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ALBUM REVIEW: HIGHWAY HYPNOSIS

I am sure many of us have had the experience of encountering an unknown band at a park concert or a state fair and thinking “Oh boy here is another half-ass band”, only to be pleasantly surprised. The good news is The Incorruptibles from Milwaukee, Wisconsin are one of those very surprising and excellent bands. They are one of those mid-west bands that have a similarity to other retro leaning bands like George Bedard & The Kingpins or the legendary Skeletons. They draw from the well of bands with a happy-go-lucky vibe emboldened by exuberant, ringing guitars. A guitar-bass-drums group that are aided on this record by occasional Hammond organ and sax. This is summer fun music lead by vocalist-guitarist Jimmy McCarthy and ably abetted by Amy Ashby on upright & electric bass and vocals and Bill Siebert on drums. All the songs were authored by either Jimmy or Amy. Jimmy’s guitar attack and tone are a joy to behold. The listener gets sucked right into their good-timey frenzy with the instrumental title track "Highway Hypnosis". Jimmy and Amy team up on vocals on the sock-hoppy “Welcome To The Show” with its’ retro references to ponytails, circle skirts, bowling shirts, bobby pins, Mary Janes, switchblade combs…etc. Rod Keyzer closes out the song with a fifties style sax solo. Jimmy takes the vocal on “Another Lonely Night”. Amy provides backing vocals on the upbeat ballad, if there is such a thing. Amy handles vocals and slap bass on “High Roller”. Jimmy Voegeli lets loose with a high-spirited organ solo. “Goin’ To The August Jam” is a rockabilly tribute to an iconic Southern Rock festival. Jimmy shows his guitar versatility with some wicked rockabilly riffing. Amy takes us back to the fifties with the slow burning “Gotta Go”. The girl has an earnest and endearing voice. The guitar is run through a Leslie speaker to attain a warm feel on the upbeat “Redheaded Stepchild”. “Champagne And Caviar” is an ode to a high living woman. More in the rockabilly vein as Amy features on vocal and upright bass. Jimmy’s guitar as usual is creative with great tone. She also handles the vocals on the exhilarating “The Grind”. Jimmy resumes his vocal duties on “Don’t Misjudge Me” along with playing blues-meets-rockabilly guitar. They take us out with dual vocals on the “misery loves company ode “Miserable Together”. Here we have well executed Mid Western Pop-Meets Rockabilly. If the feel good vibes don’t get you, the amazing guitar antics will. Great stuff!” - Greg “Bluesdog” Szalony

Blues Blast Magazine (June 2023)

album review: highway hypnosis

Roots rockers The Incorruptibles have a new record out. Over twelve songs, the band brings a robust, eclectic flavor that blends blues, rockabilly and soul with sprightly demeanor. It feels like the soundtrack to a summer party we’re all invited to, complete with slower moments to even out the rock and roll bangers. There’s serious fun to be had here with all the catchy hooks, frisky grooves, zesty solos and animated attitude you could want. Get down and boogie with The Incorruptibles’ “Highway Hypnosis.”” - Ben Slowey

Breaking And Entering (April 2023)

album review: leave it at the door

The Incorruptibles are three piece band based out of Milwaukee, WI and Leave It At The Door is their debut album, containing 14 original tracks of toe-tappingly irresistible rockabilly and blues. Opening with the eponymous title track, the music explodes out of the speakers with a joyous confidence and a smile as big as Montana, while the rhythm section of Bill Siebert on drums and Amy Ashby on upright bass lay down a seriously swinging foundation for Jimmy McCarthy's voice and guitar. Ostensibly about a club where you can "take that jive and leave it at the door" and escape from your day-to-day problems, McCarthy's lyrics demonstrate a sharp intelligence: "Her day's been going down the tubes like all the rest; the bossman's chasing her all round and round his desk. And when the day is done, she faces one more test - at home, the old man, he's a sorry mess." "Leave It At The Door" is swiftly followed by the shuffle of "Crazy Kind", which benefits from guest Leroy Deuster's wild pedal steel. Ashby takes the lead vocals on "Crazy Kind" and McCarthy and Ashby alternate responsibility for singing throughout the album (as well as sharing all the song writing credits). The two lead singers have differing but complementary styles, which helps to add to the balance of the album. The majority of the tracks on Leave It At The Door are upbeat and made for dancing, from the traditional rockabilly of "Is That So Wrong (How Was I To Know)" and the blues shuffle of "That Will Never Do" to the roots-pop of "Laugh Out Loud". This latter song, together with "White Alligator Shoes" (with its glorious chorus of "She's a hussy in white alligator... a hussy in white alligator... a hussy in white alligator... she's the talk of the town in her white alligator shoes"), comprised the band's first single in May 2014 and both tracks are featured on Leave It At The Door. "Nothin' But The Blues" has an early rock'n'roll feel while "Just The Way You Want Me To" has a slightly funk/soul edge with a lovely solo from McCarthy. The closing track, "Estoy Borracho", essentially an instrumental with the title words uttered at irregular intervals, has hints of the music from south of the border and is played like the band were really channeling the song's title. As one might expect from a three-piece, McCarthy takes the vast majority of the leads (the only non-McCarthy solos are Deuster's pedal steel on "Crazy Kind" and Andrew Spadafora's roaring sax on "Devil In Her Eyes"), playing short, punchy-yet-melodic solos with a notable range of tones and effects. But The Incorruptibles are all about the band. Ashby's righteous upright bass playing on tracks like "Lowdown And Dirty" or the swinging instrumental, "Come Hell Or High Water", is an object lesson in how that instrument should be approached while Siebert's drumming is subtle yet musical throughout. With sparkling production by Steve Hamilton, the band successfully treads the fine line between sounding utterly confident in their material whilst still capturing that key element of excitement that makes the music come alive. Leave It At The Door is an extremely impressive and enjoyable debut from The Incorruptibles. Great stuff.” - Rhys Williams

Blues Blast Magazine (December 2016)

album review: leave it at the door

The Incorruptibles are not a crime fighting task force in Chicago and no one in the band is named Elliot Ness. What they are is a three piece band out of Milwaukee, WI. Since "Every picture tells a story" and "A picture is worth a thousand words", then take a quick look at the album cover. Alrighty then, now you know what to expect. So put on your dancin' shoes and get ready to shake, rattle and roll. The Incorruptibles are; Jimmy McCarthy on guitar and vocals; Amy Ashby on upright bass and vocals; and Bill Siebert on drums. And with a collective 100 years of music experience between them, I'm comfortable with telling you they are indeed a bunch of seasoned veterans. Joining them are special guests Andrew Spadafora on saxophone and Leroy Deuster on pedal steel. "Leave It At the Door" is the bands debut release and it contains fourteen all original tracks of which eight were penned by Jimmy and the other six by Amy. Let's go have a listen..... The opening and title track is a song about a place most of us will relate to. It's that place you go to when you just need to de-stress and get away from all of the days BS. Once you get there you take all that jive and just "Leave It At The Door". It's a swingin' shuffle that, as with twelve of the tracks, features only Jimmy, Amy and Bill - and quite frankly, that works just fine. Unlike other trios that all too often lean toward working the word "power" into the mix, these three are smooth. Outstanding vocals and guitar highlights by Jimmy and something I'll probably mention many more times - lots of smokin' rhythm. "He's Mine", and Amy sure sounds very happy and quite convincing when she tells you that. Amongst all the things she likes about him, I think his '55 Chevy is right up there on the list. With that said, from start to finish, this one will have you putting the pedal to the metal. Similar to "He's Mine", this one's about a woman the guys might like to say "She's mine" about. She's a hussy who's the talk of the town in her "White Alligator Shoes". But heed Amy's advice guys, it won't be long and you'll be singing the blues. More of The Incorruptibles signature stuff, downright bootie shaking, boogie music. Another woman you need to be careful of - and this time it's on the advice of Jimmy - is the one with the face of an angel and the "Devil In Her Eyes". Speaking of Jimmy, he's rockin' the vocals on this one. Additionally, this is the only chance you'll get to hear Andrew wail on sax, and now that I'm doing just that I could handle a lot more of him. "Come Hell Or High Water" is a smokin' instrumental and this one could very well be the inspiration for the cover art. That said, other than the very next track - "Nothin' But The Blues" - featuring Amy belting the hell out of the vocals - not much is different. If you're not rockin' when these two are on, immediately call a doctor! The disc closes with a track that's got a very cool Latin beat. Other than Jimmy and Amy taking turns saying the songs title a few times throughout, it's pretty much an instrumental. Although it's an interesting piece, it had me somewhat confused - especially at the songs end when the loud sound of someone putting "ten in the pit" on a bowling alley, followed by that familiar sound that a beer being poured into a glass makes, and then an outburst of laughter all takes place. That's when I looked up the translation of "Estoy Borracho" and then it all seemed to make sense. Cute! Other tracks on this very entertaining disc include: "Crazy Kind", "That Will Never Do", "Beer In Bed", "Lowdown And Dirty", "Is That So Wrong (How Was I To Know)?", "Just The Way You Want Me To", and "Laugh Out Loud". From the looks of their schedule, it seems to me that The Incorruptibles are pretty much sticking around the WI area.....for now. Once the word gets out on this talented group, I'm sure that will all change. You can view that schedule and learn a lot more about the band at www.theincorruptiblesband.com and you can like their FB page at www.facebook.com/TheIncorruptibles/. Of course, like you always do, please tell them the Blewzzman sent you.” - Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro / Blues Editor

www.Mary4Music.com (September 2016)

album review: leave it at the door

Milwaukee's The Incorruptibles are a bare bones guitar/upright bass/drums trio exploring the directions a band can go from a rockabilly base. Rockabilly's connection to blues isn't tough to make, and guest turns from Andrew Spadafora on sax and pedal steel guitar whiz Leroy Deuster make more explicit that R&B and country were not far removed either. The most surprising selections on Leave It At The Door involve the kind of hard funk The Meters could have made with a stripped-down lineup and the sort of minimalist uptown NYC post-disco groove. Their first full album's title may refer to leaving one's troubles at the door, but the same could be said for expectations for a roots-rock trio when it comes to The Incorruptibles. Yay for that.” - Jamie Lee Rake

Shepherd Express (August 2016)

Single review: white alligator shoes

Milwaukee blues veterans Jimmy McCarthy and Bill Siebert and a more recent transplant to the city, Amy Ashby, team up for roots rocking, rockabilly good times with a name that could be Marvel Comics' next super hero team. Singing stand-up bassist Ashby brings 'tude to spare on "White Alligator Shoes," notable at least for the revival of "hussy" as a feminine insult. McCarthy assays lead vocals with a sprightlier stride on "Laugh Out Loud," with a melody sounding like the step between Buddy Holly's Crickets and The Beatles in their Hamburg residency. This is a most personable introduction to a band proffering a sound that never really goes out of style.” - Jamie Lee Rake

Shepherd Express (November 2014)