Louis Berry - .45

1. Who is this champion?

Louis Berry is a young singer songwriter and an indie rock slash blues slash country musician from Liverpool rebelling against the system since 2013 .45 (re-issued Nov’15, initial release Sept’14) is from his second short player of the same name. He has been called a rebel rouser and anyway you kick it the man is the real deal,  “He wouldn’t sell out to anyone – not even Satan himself!”

2. What kind of tune is .45?

A raucous bluesy, almost rockabilly hybrid. A romp, a riot, a rambunctious rebel anthem with Bob Dylan-esque vocals and a seething undercurrent of violent rebellion.

3. Who does Louis Berry sound like?

.45 brought to mind Bob Dylan's Rollin' and Tumblin' or Thunder On The Mountain followed by Benjamin Booker's Wicked Waters. Next of the taxi rank would be a Jake Bugg tune.

On the whole much has been made of a Jake Bugg similarity, in attitude if not exactly tune. But it should be said Louis Berry is quick to write Jake Bugg off as lacking authenticity and don't mention The Strypes, he says he's never heard of them, so put that in your pipe and smoke it. The Upcoming aren't alone in drawing allusions to Johnny Cash and went all common man with mention of the Arctic Monkeys. But they hit the nail closer to the head hailing his “merging of classic rock’n’roll and indie styles.” 

4. What have the jackals got to say?

Next 2 Shine hit a six, acknowledging “the struttin' swagger and blood-pumpin' gallop of '.45's hard-charging exuberance.” Get Into This admired his “rasping burnt and slightly murderous vocals.” Live Manchester highlighted the song's intent, “...a message for people to open their eyes and to question.”

In the main Nottingham Post described Louis Berry's music as “authentic, stripped-back rock’n’roll,” and the Liverpool Echo said it's "channelling the energy of Jerry Lee Lewis through the story-telling of Dylan.” Ticket Line copy and pasted, “A switch blade songwriter with a voice of soul. Through politics and crime, love and loss Louis sets its straight.” Next 2 Shine were more effusive. Way more. “Infusing the whirling, rambunctious energy of his rockabilly and vintage rock'n'roll inspired sound with soulfully gritty vocals, Berry's jangled riffs and barreling grooves prove so instinctively infectious that they positively dare the listener not to get up and move.”


 



5. Who are Louis Berry's influences?

Tupac is to the fore, followed by Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash. He has expressed some love for Jerry Lee Lewis and admiration of John Lennon. On his 'road' playlist you can find an eclectic mix from Bob Marley, The Wailers, Ben Howard, Craig David, The Bee Gees and Snoop Dogg to name but a few.


6. Why should I listen to .45 ?

It's the sound of rock'n'roll being re-invented. The wheel of rock is making one more ponderous turn and this is the beating heart exposed, devoid of the pretentiousness of so much that rots the heaving beast. The lyrics are sublime and delivered with conviction. Get ready to dance a jig or whatever it is you dance.


7. So what are the good Louis Berry tunes?

Rebel rocks harder with more sense of self-identity. Sound as a pound. 25 Reasons is reading from the same script as .45. The real quid.


8. Any other good gossip I ought to know?

Ha ha. Yeah. Loius Berry is recording a new album in the States this year.

Louis Berry is good for a quote. On the topic of making music that matters he said, “There are a lot of problems. I can raise awareness of them and I’d be willing to do whatever it takes to solve them. I’d like to stand next to people – not in front or behind him but next to them.”

On the topic of today's musicians lack of integrity, “I mean if you walked by the chippy by ours, you’d get your head chopped. The rest, in all them flares or whatever they’re wearing these days, with that hair-do… somebody would smack em on the back of the head.”

And about being the genuine article, “Don’t pretend you’re off a hard estate and you’re a hard case and all that. Because you’re just not. You know, I’ve done all that, I don’t need to prove that. That’s who I am, that’s where I come from.”

Louis Berry is on tour in the UK in March and April opening for Sunset Sons.

“If I should give you reason for a Mississippi bleeding
Then I would take away your pain, you should give away your soul”

Slippery seconds is from the band Louis Berry is touring with in March, Sunset Sons.

An Australian/English indie folky pop rock band On The Road (original release Jan'14, re-released Oct'15) is live here and it's a crowd pleaser.