There are times in the life of every temporal traveler when thunderous electric boogie rock is the only thing that makes any sense at all. Formed in Dallas, Texas, amid the dying embers of 2015, Smokey Mirror have dedicated themselves to spreading a gospel of scorched-earth riff worship and wild, psychedelic abandon. Led by vocalist/guitarist Mario Rodriguez, they have steadily nurtured their untameable sound, building toward the impending release of their self-titled debut album. Completed by bassist Tyler Davis, guitarist Caleb Hollowed and drummer Cam Martin, Smokey Mirror are only just beginning their trip…
“Our musical master plan was to write songs that blend energetic heavy blues rock with elements of progressive and free form styles of music,” says Mario. “We wanted to make music that is engaging to both casual listeners and the refined ears of musicians. We performed around Texas as a trio [with former drummer Josh Miller] for a few years and began collaborating with Cam in the spring of 2018, just before SXSW. A few months later, we met our guitarist Caleb at Charley’s Guitar Shop [in Dallas], where he works as a repairman. We started playing as a quartet and began finalizing material for our first full-length shortly thereafter.”
Explosive, groovy and full of psychedelic danger, Smokey Mirror is the kind of debut album that leaves like-minded listeners in a sweaty, euphoric heap. Eight songs (and two interludes) deep, it showcases the ferocious, fearless and soulful noise that Mario and his comrades have claimed as their own. From the unstoppable acid rock rush of opener Invisible Hand and the strutting, anthemic blues metal of Pathless Forest, to epic, spiraling jams like Magick Circle and Sacrificial Altar, Smokey Mirror’s mastery of the form is as timeless as it is exhilarating. Meanwhile, the band’s lyrical musings add even more depth, intrigue and righteous fury.
It was a great pleasure to have the awesome Mario on the Interview to talk on the new album and much more. Check out the complete Interview coverage on the below YouTube video.
Invisible Hand
Pathless Forest
Magick Circle
Alpha-State Dissociative Trance
Fried Vanilla Spider Trapeze
Sacrificial Altar
A Thousand Days in the Desert
Who’s To Say
Recurring Nightmare
The Band
Tyler Davis – Bass
Caleb Hollowed – Guitars
Cam Martin – Drums
