"...Fire in the Boathouse are cool and they rock and
swing...the best tag for their album may simply be 'damn good music.'"
-Ted Drozdowski, Boston Phoenix
"'Fire in the Boathouse' is the ultimate roots-rock
record combining the 'Let it Bleed'-era Stones haze with the melancholic drawl
of Neil Young, the dry intellect of Leonard Cohen, and the dark moodswings of
Nick Cave, while passing nods to Nick Drake and the infectious songwriting
caliber of The Band's 'Music from Big Pink.'
Dave Wildman forsakes [Tom] Verlaine guitar twang for a
rolling honky-tonk piano, which he plays with equivalent dexterity and flair.
The core of the band-Wildman, guitarist Jerry O'Hare, bassist John Raposa and
drummer Mike Aiello-formed shortly after meeting at a benefit concert for the
late Alexis Shepard. Multi-instrumentalist Jim Bouchard was addded later, and
the lineup was complete. The musicians in this group hail from an impressive
list of roots and songwriter bands including The Motherfolkers, Radio Kings,
Susan Tedeschi and Meghan Toohey.
The band as a whole sound like they've been swilling back
whiskey at the same dive for years, very comfortable and natural in their
musical surroundings. Wildman's songs are as sharp as ever, and Fire in the
Boathouse seems to be the perfect vehicle to bring these songs the heart and
soul they need. Darron Burke's straight ahead production captures these songs
as if the band were playing in your living room. Great songs, great music,
subtle intrumental passages...who could ask for more on a cold winter
afternoon?" -Joel Simches, the Noise
"...the songs on Fire in the Boathouse's debut CD are
infectious, well written and above all, different from all the other music
currently trying to peep its collective head out the turtle shell we call
Boston.Frontman David Wildman has a voice that branches the musical tree of
country, roots and southern blues. The guitar melodies of
Wildman, Jerry O'Hare
and Jim Bouchard bless the sound with an irresistible hook that...carves out it
sown niche.
Fire in the Boathouse has a chance to stand tall and get
recognized for doing what they obviously love, and that's rare in a world of
copycats and rip-offs."
-Ja Love, the Weekly Dig
