The Living Blue
Fire, Blood, Water
Label: Minty Fresh

It’s garage rock meets college radio…it’s The Living Blue. And as Alternative Press’s “Band To Watch In 2005,” they are definitely living up to the hype in 2006.

After putting out two albums under the moniker “The Blackouts”, The Living Blue have a new name and label (Chicago’s Minty Fresh), and with their debut album, the Champaign, IL foursome are ready to prove the critics correct.

Rich in guitar-driven rock, Fire, Blood, Water is as tight as The Strokes’ Is This It? with the rockstar emotion parallel to any of those garage bands from Detroit. Read on…

In addition to a rocking opener, “State of Affairs,” and British new wave inspired “Tell Me Leza,” other highlights include the organ-backed “Greenthumb” and aggressive Bonham-drumming on “She Bleeds Pink.”

After winning Little Steven’s Battle of the Underground Garage Bands last year, the group got the chance to open for The Strokes, The New York Dolls and Iggy Pop in NYC, and I’ve read they totally held their own. Can’t wait to see them live.

Here’s a link to their appearance on Fox Rox in San Diego (there are actually a lot of fun performances here from some great bands [Cursive, Futureheads, British Sea Power] if you’re bored).

The Living Blue will play the Turf Club on April 12, with an in-studio performance/interview on The Current prior to the show.