Rotten Mouth, a band of buddies from Woodstock, Illinois played the show to celebrate the release of their debut album, The Moonman which came out Friday.

While Rotten Mouth have previously stuck to a heavy hard-rock sound, The Moonman sheds some of that weight, shifting towards an explorative instrumental style. They’ve always been a jam band, but on the new record, Rotten Mouth’s improvisational chops really come out to play. The Moonman is a concept album that shows how far the band has come in perfecting their alt-rock sound.

When Rotten Mouth take the stage, it’s like when your friends finally show up to the party where you’ve been waiting. The band grabs their instruments and gets into position while frontman Clay Mutert, smiling from behind his long curtains of hair, greets the crowd. Mutert calls out to the audience, excited to report that the crowd is made of “all his friends.” Whether you know Mutert and the band or not, you feel like you really are all friends as you watch them play.

Rotten Mouth open things up with “Moonman,” the first track off the new album. Everyone, especially those in the front, in their “Rotten Mouth” tee shirts, jeans, and converse or vans, (all black) cheers wildly. I’m surprised at the amount of passion from the crowd. For a relatively small band, their support is impressive. The photographer I’m with is only one of three or four others, all vying for space in the front row, trying to get the best shots.

Rotten Mouth play several songs from The Moonman. The crowd headbangs and bobs along gleefully. Some of the best parts of the show come when the guys invite guests to play with them on stage. Bella Mutert, Clay’s sister, joins them for a fun cover of “Clint Eastwood” by Gorillaz. She raps the verses like a pro. Hanging out at WLUW, Loyola University’s radio station, Mutert and guitarist Josh Guelzow told me how much they love playing fun covers like this one during their shows.

Rotten Mouth’s performance is polished. They’ve been looking forward to this show for weeks, excited to finally release the new album. Guelzow’s guitar solos elevate each song to new heights, while the drums and bass build a strong wall of support. It’s easy to see why their fan base is so enthusiastic about the music.

If you want to go see a fun band with a friendly, supportive crowd, a Rotten Mouth ticket should definitely be on your summer wish list.

Opening acts Friday night were St. Marlboro, Saltwater Tap, and Revolt Coda. All three bands helped get the crowd hyped up with their unique styles and original songs. Revolt Coda, an alt-rock 4-piece, brought an infectious energy to the Cobra Lounge. What makes this band special to me is their knack for building each of their songs up into a crescendo of keys, electric guitar, and bass. Revolt Coda combines funk, rock, and even a bit of reggae for a truly awesome performance.

Follow Rotten Mouth on Instagram and Facebook @rottenmouthband

Listen to Rotten Mouth at Bandcamp and Spotify.

The post Rotten Mouth Rocks Chicago’s Cobra Lounge appeared first on Red Roll.

Rotten Mouth is a four-piece rock band based in Chicago. The group is made up of Josh Guelzow and Ryan Wade on guitars, Clay Mutert on bass, and Chris Mutert on the drums. Together, the four create groovy rock tunes steeped in guitar-and-drum jams.

In 2015, Rotten Mouth dropped their debut record, Self Loathing. The heavy-hitting collection is made up of hard-rock/punk songs like “Burn” and “Falling Down Stares.” Gritty guitars and snappy snares combine to create powerful songs. Instrumental breaks separate the lyrics and add a level of fun to the music.

Next came A Brave Refrain, the band’s sophomore effort. This EP packs a similar punch, but with a bit more polish and flare. The licks are spicier and the vocal is tighter, and songs like “I’m In Line” showcase a slower, more instrument-based style, hinting at what’s to come.

Jump to today, and Rotten Mouth is ready to unveil their debut full-length album, The Moonman, on Friday, April 5. The band is celebrating the release with a headlining show at Cobra Lounge that night, alongside fellow Chicagoland bands, Revolt Coda, Fuzzlove & Saltwater Tap.

“Steady Hand,” the first single from The Moonman, indicates the album will be different than the band’s previous releases. The aggressive punk-rock has evolved into a smoother, jam-based vibe. Make no mistake, these guys still know how to rock, but you can expect to hear a more mellow, musical tone on The Moonman.

In a press release to Red Roll, Rotten Mouth told us a bit about the buzz surrounding The Moonman:

“After over 60 shows in the Chicagoland Area over the past 2 years, both the band and the fans are greatly anticipating the release of The Moonman; a concept album documenting the reality-bending journey of a man stranded in space and the personal growth he experiences along the way.”

Rotten Mouth have spent the past four years sharpening their sound, and perfecting their voice. They’ve already played at staple Chicago spots like, Cubby Bear, Bottom Lounge, and Subterranean. Now they’re ready to take on the Cobra Lounge.

If you’re looking for a real rock troupe to take you on a jam-worthy journey, look no further than Chicago’s very own Rotten Mouth.

The Moonman will be available on all streaming services and for purchase at the band’s album release show at Cobra Lounge on Friday, April 5. The event is 17+, doors open at 7 P.M. and tickets are available online for $8, and $10 at the door.

Stream the Album here on Friday, April 5th.

Get your tickets for the release show at Cobra Lounge here!

The post Meet Rotten Mouth, Your Next Jam-Rock Obsession appeared first on Red Roll.

Khemmis

Formed in 2012, this doom act from Denver, Colorado put out Hunted in 2015 which topped many end-of-the-year lists, landing a place in the rest. While it would have been easy for them to carry on with the sound they made with Hunted, they chose to continue making their own path with their follow-up album, Desolation. Khemmis continues to expand their sound, drawing influence from sounds of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal back in the early-1980s, giving them a more traditional metal sound, while still carrying their doom metal sound.

Ne Obliviscaris

I will sing praises of Australian progressive metal masters, Ne Obliviscaris until the day I die. While they’ve been around since the early 2000s, the band dropped jaws and made a name for themselves with their debut record Portal of I in 2012. With two incredible follow-ups, Ne Obliviscaris should also be praised for their impressive crowd funding efforts and enthusiastic social network. Musically, each member of NeO can be praised from violinist and clean vocalist Tim Charles and guitarist Benjamin Baret to drummer Dan Presland and harsh vocalist Xenoyr. Each one of them are talented artists in their own right and manage to bring it together to form something that is truly incredible.

Tribulation

I didn’t know about the existence of Sweden’s newest black metal act until I saw them open for Behemoth and Cannibal Corpse in 2015 when they were promoting their third album The Children of the Night. Since then, I have been following this group, and was incredibly happy with the success that was their fourth album Down Below. Continuing with the gothic-elements that set them apart from the countless other Satanic acts that dot the black metal genre, Tribulation continues to define themselves with eerie melodies and catchy hooks that invoke images of old castles, rather than another forest full of Satan worshipers.

Greta Van Fleet

Okay, so Greta Van Fleet is the possibly the least metal act in this list, but these kids deserve every amount of attention given to them. Often have I seen them described as, “Led Zeppelin for the next generation”, these kids from Michigan have grabbed the rock community’s attention and have kept it focused on them. It was impressive that they managed to sell out their entire first tour, but it’s even more impressive when they only had one EP, Black Smoke Rising, which featured only four songs. While they’ve since put out a second EP, From the Fires, and plan to release their first album soon, these kids have had their fair share of criticism from people who claim they’re nothing but Zeppelin rip-offs. Whether that’s true or not is up to you, but I’ll keep listening to these kids for a long time.

Myrkur

While she is last, she is certainly not the least on this list. Formerly Amalie Bruun, a Danish pop star, Amalie revealed herself to be the mind behind the band Myrkur and has gone by that title ever since. Though she has had her fair share of criticism for being a woman in the black metal community, she has since learned to harness that directed anger and channel it into her art, as shown in her sophomore album, Mareridt. I’ve enjoyed Myrkur’s more atmospheric take to the black metal genre, and seeing her perform live has shown me that her albums do not hold a candle to what she can do on the stage. Managing to switch between the classic harsh vocals that black metal is known for and an incredible symphonic voice, Myrkur is forging her own path, no matter what those who are against her have said.

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