FREEDOM AND WHISKEY releases their second album "THE ROAD" in September of 2006.

Ahhhh....what a name for a southern rock band : Freedom and Whiskey. Great name! And "The Road" isn't a bad name for a southern rock album either. Freedom and Whiskey use a strange formula to conjure up a southern rock disc. First they take classic southern rock (The Road, End of My Rope, Whiskey and Water), mix in some southern fried music with a dash of alternative rock (In Your Dreams, Shine, Rearrange) and the big surprise, a little bit of thrash metal (Hollywood, Mystify). A strange combo at times, but it works.

When the band plays classic southern rock, they play it better than anyone has in at least the last ten years. "The Road", "End of My Rope", and "Whiskey and Water" are classic rock. Traditional rebels will love all three songs. "End of My Rope" has shades of Jim Morrison in the vocals. All three are classic.

The alternative songs work fairly well but not as effective but it does supply variety. "In My Dreams" is southern rock with just a twist of modern rock and it is a solid rock tune that could make it on modern FM radio. "One of Those Days" also effectively walks a fine line between southern rock and modern rock. It comes across as a very modern 38 Special type tune. "Shine" strikes me as what Scott Weiland and his old band Stone Temple Pilots would sound like recording a southern rock song.

The thrash metal tunes definitely show that this band can rock. "Mystify" and "Hollywood" borrow more from Metallica than Lynyrd Skynyrd. Younger rock listeners may even perfer this style over the traditional southern tunes, but the jury is still out on if southern rock purists will accept these songs. At any rate, these guys can play. The drumming is relentless. There's a couple of hardrockking instrumentals on board as well, as these guys like to outright rock.

Freedom and Whiskey is a band of first-rate muscians. The tempo of the music definitely keeps the cd from falling into a rut. I certainly suggest checking out this Louisville, Kentucky band which includes Mike Huettig who played bass for Days of the New from 2001 to 2003. If you are a fan of southern rock or hard rock in general, you'll like it. These guys play classic style rock but are not stuck in the past. I give it a Gatoriffic A -. Chomp on!!!

FREEDOM AND WHISKEY www.myspace.com/freedomandwhiskey

Reviewed by: Alligator Jackson

Freedom and Whiskey is:

Freedom and Whiskey is a band from the Louisville Kentucky/Jeffersonville Indiana area. It is a combination of musical talents from several contributors. The music style varies from Rock to Blues and everything in between. Two songs off of the bands first album: "Hit The Bricks" and "Rev it Up" were recently pre-tested by Platinum Blue which is used by the major record labels to determine "hit potential". Both songs tested above the top ranking score. The results can be checked at: http://www.platinumblueinc.com/tabid/56/default.aspx?guid=aa6c5ed7-5014-4c2c-94f0-56444db79013 http://www.platinumblueinc.com/tabid/56/default.aspx?guid=c5ad1009-ffe5-49ee-964d-fff96fa1a426

Bill Goins plays bass and sings. Mike Huettig (formerly with Days of The New)plays drums and sings. Mark Hoekstra sings, plays harmonica and guitar and Chuck Mingis (formerly with Days of the New) plays lead guitar. Other contributors on their first album were: Tina Goins, Debra Belt, Joyce Green, Rob Edwards, Todd Smith, Griffin Torrance and several others.

Bill Goins - Bass / Vocals

Bill lives in Jeffersonville Indiana and has played in several groups in the Louisville area. Bill co-wrote, co-produced and sings lead vocals on the first album. Some of Freedom and Whiskey's material from the first album was recorded at Bill's studio. The band recorded the entire second album there as well. Bill co-wrote, co-engineered and co-produced the majority of the material from both albums.

Mike Huettig - Drums / Vocals

Mike recorded and toured with "Days of the New" from 2001 through 2003. He plays the drums and guitar on Freedom and Whiskey's first album. On the second album, Mike plays drums, guitar, and sings. Mike co-wrote, co-produced and co-engineered the bands first and second album as well. He is from Louisville, Kentucky and has played with several groups in the area.

Chuck Mingis - Lead Guitar

Chuck toured with "Days of The New" in 2003 and joined Freedom and Whiskey in 2007. Chuck has played and toured with the Louisville based groups "Spanky Lee" and "Eden Street" and recorded with both groups. Chuck also has taught guitar and is working on Freedom and Whiskey's third release.

Mark Hoekstra - Harmonica / Vocals

Mark, veteran Chicago blues-man, brings his musical talents with harmonica on the first album and second album. Mark also contributed his soulful lyrics and vocals as well as some slide guitar on the second album. Mark has played and recorded with many blues artists such as: The Little Dippers, West Side Heat, and Steve Arvey. Mark also worked on the score for the "Pee Wee Reese" biography.

© 2007 Freedom and Whiskey