Denver’s Nathaniel Rateliff has built up a passionate folk rock following over the last few years. He’s released a handful of albums, originally with his band The Wheel and then a pair of solo LPs. In concert, however, he’s earned an entirely different reputation, one where his yawp of a baritone elevates his music to an intensity untapped on record. He began to scratch the surface of this energy with his recent Closer EP, but he’s finally captured the true ferocity of his live prowess by taking his backing band The Night Sweats into the studio and recording a new self-titled record.
It may take fans a minute to adjust to the rowdy soul pop of Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, but once they do, it will prove well worth the acclimation. Due out August 21st on the legendary Stax Records, the album was first previewed with the barroom swinger “S.O.B.”. Now, Rateliff is showing just how freakin’ good he is at this soul thing with the new track “Look It Here”.
Drums and bass stomp deep and hard right from the first notes, driving forward this song of hard, desperate love. Horns accompany organs that ring out with quintessential Stax vibes, even as some sturdy guitar work links back to Rateliff’s folksier recordings. As is so often the case in a live setting, it’s Rateliff’s own vocals that seal the deal on the track. He keeps things classically soul with the harmonies on the verses, but let’s it all rip on the bridge as he bellows, “I’ve got a love so hard I can’t stand it/ and with a heart so weak and abandoned!” Take a listen:
Rateliff and his Night Sweats will head back on the road later this summer, beginning with their festival debut at Newport Folk. Check their full itinerary beneath the tracklisting.
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats Tracklist:
01. I Never Need Get Old
02. Howling At Nothing
03. Trying So Hard Not To Know
04. I’ve Been Failing
05. S.O.B.
06. Wasting Time
07. Thank You
08. Look It Here
09. Shake
10. I’d Be Waiting
11. Mellow Out
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats 2015 Tour Dates:
07/26 – Newport, RI @ Newport Folk Festival
08/02 – Maquoketa, IA @ Codfish Hollow Barnstormers
08/03 – St. Louis, MO @ Old Rock House
08/08-09 – Edmonton, ON @ Edmonton Folk Fest
08/13 – Paonia, CO @ Pickin’ in the Park
08/16 – Ft. Collins, CO @ Bohemian Nights @ NewWestFest
09/03 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The State Room
09/04 – Boise, ID @ Neurolux
09/05 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
09/07 – Seattle, WA @ Bumbershoot
09/09 – San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel
09/10 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo
09/12 – San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar
09/17-18 – Telluride, CO @ Telluride Blues & Brews
10/28 – St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club
10/30 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
10/31 – Davenport, IA @ The Village Theater
11/04 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
11/05 – Allston, MA @ Great Scott
11/07 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
11/08 – Washington, DC @ DC9
11/10 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle—Back Room
11/11 – Asheville, NC @ The Grey Eagle
11/13 – Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
11/14 – Nashville, TN @ The High Watt
11/16 – New Orleans, LA @ Gasa Gasa
11/17 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada
11/19 – Austin, TX @ Stubb’s Jr.
11/20 – Oklahoma City, OK @ ACM@UCO: Performance Lab
11/21 – Kansas City, MO @ The Record Bar
