Tenderhooks is a lyrical country-rock band with a progressive bent, hailing from Knoxville, Tennessee's small but eclectic music scene. Principal songwriters Jake Winstrom and Benjamin Oyler met in high school and have been nurturing their creative collaboration ever since, developing a singular and powerful brand of song-craft. The duo's literate, witty wordplay and inventive melodicism is brought to life by Winstrom's plaintive vocals and soaring range. Oyler's idiosyncratic leads and crunchy riffs add an edgy, Duane Allman-meets-Tom-Verlaine fury to the fold, while bassist Emily Robinson's lilting vocal harmonies provide the perfect accompaniment for Winstrom's unusual voice. Robinson's melodic, McCartney-esque bass lines also give an essential contrast to the band's often cryptic lyricism. The rhythm section is texturally and rhythmically filled out by drummer Matt Honkonen's inventive, jazz-inflected percussion work. Having just completed their first full length LP, Vidalia, with Don Coffey Jr. (ex-Superdrag), and signing with Knoxville's Rock Snob Records, the band is poised for east coast tour and national takeover
REVIEWS OF VIDALIA
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Written by Kevin Renick, Monday, 25 June 2007
His voice is mixed upfront, which means you can't ignore it. Some may wish to; Winstrom is likely gonna be an acquired taste, as there's playfulness and tension in equal measure in his tart delivery.
I've always said if a band has a great vocalist, they're halfway to success. Every other element can be tweaked, upgraded, or replaced, but the lead vocalist commands the most attention and can therefore make or break a group's chances. So having someone with powerful pipes is of paramount importance, pal. That's why I'm bestowing the "Ones to Watch" designation on Knoxville, Tenn. quartet Tenderhooks.
The first time I played Vidalia, the band's debut album, the singer's voice jumped out at me but I couldn't tell if it was a man or a woman, since the vocal timbre seemed perched squarely between genders. Curiously, the press release doesn't list the personnel, and there's a woman in the band (Emily Robinson, bass and harmonies)...so I had fun trying to figure it out. Well, it's a man; his name's Jake Winstrom. And he's unquestionably this band's greatest asset. Winstrom doesn't sound immediately like anyone else, which is pretty amazing. He has a voice well-suited to freak folk (a lá Devendra Banhart), but he's doing fairly straightforward rock 'n' roll songs here, with just a dash of alt-country. His voice is mixed upfront, which means you can't ignore it. Some may wish to; Winstrom is likely gonna be an acquired taste, as there's playfulness and tension in equal measure in his tart delivery.
But no matter; this guy is compelling to listen to, and it elevates Tenderhooks to a much higher interest level. The disc kicks off with a fairly standard bit of guitar riffage, and you're not inclined to think they're all that until the voice kicks in. Then you quickly surrender to the very catchy chorus of "If you treat me like a child, treat me like a child, I'll act like one." Just try getting that out of your head after you've heard the tune a few times.
The songs were all written by Winstrom and lead guitarist Ben Oyler. "Mouthful of Rain" is notable for an unexpected bit of gorgeous, hymn-like humming—although it doesn't last long, it reveals this band to be an outfit with good instincts overall. The meat of the album comes with three stellar tunes in a row: "Vidalia," a brisk rocker on which the sturdiness and warmth of Winstrom's voice elevates the proceedings considerably; "Quarter of a Century," which offers beautifully catchy guitar (vaguely reminiscent of Television's early work, believe it or not), sweet harmonies and one of Winstrom's most enjoyable performances; and "Flicker Street," which begins like it's gonna borrow the melody of R.E.M.'s "So. Central Rain," but takes off into its own stylish folksy pop territory. "All your dreams are gone/ There's nothing left for you to chase," sings Winstrom, aided by Robinson's pleasingly perfect harmonies. There's a cool moment where the voices jump to a higher than expected interval; it's rather invigorating. "Twenty-two" also rocks out nicely, with Winstrom singing "You look so disappointed" in a rather compelling manner.
In fact, it's Winstrom's ability to make fairly ordinary lyrics sound urgent or personal that keeps you hooked. It's a case of the whole being more than some of the parts—the music isn't always particularly original, but with the energy level the band seems to possess, their sturdiness as a unit, and Winstrom's potent voice, Tenderhooks have enough going for them to earn a big following. "I don't know what's wrong with me," sings Winstrom repeatedly in the aforementioned "Quarter of a Century." Not a thing, Jake, m'boy. You've got all you need to play this rock 'n' roll game—just keep singing and paying attention, the way you and your band are clearly doing so far. B+ | Kevin Renick
RIYL: Neptune Crush, early R.E.M., the dB's
FINGERTIPMUSIC.COM
"Kidstuff" - Tenderhooks
This song wallops me with its late-'70s new wave vibe but I can't put my finger exactly on why. Put early Elvis Costello, the 1977-79 Kinks, Television, and the Undertones in a blender and this song maybe pours out, with its ringing guitar line, observational wordplay, and solid pop melody. The production quality has a strong whiff of past glory about it thanks to those driving dual guitars and the enveloping rhythm section but again the sensation is vague rather than specific. The closest correlation I hear is with singer Jake Winstrom, whose high, sandy-warbly voice brings the legendary Undertones singer Feargal Sharkey to mind. But what of that unglued guitar break, beginning at 1:55 but becoming deviant by around 2:10? There's nothing late-'70s about that at all; while some may call it "shredding" (a term for the superfast playing style that arose out of heavy metal and prog rock), I hear something more aural than pyrotechnic about it--as if guitarist Ben Oyler is trying to make a cool sound rather than merely to sound cool. Like a good band in any era, this Knoxville quartet--often billed as alt-country but this song has nothing obvious to do with that genre--appear to be adept students and willful experimenters, so that in the end, the pieces of the past you hear become part of a vivid and present experience. "Kidstuff" is from the band's Vidalia CD, which is slated for release this week on Rock Snob Records .
I ROCK CLEVELAND
Vidalia, the full length debut by Knoxville, Tennessee's Tenderhooks, is proof that the words Southern and rock don't have to be closely followed by "Freebird," long hair, and Busch Beer. Aided by the production of Don Coffey, Jr, a man who certainly knows a thing or two about a good melody from his time behind the kit with Superdrag, they employ blistering guitars, the reverb heavy style of My Morning Jacket, and an effortless delivery to craft an album that pops swiftly from the speakers. Aside from the geographical connection, I'm not sure the term Southern Rock even applies. They're more of a rock band that lives in the south, than a Southern Rock band. Sure, there's the underpinnings of some twang in the rhythms, and the occasional occasional whiskey fueled guitar duel, but lead singer Jake Winstrom's falsetto bears little resemblance to the worn, rugged voices often associated with the genre, and when the occasional jam does come around, it's like a shredding exclamation point, rather than a self-indulgent, five minute wank. Southern semantics aside, it really is all about the tunes and Vidalia has no shortage of top jams. They're numbered one through ten, starting with the pure power pop satisfaction of "Kidsuff" and the romping, stomping "Mouthful of Rain" straight through to wistful sounds of the muted closer, "Unscared."
Vidalia by Tenderhooks rates 7 1/2 out of 10 on The Rockometer.
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Indie Surfer Blog
Tenderhooks is a lyrical country-rock band with a progressive bent, hailing from Knoxville, TN's eclectic music scene. Known for their energetic live shows, Tenderhooks' literate, witty wordplay and inventive melodicism is complimented by crunchy riffs and idiosyncratic guitar work. Add into the mix beautiful harmony vocals and a flair for melody and the end result is nothing short of fantastic.
The band released self-titled EP in 2006. The debut LP 'Vidalia' is released in April 2007 on independent label Rock Snob Records. This record was produced by Don Coffey from Superdrag, who knows a thing or two about power-pop. Tenderhooks are jammin' BONNAROO, too, which is pretty indicative of the hype surrounding them in the Southeast. Recommended!
Side One: Track One
Good news! I will not have to worry about jury duty since I am moving to Austin before I am to be summoned to the world's most boring place. To celebrate my freedom from public servitude I am rambling about a great alt-country artist called Tenderhooks. The Knoxville, Tennessee product will be releasing their first full length, Vidalia, on June 26 via Rock Snob Records, and they were recently invited to share the stage with the White Stripes, Wilco, Ben Harper and many more great artists at this year's Bonnaroo Music And Arts Festival. I think the quartet's disc, which was produced by none other than Don Coffey Jr. of Superdrag, is rather nifty so I can see why 2007 is shaping up to be a great year for the group. Enjoy.
:Tenderhooks - Kidstuff: You aren't going to find much that would be considered alt-country in this song, but it is a nicely done piece of indie rock that does well in minding its pop sensibilities. Jake Winstrom's melody filled vocals are a pleasure to hear, and I think he does a great job in keeping the pace of song upbeat and energetic. This is just one of those songs you can't help but love.
:Tenderhooks - Mouthful Of Rain: I really like the versatility that the band shows in this. It starts out with an almost standard country sound but before you even realize it the band has swept you off on wave of 70's pop. There is some crafty guitar work does well in pushing the song along, but the real gem of it is once again Jake's voice; he alone makes this sing-a-long worthy.
Smother.net
Knoxville-based Tenderhooks may be cast off as just another alt. country rock group. But that would be missing out on their devilishly clever use of '80's pop influence. Catchy hooks dominate their vocally-driven sound as the guitars range from hard-edged Southern charm to indie pop melodies. You gotta give them a firm nod for their dynamic use of vocal harmonies featuring male and female vocals. " Vidalia" is a clean sounding album that has pristine production quality and an eclectic veneer to it.
- J-Sin
Illinois Entertainer
Knoxville power pop experts Tenderhooks bop through the 10 songs on their debut with an eye fixed on Big Star.
Like their local forerunners Superdrag, there's a keen muscularity underlining Tenderhooks' affinity for flowery pop. What they're free from, however, is Superdrag's blatant grasp for the brass ring and then the bitterness of being kicked down the stairs. Instead Jake Winstrom can sing lines like "You look so disappointed" with a mocking, dippy nonchalance without ever invoking how unfair life can be. And while there's a familiarity factor that can be unnerving ("Unscared" is a combo of "Thirteen" and "I'm In Love With A Girl"), but the purity of "Quarter Of A Century" and the smirking "Kidstuff" could become calling cards in a genre that only requires one. (6)
– Steve Forstneger
Babysue
Our first reaction to Knoxville, Tennessee's Tenderhooks was that we really liked the female vocalist. That was until...we realized that the lead vocalist is a guy (!). Vidalia reminds us in many ways of the Massachusetts pop band Claudia Malibu. These folks play the same sort of genuine, melodic, feelgood guitar pop. Tenderhooks tunes harken back to the days of 1970s pop/rock when bands concentrated more on song structures, vocal melodies, and lyrics than ultra complex digitally enhanced arrangements. This short little mini-album lasts just over 30 minutes but in that amount of time these folks clearly prove that they are a real force to be reckoned with. Delightfully catchy cuts include "Kid Stuff" (an incredible tune), "Mouthful of Rain," and "Armchair Pharmacist." (Rating: 5)
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