ALBANY — With the January release of “Is It You, Is It Me,” The Dustbowl Revival’s fifth studio release since it’s 2011 debut, the band took a bold step with its established fanbase.
The Dustbowl Revival has an eclectic take on roots music that fuses folk, rock and brass instrumentation to create colorful, vibrant songscapes. This new album explores a refined sense of pop and tackles serious social messages that includes politics, the impact of social media on everyday life and gun violence in public schools. Despite covering polarizing topics, the music has received a positive response from the national media.
“Is It You, Is It Me,” premiered with Billboard magazine in late January. Then, frontman Zach Lupetin explained how he and the band went into the studio looking for a change.
“We’ve always tried to explore different sounds within Americana/roots music and never wanted to stay in one place, which maybe confuses some people but also intrigues other people who always want to see what’s happening next,” Lupetin told Billboard. “We’re trying to bring our music to a bigger audience. I think at a certain point we never fit into just the folk and acoustic world, and I’ve always been a huge fan of rock ‘n’ roll and of artists that can transcend genre. … I wanted to be able to tell a bigger story that could be heard by more people than just the group that supports folk music.”
Lupetin said few of the songs were road tested, but the band managed to spring “Sonic Boom” on live audiences and it has since developed into a fan favorite. So far, so good.
The Dustbowl Revival will perform at The Egg on Friday, March 13. Smooth Hound Smith, a two-piece band that plays folky, garage-infused rhythm and blues, will open the concert.
