Album Review: Leopard Hounds - Too Hot for Snakes

Leopard Hounds

Too Hot for Snakes

**** out of *****

The debut full length from the new blues/rock outfit Leopard Hounds finds the New Orleans quartet looking to the past for inspiration while writing originals about their Bywater neighborhood. Too Hot For Snakes works up an appetite and uses a protesting political spirit, while never forgetting to have fun. 

The four piece are long time New Orleans based musicians, Ryan Scully – electric guitar, vocals, Benjamin Hubbell – bass guitar, vocals, Anthony “Tony” Dios – electric guitar, vocals, Wacko Wade – drums, came together over their love of the blues. Opener "Jaw Flappin'" sets the tone with vibrating guitar work as the straight-ahead riffing in juke joint fashion flows while Scully's raspy vocals fit the groove wonderfully. The group has backed Little Freddie King in the past and his influence seeps into their debut. 

Dios takes over lead vocals on the throwback hip-shaking blues of "The Crawl", kicking up energy to pack a late-night dance floor. Dios stays on the mic for a pair of efforts that are more roots-rock orientated, the skittering drums, organ laced "Bywater Train" and "Jukebox Emergency" which is inspired by Bob Dylan, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, and The Big Lebowski, the effort is protest music fit for backyard BBQ's. 

Speaking of gatherings, the Leopard Hounds use a pair of tunes to call out local New Orleans establishments. "Where You Wanna Go" is what happens when you write a song on an empty stomach as the group lists restaurants in the neighborhood that they may want to eat at, while "Where's Smokey" uses one of the albums best grooves to shout out local bars around riffs that could flow on forever. 

"Poor Boy" is a buzzing album highlight, eerily floating in the darkness with shimmering riffs, percussion and haunting sounds while the slower "Sing It On Out" is less successful but does contain a cool breakdown and some good guitar work. When the band just has the mind to jam in blues-based fashion, such as on the instrumental "Bone Time" and the motoring album closer "Leopard Hound", things are familiar, yet exciting with a slightly new spin on an old style. 

Same can be said for Too Hot For Snakes as a whole. A successful debut album from Leopard Hounds that respects its influences, but looks directly at its local community, diving into new topics to sing about.  

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