AMERICAN RESTLESS
Hard-scrabble, the music of American Restless channels the force of post-hardcore and the feral-energy of riff-heavy classic rock, earning the trio descriptors like Deep Purple Garage Rock, but the group would simply describe their sounds as Rust Belt Rock and Roll.
Originally from Racine, WI, the band’s hometown is best known for its industrial legacy and stiff blue-collars. But it’s proximity to Milwaukee and Chicago made it a natural intersection for Chicago blues, Milwaukee metal and Midwestern Emo and Hardcore.–all of which shape the sonic DNA of the band.
With their debut album, Rust Belt Rock and Roll, guitarist Noah Lekas and bassist Ian Grant are joined by fellow Racine expat and former Reverend Horton Heat alumni, Arjuna “RJ” Contreras, marking the first time the three old friends converge on one LP. Songs from the group’s 2023 debut have appeared on sports broadcasts like ESPN and UFC Fight Night, as well as in director Maxwell Frost’s latest adventure documentary, Lake Bike Hell.
On December 18, 2021, another Racine expat, Gerald “GM3” Meerschaert walked to the cage for UFC Fight Night to an early demo version of Cadillac Head, officially kicking Rust Belt Rock N Roll in motion.
The band opted to record with another longtime friend, The Silent Comedy’s Jeremiah Zimmerman in East Nashville. The resulting album puts the band’s roots on full display with 10 songs in 28 breakneck minutes. Simultaneously a nod to proto-punk and post-punk, the collection combines the anti-nostalgia of punk with heavy psych fuzz , and slap-echo laden post-war blues, earning praise like “’70s blues guitar rock energy of Humble Pie, Free, and Rory Gallagher” from Glide Magazine, and “Short, Biting and Raucous” from All Music Magazine.
Rust Belt Rock N Roll is available now from Blind Owl Records!
PRESS
“RUST BELT ROCK N ROLL IS SHORT, BITING, RAUCOUS AND SWEET LIKE GINGER.” - ALL MUSIC MAGAZINE
“IF WE WERE TO CONCOCT A SUB-GENRE CALLED “WORKING CLASS ROCK” THERE WOULD BE WIDE AGREEMENT THAT NOBODY DOES IT BETTER THAN AMERICAN RESTLESS.” - V13
“[RUST BELT ROCK N ROLL] THAT TITLE IS NO LIE — BUT IT DOESN'T TELL THE WHOLE TALE BEHIND THIS MIDWESTERN TRIO'S ROLLICKING, ROUGH ’N’ TUMBLE COLLISION OF ROOTS-ROCK, ROCKABILLY, PUNK, BLUES & MORE.” - TINNITIST
“THIS IS TOUGH ROCK MUSIC WITH A SMOKING HOT CORE OF BLUES ‘N’ BOOGIE.” - ADD TO WANTLIST
“RUST BELT ROCK N ROLL SHINES BRIGHTLY.” - POWER PLAY MAGAZINE
“TURN UP THE VOLUME ON THIS ONE FOR THE ELECTRIC GUITAR. “ - AMERICAN HIGHWAYS
“THE ’70S BLUES GUITAR ROCK ENERGY OF HUMBLE PIE, FREE, AND RORY GALLAGHER BLAST TO THE SURFACE WHEN LISTENING TO RUST BELT ROCK AND ROLL.” - GLIDE MAGAZINE