Ballyhoo! is back baby and if you've been wondering if they still got "it" then I'm here to stand a top the mountains screaming "hell yeah they do"! Back on the road again with their third major record "Day Dreams" blowing up a venue near you very soon! "Day Dreams" displays all four band mates talents and growth since the days of "Do it for the Money". Climactic bridges, memorable verses, and chourses that make your ears explode with raw power Ballyhoo! has managed to produce an album that doesn't sell out or cater to the radio. It just plain rocks! They still get  their sound out the old fashioned way. By that meaning facebook, twitter, iTunes, torrent sites, touring non stop, and hanging with their fans after the shows. I was fortunate enough to catch the "Hoo Crew" recently for the 6th time and it was probably the best show to date. The equipment was set up perfect. The crowd was there for a great time and they got what they paid for! Awesome stage presence, shots of bourbon, and signing autographs till the wee hours of the next morning, Ballyhoo! and "Day Dreams" will be your next summer in December album! 

Enough with the ego boosting. It's time for a review!

Ballyhoo! is:

Howi: Lead vocals, guitar, shot pounder

Big D: Drums

Mista J: Bass, back up vocals

DJ Blaze: turntables, keyboard, maracas,back up vocals

Evil Penguin: Queue the pianos this bad boy opens up with a up beat lil diddy on the keys, but very quickly is faded into a barrage of funk/rock. Catchy lyrics and a head banging beat shows this crews ability to get down jam. 

Last Night: Last Night sounds like someone gave Sublime about 20 Jaeger bombs and told them punk was the new sound! Reggae riffs mixed up with a punk beat. This song really shows off Big D's speed on the drums. Not only is the beat fast, but he is all over the place! This is one of those songs you will be throwin your fist in the air to. "Hey hey hey!"

Diamonds: This song to me sounds like typical Ballyhoo!. Slow and melodic as it may be the drums and bass manage to find a way to get funky in the background of this love song. Howi tries as hard as he can to keep it mellow but half way through has a heavy breakdown and as quickly as it drops in it drops right back out. Get your lighters out for this track.

Say I'm Wrong: Hypnotic guitars and a groovy bass line welcome you into this songs arms and holds you there while Howi thinks back to the days of one of many first loves. I dare you not to sway to this song. This song is bold yet soft enough that we could see an acoustic version of this.

Walk Away: Take a stroll down the beach and bop to this shit! A song about love, hate, and the after math of that crazy ex. Heavy on the reggae side of music this track let's Blaze and Mista J open the pipes a little bit more and get melodic with the back up vocals. 

Sandcastles: Crank up the distortion! In your face and dirty "Sandcastles" is a fast paced action packed kung-fu grip song! Sounds like they found the vocal FX in the studio and found a way to make the on the air voice come through strong. Don't let that beach bum knock over your sand castle!

If you gotta go: Full on acousticness. Some times its not you, or me, but both of us. This lil ballad gives the inside scoop on how sometimes we gotta let them go. It's a rollercoaster to the top of the climactic chorus and once you reach the top it's a tease till you drop down the hill rocking this tune!

Meathead: We've all been there. Your out at the bar with some of your buds just having a good time and some d-bag has to stroll in looking for a fight. Now we all have a song to belt out about this prick! This was one of the first songs from the album they started playing live. Warning. This song is extremely catchy and could be stuck in your head for many days to come. You have been warned! Oh and be sure to turn this one up really loud! Cheers!

Bootleggers: Woah oh oh I'm about to cause some damage! I gotta say right of the bat this song has a very Panic at the Disco sound. Don't let that fool you though because them Ballyhoo! boys bring the thunder with "Bootleggers"! The simplicity is what amazes me with this song. It cant be more than 5 chords and it sounds awesome! 

Anti Social: Your going to be instantly drawn to the up beat guitars. The bass is where it's at here. Mista J finds ways to infuse funk into some many places. This is a short song, but it's emotion packed. That's just the way that it goes.

The Getaway: Punk meet reggae. Reggae punk. Ok introductions out the way. You two are about to make some sweet sweet love while funk over here video tapes the whole thing. It's gonna get real dirty up in here. 

Ricochet: Someone let me know when DJ Blaze comes out with his solo album cuz this guy is tearin up some piano in this track. Personally I can't seem to find a need for piano in this organized chaotic band, but I'll be god damned if they don't find the perfect use for it! This feels like a sad song, but I can't help rockin out.  

Alive: This is what Incubus wanted to sound like! Jazz fusion rock. This is definitely radio friendly and should be blaring out the pirate and FM stations! Get on the horn! Listen for yourself! This track is nothing but fucking amazing!

Island of the Dead: Howi has this way of making poems about getting drunk. He's pretty damn good at it too. Raise 'em high and drink 'em down because to the mosh pit you be heading. This is a slam dancing ballad.  

Rosalind: No weak ass ending here. Time to pour your heart out to our dear Rosalind. Though I never met her I am now drawn to sing her name at the top of my smoke filled lungs! I'm hoping this is a end to a chapter and not the book. Ballyhoo! tears it up on the final track and has me listening to the album again. And probably again after that. 

Be sure to check out their social pages. And when they are in your town (yes, they will be) stop out and have a drink with this fine gentlemen. Sure to be a good time had by all! Till their next album here's to good times and loud music! Cheers!

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