Diesel Dog

Although their name may be a little off-putting for some, the Southern Ontario jam band Diesel Dog has made great strides in the past 12 months. In fact, they have progressed to the point that this eight-song effort, recorded early in 2003 but released much later, is no longer an accurate document of what the quintet is all about. Heavily influenced by Wake Of The Flood-era Grateful Dead, their hometown hero Rick Danko and the Band, as well as more modern groove bands like Widespread Panic, the Simcoe-based quintet stand above most of their peers thanks to concise arrangements, a fabulous rhythm section and strong songwriting. First person narratives like the Ryan Morrison sung "Animator” are indebted to the Band, with Morrison’s hushed vocals obviously influenced by the late Richard Manuel and only tip the hat towards the possibilities this band may end up being afforded if they continue to improve at such an accelerated rate.