Eric Tessmer Band

A major pitfall with a genre like the blues is that studio albums never quite match the vivacity of a live performance. Perhaps it’s the grit of the scene, the impromptu departures, or the stickiness of live guitar distortion. Nevertheless, the Eric Tessmer Band, a dynamic trio of twenty-somethings, have jumped the tragic chasm between live and recorded with their second release, Blues Bullets. The band captures the intensity of their performances through catchy hooks and fiery virtuosity. The band’s inexperience peeks through now and againwith over-developed and oddly assembled vocals and obvious leaps in uniformity (“Ain’t With You”). But their flaws are underplayed by a smattering of melodic tributes to blues greats like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Three Kings. Their sound is hardly stale, with elements of metal, rockabilly, and country all mixed in; evidence that the band is destined for greatness, should they ever escape the confines of Austin’s 6th Street.