Black Eyed Sons – Cowboys In Pinstriped Suits
As many a rock (and roll) fan will know, a split in the The Quireboys ranks in 2022 led to two versions of the band.
One was led by the crushed glass rasp of mercurial and charismatic co-founder/ singer Spike (along with previous members of the band and Thunder’s Luke Morley); the other by what had been the rest of the band - Guy Griffin (lead vocals/ guitar), Paul Guerin (guitar), Keith Weir (keys) and rhythm twins Nick (bass) & Pip Mailing (drums).
Dual-identity confusion ended toward the end of 2024 when Griffin & Co changed their name to Black Eyed Sons (a nod to the 2014 Quireboys album of the same name) and, now, debut album Cowboys In Pinstriped Suits.
That the album also features a dozen guest musicians, many of whom have a direct relationship with the Black Eyed boys, gives you an idea of the respect they have among their peers.
Opener, bluesy rock 'n' roller 'Lie To Me,' encapsulates all the major Black Eyed Sons influences, none more so than Rod & The Faces (you could be forgiven for checking the songwriting credits to see if it’s an old Stewart-Wood composition that inexplicably never made it to a Faces album.
Add in some swagger, a little blues harmonica and Guy Griffin’s husky/ slightly gravelly vocality and you have a great start.
'Medicine' (featuring Buckcherry’s Josh Todd & Stevie D) provides US west coast/ melodic Americana-tinged contrast to the opener. With a country undercurrent and nicely arranged harmony choruses it comes across as a bluesier, early days Eagles (had said band carried a bluesy influence and utilised organ keys).
'Foolin' Yourself' started life as a demo by 1990s NYC band Company of Wolves.
Bequeathed to the Black Eyed Sons by ex CofW member Steve Conte (who features here on backing vocals with ex Wolves bandmate Kyf Brewer), this swaggering slab of stomp 'n' roll, bolstered by more harmonica blowing and some great ivory tinkling, is such a great fit you’d swear it was an original, or an unused/ Quireboys holdover.
Acoustically framed country number 'Autumn Reigns' is a personal number dedicated to Guy Griffin’s brother, Daniel, who passed away three years ago; that Blackberry Smoke’s Charlie Starr guests on the number only adds to the soulful & lyrical poignancy of the song ("Autum reigns, summer falls, seasons change, but don’t we all").
The mid-tempo title track nods to the golden age of rock and roll and its stars.
With a Mott The Hoople homage/ intro and Messrs Griffin, Guerin & Weir part of Joe Elliott’s Hoople-inspired Down n’ Outz, it’s fitting that Elliott adds his voice to the track, with lead guitar licks from Ryan Roxie (Alice Cooper) and bass from Chip Z’Nuff (Enuff Z'Nuff).
Chip’s bass also features on the Stonesy 'Don't Throw Me in the Corner,' a raucous roller with subtle shifts in the chord sequence (nice semitone touch).
One was led by the crushed glass rasp of mercurial and charismatic co-founder/ singer Spike (along with previous members of the band and Thunder’s Luke Morley); the other by what had been the rest of the band - Guy Griffin (lead vocals/ guitar), Paul Guerin (guitar), Keith Weir (keys) and rhythm twins Nick (bass) & Pip Mailing (drums).
Dual-identity confusion ended toward the end of 2024 when Griffin & Co changed their name to Black Eyed Sons (a nod to the 2014 Quireboys album of the same name) and, now, debut album Cowboys In Pinstriped Suits.
That the album also features a dozen guest musicians, many of whom have a direct relationship with the Black Eyed boys, gives you an idea of the respect they have among their peers.
Opener, bluesy rock 'n' roller 'Lie To Me,' encapsulates all the major Black Eyed Sons influences, none more so than Rod & The Faces (you could be forgiven for checking the songwriting credits to see if it’s an old Stewart-Wood composition that inexplicably never made it to a Faces album.
Add in some swagger, a little blues harmonica and Guy Griffin’s husky/ slightly gravelly vocality and you have a great start.
'Medicine' (featuring Buckcherry’s Josh Todd & Stevie D) provides US west coast/ melodic Americana-tinged contrast to the opener. With a country undercurrent and nicely arranged harmony choruses it comes across as a bluesier, early days Eagles (had said band carried a bluesy influence and utilised organ keys).
'Foolin' Yourself' started life as a demo by 1990s NYC band Company of Wolves.
Bequeathed to the Black Eyed Sons by ex CofW member Steve Conte (who features here on backing vocals with ex Wolves bandmate Kyf Brewer), this swaggering slab of stomp 'n' roll, bolstered by more harmonica blowing and some great ivory tinkling, is such a great fit you’d swear it was an original, or an unused/ Quireboys holdover.
Acoustically framed country number 'Autumn Reigns' is a personal number dedicated to Guy Griffin’s brother, Daniel, who passed away three years ago; that Blackberry Smoke’s Charlie Starr guests on the number only adds to the soulful & lyrical poignancy of the song ("Autum reigns, summer falls, seasons change, but don’t we all").
The mid-tempo title track nods to the golden age of rock and roll and its stars.
With a Mott The Hoople homage/ intro and Messrs Griffin, Guerin & Weir part of Joe Elliott’s Hoople-inspired Down n’ Outz, it’s fitting that Elliott adds his voice to the track, with lead guitar licks from Ryan Roxie (Alice Cooper) and bass from Chip Z’Nuff (Enuff Z'Nuff).
Chip’s bass also features on the Stonesy 'Don't Throw Me in the Corner,' a raucous roller with subtle shifts in the chord sequence (nice semitone touch).
'Your True Colours,' which features additional vocals from White Lion singer Mike Tramp (no stranger himself to band name disputes) starts as a funkier Stones before settling into a bluesy, melodic mid-tempo that lyrically discloses people in their true light.
At six-and-a-half minutes long however, the song falters and loses impetus in the late going (it would have been more impacting as a shorter number, but retaining its slow fade).
A rollicking cover of Mink Deville 'Savoir Faire' then follows, here bolstered by a Steve Conte guitar solo, guest vocals from Alan Clayton (Dirty Strangers) and Quireboys member Chris Johnstone on piano.
As befits the song’s title, there’s a dirty big swagger and groove driving the swampy blues inspired 'Dig Me Out Of This Hole,' which comes complete with a tasty little slide solo from Skid Row’s Scotti Hill.
Much like 'Medicine,' 'So Glorious' offers up a slice of west coast/ melodic Americana, here with lyrics and vocal accompaniment from Dan Reed. A summer song for any season.
Final number, a cover of Johnny Thunders' signature song 'Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory,' has been rearranged as an acoustic-electric ballad dedicated to Dan Cohen (from Guy Griffin’s first band Feline Groove) and original Quireboys member Guy Bailey (both passed not long after Griffin’s brother).
Featuring a sombre but sensitive string arrangement from engineer & mixer Martin Ekelund (who plays cello on the track) and Ryan Roxie on acoustic guitar & backing vocals, it makes for a reflective and resonant sign-off.
Cowboys In Pinstriped Suits is a great rock and roll album with moments of reflection.
It matches The Quireboys 2019 album Amazing Disgrace (a serious return to form) and is stronger than The Quireboys own, after the dust settled, 2024 release Wardour Street.
The hope then would be that the Black Eyed Sons are seen and heard as very much their own band, and not just ex alumni boys singing to the Quire.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
At six-and-a-half minutes long however, the song falters and loses impetus in the late going (it would have been more impacting as a shorter number, but retaining its slow fade).
A rollicking cover of Mink Deville 'Savoir Faire' then follows, here bolstered by a Steve Conte guitar solo, guest vocals from Alan Clayton (Dirty Strangers) and Quireboys member Chris Johnstone on piano.
As befits the song’s title, there’s a dirty big swagger and groove driving the swampy blues inspired 'Dig Me Out Of This Hole,' which comes complete with a tasty little slide solo from Skid Row’s Scotti Hill.
Much like 'Medicine,' 'So Glorious' offers up a slice of west coast/ melodic Americana, here with lyrics and vocal accompaniment from Dan Reed. A summer song for any season.
Final number, a cover of Johnny Thunders' signature song 'Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory,' has been rearranged as an acoustic-electric ballad dedicated to Dan Cohen (from Guy Griffin’s first band Feline Groove) and original Quireboys member Guy Bailey (both passed not long after Griffin’s brother).
Featuring a sombre but sensitive string arrangement from engineer & mixer Martin Ekelund (who plays cello on the track) and Ryan Roxie on acoustic guitar & backing vocals, it makes for a reflective and resonant sign-off.
Cowboys In Pinstriped Suits is a great rock and roll album with moments of reflection.
It matches The Quireboys 2019 album Amazing Disgrace (a serious return to form) and is stronger than The Quireboys own, after the dust settled, 2024 release Wardour Street.
The hope then would be that the Black Eyed Sons are seen and heard as very much their own band, and not just ex alumni boys singing to the Quire.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ