Graveyard Rock With Deliberate Purpose at New York’s Webster Hall

A few songs into Graveyard‘s recent headlining set at Webster Hall in the big rotten apple, my buddy turned to me and said something to the effect of “This is what all rock and roll bands should sound like!” It might have been the drugs talking but I highly doubt it — similarly caught up in the moment by the Swedish band’s gloriously retro-yet-pure sound myself, I found it impossible to disagree.

Graveyard indeed does something that every great band should do: retain control over a defined sound and approach, while remaining open enough to let the music breathe and explore new terrain. This band with an undeniable ability to unabashedly rock also shows tremendous poise (and frankly GIGANTIC BALLS) by playing several slower tempo tunes (or at least plenty that start out that way); deliberate pacing and patient grace are certainly among the group’s shining qualities.

Frontman Joakim Nilsson (vocals/guitar) has a truly stupendous voice, summoning the throaty zeal of Gregg Allman in his prime.  Nilsson croons with fiery purpose, lilting and swaying at times like he’s in church and purveying a timbre akin to the best classic rock vocalists of yesteryear — all the while without ever sounding like a throwback rip-off. One of my new favorite singers by far.

And the band rocks, grooves, and flows with simultaneous power, precision, and maturity; these are seasoned players who have found an extraordinary kinship which relies on dynamics and mutual respect for the song at hand. It’s no wonder that the fine fellows in Graveyard have become some of the most shining stars in the stoner rock scene, and I’m sorry it took me this long to see them live.

At times I found myself wondering what they would sound like with a wailing hammond organ player (a la Deep Purple), but such an addition is hardly necessary; it’d only increase the delightful chemistry and songwriting they already have going for them. My only real gripe is that I can’t help but feel like there could have been a more suitable name for a band that displays such delicately dynamic ebbs and flows, instead of a misleadingly br00tal one. But that’s a small price to pay for such stellar music and I’m sure most people dig the name just fine.

Rumor has it that the original classic rock guitar hero Sir Jimmy Page was in attendance at the very show I was at; something tells me he probably approved wholeheartedly.

WDBWA, A+++