the rock.”

“The roll is the soul. It’s where all the blues is. It’s where all the gospel is, and all the swing and all the sway comes from the roll,” Vos said.

(Photo | facebook.com/therecordcompany) The Record Company write and play raw, sincere rock ‘n’ roll influenced by the rough honesty of bluesmen like John Lee Hooker, early punk bands like The Stooges and rock greats like The Rolling Stones.

(Photo | facebook.com/therecordcompany) The Record Company write and play raw, sincere rock ‘n’ roll influenced by the rough honesty of bluesmen like John Lee Hooker, early punk bands like The Stooges and rock greats like The Rolling Stones.

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The Record Company has created a sound Vos says comes from the heart, honestly, which was its goal from the beginning. When the band was starting out in Los Angeles, he says, they had no high expectations for success. When The Record Company began to make its way through the scene, it found Los Angeles was ready for its raw, gritty form of rock. In addition to concert-goers, Vos says local music critics and radio also began to take notice of the band’s sound, which kindled its reputation.

“We actually got support pretty fast, and we were very thankful for that,” Vos said. “We were a little surprised by it, but we were never one to question, just move forward. It’s good to stick out like a sore thumb, I think.”

With its heavy radio rotation and chart success, The Record Company’s latest, Morphine-esque single, “Off the Ground,” has helped propel the band into new territory with its slide-heavy groove. Vos says this is a song about pushing on and moving forward and not letting things get you down. “Off the Ground” begins with bassist Alex Stiff’s slide work on the bass, joined by Vos’ lap-steel track. While Stiff grooved, Vos organically fell into the lyrics.

“I started singing and wanted to go for something more of a John Lee Hooker influence, where you sing lower instead of going to the top of your range and sit lower in your register and let it go that way,” Vos said.

The Record Company’s live show is based on a vital philosophy, Vos said, which bleeds into the performance. The group must see every show as their last; with this in mind, Vos said, the crowd can expect a high-energy rock ‘n’ roll show. The band’s goal in the live setting is to “elevate the spirit” of their audience.

General admission tickets, VIP passes and Super VIP passes for Hangout Fest 2016 are currently available at www.hangoutmusicfest.com.

About The Author

Stephen Centanni

With the exception of two years spent at Auburn University, Steve Centanni has spent his life in Mobile County while focusing on his two passions: music and the written word. As soon as he was issued his driver’s license, Centanni began to explore the local music scene in the early ‘90s. He filled his weekend with visits classic local venues such as the Four Strong Winds Coffee House, Vincent Van Go-Go’s and Culture Shock, all of which welcomed those who had yet to reach 18. After high school, Centanni traded Mobile for Auburn to complete his B.A. in English with an emphasis on general writing. While at Auburn, he had the honor of studying under the Pulitzer-winning poet Natasha Trethewey, who served as the nation’s Poet Laureate in 2012 and 2014. After receiving his diploma, Centanni quickly moved back to Mobile and completed the University of South Alabama’s graduate program with a M.Ed. Eventually, he was tapped by the nationally distributed Volume Entertainment Magazine to serve as the magazine’s managing editor/senior writer. His time with Volume allowed him to exercise his love for both music and writing. As Volume began to fade, Lagniappe recruited Centanni as their Music Writer and later their Music Editor, where he has remained for a little over a decade. As far as his involvement in the local music scene, Centanni organized Cess Fest at the Langan Park, which was a mini-festival focused on original local music in a time when original local music was veritably taboo in Downtown Mobile. For a short time, he brought original music to Downtown Mobile as the in-house promoter for the now deceased venue Cell Block. He managed local underground powerhouse Fry Cook, until the members parted ways. Centanni has lent his bass to bands such as Keychain Pistol and The F’n A-Holes, and he toured nationally as a member of Abstract Artimus & the Torture Children. Currently, he provides vocals for the garage blues rock outfit Johnny No. Ultimately, Centanni’s experience in the local music scene as both a participant and an observer has allowed him to witness the ever-changing persona of Mobile’s enigmatic music scene, which continues to leave him with more questions than answers.