Welcome To Ashley – Beyond the Pale

credit: reverbnation.com

Band: Welcome To Ashley
Album: Beyond the Pale
Release Date: April 21, 2010

In 2008, Q101 named Welcome To Ashley one of Chicago’s best new bands. On their most recent release, Beyond the Pale, the band seems to be living up to that hype.

When you read through Welcome To Ashley’s list of influences, it’s an almost staggering who’s who of Brit-pop, post-punk fame. Names like Morrissey and The Smiths, Echo & The Bunnymen, David Bowie and The Clash. And when you listen to Beyond the Pale, you can easily hear all of those influences in almost every song. Most obvious, I think, is the guitar work on “These Dreams of Mine.” A scant 2:25 rocker that gives the album its title, the feeling it gives is a mix of Joe Strummer and Brian Setzer’s Stray Cats. And that feeling continues through the rest of the album.

There are other influences here as well. Everything from rockabilly to a song that kicks off with a drum reminiscent of something The Shangri-Las may have put out in the ’60s.

If nothing else Welcome To Ashley shows a great wealth of musical knowledge. Not just knowing their history, but also understanding their craft. On Beyond the Pale, they’ve put together 30+ minutes of rock ‘n’ roll that’ll keep your head nodding along.

I’m looking forward to seeing these guys perform live at The Empty Bottle on August 26. If you enjoy music that you can jump around to, I suggest you make it a point to show up, too.

Extras:

• Welcome To Ashley, based in Chicago, is comprised of Coley Kennedy, Pete Javier, Jeremy “Mouse” Barrett and Sherrlia Bailey.
• Beyond the Pale can be streamed in its entirety on Welcome To Ashley’s Bandcamp page. It also can be purchased on iTunes for $8.91.
• Welcome To Ashley will rock The Empty Bottle on August 26 for $5 (advance) or $8 (at door). The show begins at 9:30 p.m. and also includes Belmondos and Nathan Xander & Witchouse.

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