The Ramblin’ Years w/  The Dusty 45’s & Danny Newcomb & The Sugarmakers
Tractor Tavern, Seattle, WA
04.23.16

Sandwiched between the catchy alt-rock Americana of Danny Newcomb & the Sugarmakers and the charismatic rockabilly showmanship of The Dusty 45s, The Ramblin’ Years had a full house of fans in party mode for their set at Ballard’s Tractor Tavern.

The 5-piece country-fried rock band have been making a major name for themselves around Seattle, coming hot out of Seattle University with beer-friendly, blue-collar throwback tunes perfect for burning up dance floors. They opened their set with the catchy alt-country of “Aches & Pains,” before throwing in brand new track, “So Long,” a track that pulls in a little surf/hula flair, with hooky 60’s style “sha la las” thrown in for good measure.

“Fake It” with Daniel Dunn’s rap breakdown – every time he does this the crowd goes nuts – turns the room into a giant, jumping party before vocalist/lead guitarist Sean Clavere brings out a keyboardist to join them for the rest of the set. TRY’s eclectic sound – the product of a collaborative group with endless influences – is infectious. Their vocal harmonies are difficult to not sing along with and their upbeat energy never fails to ignite the crowd. Their fantastic cover of Springsteen’s “Atlantic City” fits so cleanly into their set it’s like it’s one of their own.

Both Clavere and vocalist/rhythm guitarist Katie Sweeny continually encourage the crowd to drink and “don’t forget to tip your bartender” and the drawling groove and fireball wails of their tracks swing from honky-tonk to jazz club with ease. At the end of their set, the crowd is talking, “They were great. A lot of great sounds, rocking, harmonic, country, roots.” And it’s true. TRY can rock with the best of them.

Review by Stephanie Dore
Photos by Sunny Martini

The Ramblin’ Years, Dusty 45’s, and Danny Newcomb & the Sugarmakers