the Informer

Courtesy of Turtlekat.hu

Soulful, experimental rockers Foxy Shazam released their self-titled album earlier this month. With a six-piece set-up that features piano and horns along with the usual drums, bass, guitar, vocals line-up, the gentlemen of Foxy Shazam deliver classic rock style with a fun, adventurous edge.

The band, which formed in 2004, already has two albums under its belt. However, the April 12 release of “Foxy Shazam” marks the group’s first major label release. The album, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart is an eclectic mixture of anthemic jams, funky alternative beats and old school rock swagger. Frontman Eric Nally takes the liberty of introducing the band via Foxy Shazam’s Facebook profile. Aside from the aforementioned singer and founding father of the band, Foxy Shazam is composed of Daisy (bass), Aaron McVeigh (drums), Alex Nauth (horns) Loren Turner (guitar) and Sky White (piano).

On the Facebook page, Nally states, “I am 24 years old, the father of two boys, Julian Michael and Francis Jordan, as well as a loving husband to Karen Nally. This creates an interesting contrast to my career as a professional musician.”Foxy Shazam first caught my attention during one lazy afternoon I spent watching hours of MTVu. A new music video scene opens up to black and white animation of a gawky man with humorous facial hair and a little boy.

Amidst the jumpy movements of these scrawled figures, a ragged voice whispers words of comfort and protection to the little cartoon boy named Julian. A faint trumpet melody begins to sound as the animations jump under the lid of a piano. My interest as a viewer is piqued.

Watching the video for the single “Oh Lord,” my eyes light up as the black and white shots of the band erupt with flying confetti and the emergence of lead singer Nally and the little boy from the cartoon. Strains of guitar feedback, thick drum beats and the pound of piano keys bring the song to a powerful start.

The band members perform amidst the black and white scene, showcasing their flair for energetic entertainment. Nally dances with his mic stand and engages in choreography with four back-up dancers who are dressed as basketball players. Saying that this video is random is a bit of a stretch.

However, the silly imagery works wonders as it highlights the sweet, charming airs of “Oh Lord,” a song one could assume is addressed to Nally’s son, Julian.

“Foxy Shazam” captures the various accoutrements in the group’s bag of tricks. From Nally’s Freddy Mercury-esque falsetto to the entire band’s agile stage presence, Foxy Shazam are emerging on the scene, readyand willing to entertain. Whether it is the somber, soulful moan of “Bye Bye Symphony” or the crowd-rousing rock ruckus, “Unstoppable,” this album truly delivers the undeniable pizazz of Foxy Shazam.

However, instead of just plugging this delightfully unique band’s newest album, I’ll let Nally’s own words (from the band’s fan-friendly Facebook page) do the trick: “When you listen to our record, think of your favorite things and it’ll make sense to you as well.

“Foxy Shazam is not concerned with what category it falls into. We want to stand for our generation.”