Fortezza - Boys, Boys, Boys
FORTEZZA PARADES THEIR TALENT ON ‘BOYS, BOYS, BOYS’
Meet Fortezza, a band from Asheville, North Carolina, who just dropped a new EP, called Boys, Boys, Boys.
Fortezza
Made up of Maddie Kendrick (bass), Tristan Smith (guitar, vocals), and Matty Garau (drums), Fortezza describes their sound as “psychedelic garage rock,” although the band prefers not to be pigeonholed. The genesis of Fortezza occurred at a skate park in Winston-Salem, when Smith and Garau began talking about music, touching on bands like Minor Threat and Dinosaur Jr. One thing led to another, and Fortezza was birthed. Looking around for a kick-ass bass player, they recruited Maddie Kendrick. The lineup was set.
Fortezza has shared the stage with It’s Snakes, Pinky Doodle Poodle, Lacy Jags, and a bunch of other bands. At the end of March, Fortezza will perform at Echofest, followed by the Food Truck Festival in April.
Fascinated by what instruments musicians play, Rawckus asked the question of Fortezza. The answer: guitarist Tristan Smith plays a Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster, and a Korean-made Rickenbacker copy. Bassist Maddie Kendrick plays a Fender MIM Jazz Bass with fretless neck, and a Gretsch G2220 Short-Scale Bass. As far as drums go, Matty Garau plays a Gretsch Catalina Club Jazz kit, 14” Vintage A hi-hats, 22” K pre-aged dry light ride cymbal, and 20” Constantinople Renaissance Crash/Ride.
A scorching guitar solo sends the tune over the top. Smith makes his axe scream and bleed!
Comprising three-tracks, the EP begins with the title track, opening on a cool drum shuffle and austere bass flowing into a bad-ass grinding melody rife with garage rock and punk-lite flavors. Kendrick’s bass, fat and brawny and elastic, really punches with heft. I love the dirty colors from Smith’s guitar, infusing the tune with muddy gooey surfaces.
“Remember” opens on an easy riff seguing into dark, muscular colors. The measured rhythm, tight and right, pulses with crunching power, as Smith’s drawly, delicious tenor echoes with skintight bluesy timbres. A scorching guitar solo sends the tune over the top. Smith makes his axe scream and bleed!
Kendrick’s cavernous rumbling bass delivers a slapping intro on “Electric,” followed by her lush femme fatale voice rippling with wicked simmering colors that mousse up to nuclear levels when the crushing guitar enters. Ominous dark textures flow through the song, giving it scrumptious tarnished textures. Garau’s walloping, tight drumming showcases his feel for what’s right in the percussive realm – edgy, like a cat on hot bricks.
Boys, Boys, Boys is better than excellent, heaving with thick, potent hues and beau coup beef. Fortezza definitely knows how to lay it down.
