Audio By Carbonatix
Those unfamiliar with the Beauvilles might hear that Deep South, plantation-perfect moniker and expect a ragged group of Southern-rock traditionalists or perhaps even revved-up psychobilly retro camp schtick. There’s a bit of the former, none of the latter, and a whole lot more to the story.
With enigmatic singer and guitarist Shawn Kyle at the helm, the Beauvilles provide a modern spin on classic American rock ‘n’ roll, circa 1965 onward. Vintage equipment and a largely straightforward rock formula — guitar, drums, bass, and a handful of chords — play their role in the band’s historian guise, while nods to subsequent eras keep the band from being mired in history.
The ensemble’s tightness allows for a bit of primitive blues-rock reconstructionist stomp, à la Jack White, and sparingly applied vocal effects mingle with staccato guitar incursions for a postpunk version of the Strokes’ garage rock turnaround. More of a throwback, jangly guitars and huge hooks pay homage to the best of the ’70s’ non-AOR wing, and a tiny angular impression fleetingly nods to the college rock kickoff we know as indie, of the Pavement persuasion. In short, the Beauvilles are a sedimentary excavation of American rock ‘n’ roll, but more “Indy” than “Dr. Jones” comes through in the teaching.
