Although some describe them as "psychedelic blues rock," the Ames, IA, duo
Radio Moscow is more of a throwback to the classic rock of the '70s. Their story is a true "being in the right place at the right time" tale, as the band's singer/guitarist/drummer, Parker Griggs, managed to get a demo tape into the hands of
the Black Keys'
Dan Auerbach after a gig.
Auerbach liked the demo so much, he invited Griggs and bassist Luke McDuff to his home studio in Akron, OH, and produced their 2007 self-titled debut. The end result calls on several recognizable hits/bands of yesteryear. Highlights include "Lucky Dutch," which contains a beefy riff that's reminiscent of
Ram Jam's "Black Betty," and "Lickskillet" begins as an acoustic blues ditty, before transforming into an
Allman Brothers-esque dual-guitar fest (complete with slide guitar), while both "Mistreating Queen" and "Whatever Happened" are muscular riff rock à la the Jeff Beck Group. ~ Greg Prato