"If The Black Keys are the acceptable, mainstream face of blues, these guys deserve their time in the sun. Not that they see a lot of it in hometown Seattle, one of the wettest cities on the US West Coast but that's a digression. You're here for the music - and Gravelroad deliver in big, bottom-heavy shovel loads.

If the name's familiar it may be because Gravelroad is the backing band for bluesman T-Model Ford, whose recent album on Alive made an impression around these parts, especially for its forays into psych jams. You'll find the same touches here but if you're into labels this is Deep Blues. Gravelroad have done the touring miles, on their own and with T-Model, and it shows. They fill the soundscape but leave spaces in the right places but more obviously play this shit with a huge degree of self assurance.

Lead track "Devil Eyes" nails it from the outset. Its simple chord progression and languid swing are smothered in muffled bullfrog vocals and a stinging guitar break-out. The sound's imposing for a three piece. Bassist Jon Newman and guitarist Steven Zilloux split vocals (or abandon them on the quirky instro "Furry".)

Delta blues influences to one side, "Caves" is the most overtly trippy song, a meandering and searing gaze into Owsley's laboratory that floats along. "Leave Her Alone" locks into a groove and cuts out just as it threatens to go other places. "Let Me Hold You" is a restrained closer, its vocal way in the background.

Production tricks are non-existent. There's a bit of reverb, a little echo, and that's it. The band mixed it with master producer Jim Diamond of the Motor City.

There's a certain audience "Psychedelta" will appeal to. It's probably not the Black Keys listeners who think they started last week. Gravelroad eschews the melodic trimmings. This is music to be absorbed late at night, not passed off with a cursory listen."

- The Barman

http://www.i94bar.com/reviews/gravelroad.php

"Since the release of their first record in 2004, Gravelroad have refined their sound while touring nationally and internationally, including prominent festival appearances and two albums of collaborations with legendary 90+-year old Mississippi blues man T Model Ford. Their latest album, Psychedelta, is their most accomplished yet. The album’s ten songs sometimes call to mind an alternate history in which classic 60s blues-derived hard and acid rock was heavily influenced by the trance-like grooves of North Mississippi hill country blues artists such asR.L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough."

Chris Green, SSG Music

http://www.ssgmusic.com/tonight-in-seattle-mothers-anger-dead-man-gravelroad-the-tempers-and-more/

"110 proof Seattle blues from Gravel Road who have just released their third album (mostly on vinyl) via Knick Knack Records. Knick Knack owner Joe Johnson even swings in to give us a state of the music industry update."

Click here for the full podcast

Here's what Classic Rock Magazine had to say about GravelRoad's most recent record 'Psychedelta'

"We played it. In fact, we’ve hardly stopped playing it since, totally sucked in by its seriously-stoned ZZ Top grooves, ramshackle riffs and blissful sunbaked blues (think Cooder’s Paris, Texas played by Otto from The Simpsons). With its hypnotic grooves and languid guitar licks, Psychedelta shimmers like the heat wave we listened to it in."

http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/music_and_videos/music-free-download-and-exclusive-full-album-stream-from-psychedelic-blues-rockers-gravelroad/

GravelRoad performed on Record Store Day, April 21, 2012 at Silver Platters Record Store in Seattle. 

Here are some photos from the event:

Knick Knack Records owner Joe Johnson is a guest on Seattle Sounds (KIRO Radio 97.3)

with host Josh Kerns and Seattle Weekly music editor Chris Kornelis:

..."meet the guy starting a new Seattle-based record label that thinks he can actually change the way bands do business."

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=577&a=39540&p=64&n=Seattle+Sounds

right around the 20 minute mark is where Joe talks about Knick Knack Records.

On January 26, 2012 GravelRoad will celebrate the release of 'Psychedelta' with a performance at The Tractor Tavern with Kinski and Angelo Spencer

here are some photos from the album release show:

click here for additional photos

February 2, 2012 – Little Rock @ The White Water Tavern 
February 3, 2012  – Norman, OK @ the Blue Bonnet bar
February 4, 2012 – Austin TX @ Giddy Up’s 
February 7, 2012 – Hatch, NM @ Sparky’s
February 8, 2012 – Phoenix @ Crescent Lounge
February 9, 2012 – Long Beach, CA @ the Prospector
February 10, 2012 – Bakersfield, CA @ Sports and Spirits
February 11, 2012 – Truckee, CA @ Pastime Pub
February 12, 2012 – Sacramento, CA

January 26, 2012 – The Tractor Tavern, Seattle WA album release party for ‘Psychedelta’ photos