Babylon Shakes

Babylon Shakes consisting of lead vocalist / guitarist Chris Clark, drummer Jeff Mortimer, and bassist / guitarist Gary Jordan have unleashed a new single titled “Another Broken Halo.”

The following message was posted on Babylon Shakes‘ Facebook page back on February 24, 2021:

“Babylon Shakes are proud to announce the release of their second single of 2021- “Another Broken Halo”. The digital single will be available on all platforms on Friday, March 5th.

“Halo” follows in the classic blues rock vein that the band have fully embraced. The song is a heart breaking ballad with tones of gospel and soul with a chorus made to raise your lighters high into the darkness.” - Sleazeroxx.xom

Staunton, VA based rock n rollers Babylon Shakes are back almost two years after the release of their debut album “Exile to The Velveteen Lounge” on HighVolMusic. The band are set to release their first single “Seven Sisters Seven Moons” on February 19th on all digital platforms with live dates to follow.

As singer/guitarist Chris Clark explains the group’s sound has developed into a more “blues driven, 1970s inspired rock and soul”. “We began listening to the Stones, Faces and Allman Brothers Band and it affected the way we were writing songs. We basically replaced the vintage sleaze with vintage soul and truly found ourselves on this last round of songs”. Clark goes on to say that the new single “Seven Sisters Seven Moons” is about a search for meaning in a cold, isolated digital world. “Seven is the number of perfection; of completion and it resonated with all of us that this sound is the best of ourselves. Our own search for meaning and truth led us to this point”.The new track is awash in wah pedals and overdriven guitar harmonies backed by massive percussion and a bridge that slows the pace of the song down to a psychedelic daydream.

The band will follow “Seven Sisters” with a new digital release per month through June with the next release being March 5th’s “Another Broken Halo”. A full 10-12 song vinyl release is planned for late summer/early fall 2021. Babylon Shakes have two live shows booked for March with further dates to be announced.

Babylon Shakes originally formed in late September of 2017 and tore up and down the east coast with a fiery brand of vintage sleazy rock n roll steeped in blues and bombast. Singer/guitarist Chris Clark, drummer Jeff Mortimer, guitarist Gary Jordan came together in Staunton, Virginia and crafted a sound that harkened back to the 70s and 80s. The bands first album “Exile to the Velveteen Lounge” was released in February 2019 on the HighVol Music label to great critical accolades. After working together for a time under the name “The Blouse Brothers” and digging deeper into the well of blues, country and soul, Babylon Shakes have returned with a renewed passion, a fiery new sound and a brand new album titled “Seven Moons” tentatively set for release in late summer/early fall 2021. - https://www.therockpit.net/

Recent years have seen a bunch of bands claiming sleaze influences from some of the coolest acts of the 80s. Here's the new boys in town but they are not new at all tho'.




The 80s gave us some real cool bands that could be pigeon holed under the term Sleaze. Think Princess Pang, The Throbs, Faster Pussycat, Smashed Gladys, Sea Hags... all in all bands heavily influenced by The New York Dolls, early Aerosmith, the Alice Cooper group and Hanoi Rocks.

Singer/guitarist Chris Clark is no new comer since he's been in Last Call Messiah for the past few years. But this band had a more metal edge. And eventually split. Babylon Shakes is all getting back to the blues rock 'n roll riffing, back-to-basic catchy tunes and whiskey soaked voice of a stray cat n top of it.

Been all seasoned guys it didn't take too long for the trio to record and release a CD single and their first video a few months after the band formed.
While the original credit is due to Chris for the vision and plenty of songs already in his sleeves, both Gary Jordan (bass/vocals) and Jeff "Morty" Mortimer (drums/vocals) must be praised as well for the solid rhythm section they sure are and essential backbone they are giving to the music on this promising release.







Started with Velveteen Libertine the band is offering exactly what you expected to hear. With its guitar shuffle riffs and sing-along choruses the song is your typical sleaze rock track including a Chuck Berry-like solo and swagger all along its less-than-4mns duration. Early Buckcherry and Faster Pussycat come in mind and there's nothing wrong with that in my book. A necessary addition in the jukebox of the Cathouse club.

The second track, Silver Tongue Devil is more aggressive yet groovy with plenty of cowbell and a wah-wah guitar solo. Good taste prevail here. Once again Faster Pussycat is the obvious influence on this number as well and almost could be an outtake from their 2nd album "Wake Me Up When It's Over" or even more the missing link between this album and their 3rd one "Whipped!".

No doubt Babylon Shakes know what they are doing here and have the abilities to do so. One of the thing I like the most is the honesty and fun behind the whole thing. The dedication to the cause as well because so many bands labeled themselves as sleaze purveyors but sound like Dokken.

More material should be released in a few months and I guess expectations (at least mine) are high with such debut. - Is The Music Loud Enough?