I ain’t got no trouble with Vintage Trouble

The rock and soul band called Vintage Trouble is categorized as a modern rock act but their music is much of a throwback to the late 60’s to the 70’s. This four-piece band hailing from Los Angeles is one of the newest bands to watch out for from abroad. They have received numerous awards, accolades, critical acclaim, and built a loyal fanbase in the States and in the UK since 2010. After seeing them perform for the very first time around two weeks ago at the “Tonight Show With Jay Leno”, it rekindled my fascination with music of that era and the rare breed of artists that first rose to prominence during the time and how they have influenced countless others spanning generations to this very day.

After I saw that outstanding performance from Vintage Trouble, I began researching more about the band and watching available videos I could find at YouTube. My conclusion, just like everyone else’s who is getting familiar with the band, is that they are the real deal. Their music feels authentic. It’s not overly polished. It doesn’t feel too rehearsed or planned out with every detail, so that it comes out very naturally. These guys have passion which can be felt in their songs. You could say they have all the tools of the trade such that they can become even bigger than they are now.

Ty Tyler, the lead singer is like a mix of John Travolta circa “Saturday Night Fever” and the swagger and groove of the late “Godfather of Soul “James Brown and, of course, he possesses the raw talent to back it all up. Watching Vintage Trouble online is so enjoyable because of their infectious charisma and abundance of energy that become a sensory overload. In those videos, they would often even get the crowd to participate in singing some of the lines and the applause they would receive after seemed genuine to me. They certainly can establish a quick connection with the crowd with the way they perform and the quality of their songs.

The comparison of Ty Tyler to legendary artists like James Brown is well deserved. If you watch the videos of the band’s performances in festivals, clubs, and talk shows, you would know why. In my opinion, that is one of the main reasons their growing popularity was enough for them to cross from the underground scene to the mainstream. Their popularity now wasn’t a result of overhype or some smart marketing strategy. It is a result of good old-fashioned hard work and their music which is simply enjoyable and relatable to almost everyone.

Just type their name on the search bar of YouTube and check this band out for yourselves. It has been some time since a band has gotten me excited as these guys have. They seem like they were plucked out from the 70’s!

In my opinion, the reason they are excelling now and steadily gaining more fame is that they would have made a name for themselves in any decade anyway and not only had they been from the 70’s. There is a feel of their music being timeless in some sense and this is the kind of music that parents would have raved about during their time. And if most bands were this good during the 70’s, then I missed out on a lot of them! But to see a band like this around today changes the notion that you can’t bring back a band from that decade because—for now—this is the closest thing to “bringing back the past into the present”.

Vintage Trouble’s fans have earned the moniker “Trouble Makers”–a funny and cute take on the band’s name. Vintage Trouble is not some overnight sensation or a one hit wonder. We are talking about legitimate musicians here with a solid foundation and that much sought-after passion that can make any band great. You can say they are old fashioned but sometimes that is what is needed to go the distance to make a name for yourself and to stand out from the current crop of bands who have gotten themselves out of the underground scene. I find their music so refreshing to listen to.

I recommend listening to these tracks: “Pelvis Pusher”, “Nancy Lee”, “Nobody Told Me”, and “Blues Hand Me Down.” There is a little bit of something there for almost every music aficionado to discover and grow to like. Their music may not grow on you right away as it did on me but it isn’t run-of-the-mill! I sense there is something very special about this band and even if others won’t agree with me, at least this is a different point of view.

Music appreciation can really take you anywhere. It can lead you to study the greats, to research newer acts like this one, and to explore music that is waiting to be discovered out there. Basically, it will take you wherever your heart desires. I think almost every music aficionado wants to hear more than what they are usually exposed to on a daily basis. There is just so much good music out there! The question is, where do you start your search?

Vintage Trouble is composed of Ty Taylor on vocals, Nalle Colt on guitars, Rick Barrio Dill on bass, and Richard Danielson on drums.