Free Energy

With so many bands seeking new ways to reinterpret the sound of Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin for the modern era -- blissfully unaware of similar efforts in the '80s -- Free Energy wisely took a different route. The outfit, which hails from Philadephia (three of its four members played...

By Tom Murphy

June 24, 2010

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With so many bands seeking new ways to reinterpret the sound of Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin for the modern era -- blissfully unaware of similar efforts in the '80s -- Free Energy wisely took a different route. The outfit, which hails from Philadephia (three of its four members played in a band called Hockey Night when they lived in Red Wing, Minnesota), plays music that recalls the pop-inflected rock and roll of Sweet, Argent and even Cheap Trick. At the same time, the act seems to have escaped from under the weight of emulating its influences too heavily. Its debut album, 2010's Stuck on Nothing, has made waves for its exuberance and sun-drenched tunefulness. It won't be long before these guys are headlining their own tours, particularly with the unanimous endorsement of mainstream music magazines.

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Tom Murphy is a writer, visual artist and musician from Aurora, Colorado. He was a prolific music writer for Westword and a documenter of the Denver music scene.

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