Shaking off the rust of a seven-year album hiatus, Las Vegas music veterans The Dirty Hooks have staged a clean comeback with their third LP, Western Gothic.
“It’s got a little bit of synths in there, some 808 stuff. We’ve definitely got some Americana in there and some grungy kind of dirty rock ’n’ roll, garage-y stuff,” says Bobby McCall, lead singer and baritone guitarist. “But I think we still have a couple of tricks we haven’t really put out yet.”
Since the early days of 2012’s Electric Grit, the Vegas blues-rock trio have forged a sound that gets indescribably better with each listen. “Naked City Colt” shifts from moody to manic, McCall’s bluesy baritone easing us in, only to decimate us on the feverishly performed chorus with Jenine Cali (lead vocals/drums). It’s all growling guitars and piercing howls. And 2018’s Kiss the Devil and Run proved just as blood-pumping and potent.
Western Gothic serves as the next, evolving chapter. And fans will get to experience it live at the band’s album release show at Swan Dive on August 2, with vinyl available for purchase.
“There’s been a lot of trials and tribulations the last couple years for us,” McCall says. “But as far as writing, I feel like we’re in our own little bubble there, a time machine.”
New single “Lightning on the Tracks” quivers with soul and a big chorus, while “Night Crawler” sounds bathed in synths and Anthony Ratto III’s crisp, dirty guitar riffs. It’s like no time has passed for this trio of locals who performed their first tour with Stone Temple Pilots—and they don’t seem anywhere near ready to call it quits.
“We have a problem, we just can’t stop,” Cali laughs.
“I feel like there’s still people doing it that are our age, that are still grinding and still putting art out there because they believe in it … just like we do,” McCall says. “There’s a couple of younger bands I think are badass and kind of restoring faith in rock ’n’ roll. I want to see more stuff like that.”
THE DIRTY HOOKS August 2, 8 p.m., $10-$15. Swan Dive, swandivelv.com.
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