Banditos from the album Right On!

Banditos from the album Right On!

Banditos (from the album Right On! available on Egghunt Records) (by Lee Zimmerman)

Banditos, a five-piece band based in Nashville, was initially spawned over a decade ago when singer and guitarist Corey Parsons and singer/banjo player Stephen Pierce came up with the idea of combining their talents and forming a band, one that would eventually come to include lead singer Mary Beth Richards, drummer Randy Wade, and guitarist Jeffery Salter. A formidable ensemble, Banditos 2023 finds Mary Beth Richards naturally dominating the proceedings, no surprise given her dynamic presence and effusive form of expression.

One needn’t look hard for examples, be it through the rousing album opener “Time Wasted”, the staunch and steady stride of the title track, the forward thrust of “Here Tonight”, or the sheer exuberance and enthusiasm of “On My Way”. Fortunately, the band seems to have no problem keeping pace, and their equally inspired arrangements ensure that the energy remains intact. This is a band with all the right instincts, a powerhouse combo equally adept at delivering muscular pop melodies and songs with a hefty infusion of soulful bravado. As a result, Right On, as its title suggests, makes for an authoritative offering, a commanding combination of drive, determination and compelling performances. Mary Beth Richards is an absolute dynamo, ably supported by a series of assertive arrangements and the band’s intuitive efforts.
 
To be sure, the music can take a more fanciful turn, as the wistful repast of “Ozone” and the soulful sway of the aptly dubbed “Easy” clearly imply. Happily, though, it doesn’t distract from the overall dynamic. Melody and muscle get equal emphasis in the Banditos' capable hands, resulting in a rollicking collection of songs that deliver ear-pleasing results. Three albums in, this band not only can claim credibility but a certain elevated instinct as well.
(by Lee Zimmerman)
 
Listen and buy the music of Banditos from AMAZON
 
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