700 Miles
Dirtbomb (RCA)
by Joe Hacking
Power trios have bred some of the best power musicians and some of the craziest music in the history of rock: The Hendrix Experience, Cream, Rush, Thin Lizzy. The simple structure of the power trio gives a musician more room to play and grow. There are fewer restrictions. And the members of 700 Miles are fully aware of this.
“We’re the bastards of too many musical styles to just limit ourselves to one,” says John Carlin, singer/guitartist/lyricist for the band. Carlin and bassist Tom Clapp started out in a punk pop trio called Next Big Thing. After gaining some notoriety in the NYC club circuit and recording a three-song demo with producer Wharton Tiers (Sonic Youth, Helmet) their drummer left the band.
Undaunted, Carlin and Clapp began searching high and low until they found Justin Guip who now fills the post. After a few months of work and five days of recording in Detroit (their name comes from the number of miles on the odometer of their rental car), 700 Miles worked clubs across America.
The band went from club to studio to create their newest release, Dirtbomb. Produced by Matt Hyde of Porno For Pyros fame, the album benefits from their relentless tour experience.
Carlin’s guitar and voice dominate 700’s sound. He creates unique guitar-scrapes with his metallic clank-drone, and sings his lyrics in a powerful, soulful voice reminiscent of Corey Glover of Living Colour. Clapp’s bass meanders through the songs like a lively phantom, drifting along with Guip’s casual, cymbal-driven, drumming one minute, and then suddenly appearing to thunder along with Carlin’s licks the next.
Through their combined efforts, 700 Miles explores all different types of moods and sounds on Dirtbomb. On “Hurt You”, Carlin’s raunchy guitar and Clapp’s punchy bass flow along to Guip’s shuffle as Carlin sings “Jesus Christ was the name of a homeless radical Jew who wanted to break the chains of his people/ so they killed him.” “Eventide” has some excellent acoustic guitar work accompanied by a violin and some very strong vocals. “Greedy” is a very catchy piece full of outstanding keyboard work.
With the strength of their talent and sincerity showing up so early in their career, 700 Miles’ future looks bright.
