The Cutthroat Drifters bring their heavy boogie to Bender's Tavern

Mining the past is nothing new, and goodness knows we've heard enough of the usual classic-rock canon being reinvented for the modern era with little being added. Some may see the Cutthroat Drifters (due Saturday, September 29, at Bender's Tavern) and dismiss it as yet another blues-inflected rock band, but...

By Tom Murphy

September 27, 2012

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Mining the past is nothing new, and goodness knows we've heard enough of the usual classic-rock canon being reinvented for the modern era with little being added. Some may see the Cutthroat Drifters (due Saturday, September 29, at Bender's Tavern) and dismiss it as yet another blues-inflected rock band, but these four guys play it heavier than that. Instead of rehashing Sabbath riffs, as has been very much in vogue recently, or ripping off Led Zeppelin, as has so often been the case in the past, these Drifters are more reminiscent of one of the most underrated bands of the '70s: Humble Pie. Before Peter Frampton was asking us if we feel like he does, he played guitar with Steve Marriott in that band. This Denver group channels a similar vibe by giving its blues rocking some hefty boogie.

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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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