Maverick Magazine - UK, January 2007

The Bonedrivers Roadhouse Manifesto Blue Black BB5326 **** Country, rock, blues and everything in-between in a great roadhouse tradition If you’re going to announce yourself to the world, then you might as well do it in style. And the explosion of rock’n’roll that is Who Burned My Building Down? ROADHOUSE MANIFESTO’s opening track, means that this band and album you’ll not forget in a hurry. While it and Evil Twin Sisters cast more than a nod in the direction of the great Jimi Hendrix. If that was all there was, then ROADHOUSE MANIFESTO would be a short step to the band performing Hendrix covers in an attempt to entertain an audience who wished the real thing was in front of it. But there’s a whole lot more to the Bonedrivers. Hailing from Northern California the band plays Live to Ride, a wind in the hair, sun on the back anthem, with a freedom that would make many a more illustrious name proud. The band utilises the talents of two distinct vocalists, Johnnie Callerton and Keith Karloff. Unfortunately the liner notes don’t differentiate between the two, an omission that doesn’t spoil the enjoyment but would have been nice. It means that the band can change its colours from the out and out country-rock band of Light In The Morning and Lou Ann to the gritty, earthy blues outfit of the near-ten minute epic Macon Bacon. An album entirely of one style would be fine, to be offered both is an unexpected but very welcome delight. Listening to ROADHOUSE MANIFESTO it’s easy to accept the band’s claim that the music was road-tested in taverns and that anything that didn’t grip an audience was discarded. The beat of Get It would be rattling glasses at the back of any bar, this is not an album that fades into the background or is easily ignored. ROADHOUSE MANIFESTO demands and gets your attention. MM

Germany's influential "Blooddawn" Magazine's review:

by Chris/Avenger

Expecting some punk rock or some dirty kind of noisy rock when looking at the cover, I was pretty surprised by the sound of THE BONEDRIVERS, a GONE JACKALS-related band. These guys call their style "roadhouse style rock-n-blues" and this CD should be seen as a preview of the upcoming full length album. And I can tell you - these three songs are cool as a dog's nose:

"Who Burned My Building Down" sounds like a southern rock/blues bastard with very DANZIG-like vocals and stimulates the muscles of your legs, if you want it or not.

To me, the second song "Live To Ride" crawls out of the speakers like a mixture of THE BEATLES, BEACH BOYS and TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS, with the characteristic BONEDRIVERS-trademarks of country, blues and southern rock elements.

The final song "Light Of The Morning Sun" is surprisingly similar to the LYNYRD SKYNYRD tunes. With its relaxed mood it gives you the illusion of sitting in an old american limousine, driving around on a highway alone... no one but you...

With a well known line-up - Keith Karloff (GONE JACKALS, g & v), Johnnie Colleton (AQUATIC GROOVE SESSION, g & v), Mike McCurdy (JIMMIE RODGERS BLUES BAND, b & v) and Randy Gzebb (LOVE CLUB, d) - the quartet knows very well how to create a club atmosphere with their strong american sound. Perfect for a beer or two... or more...

If the full length album has the same high-quality material and spreads the same authentic feeling then we see one of the most interesting and unique bands out of this genre. I want to keep a little space to the top of the points scale because i know they can top it. Very strong 4 out of 5 points for now


Italy's premier Rock Magazine "Slam" :

by Carlo "Hawk" Mazzoli

Keith Karloff, best known as the leader of the "Gone Jackals", has sent me a preview cd recorded with his new band,"The Bonedrivers". The band has been very active on the live music scene in California (expecially in San Francisco). Finally they've let us listen to these 3 rock/blues songs
before the release of the full length debut CD which will soon be available on "BlueBlack Records".

The main riff (R'n'R/bluesy) of "Who Burned My Building Down?" is reminiscent of the great Jimi Hendrix (the sound is pretty close) and the vocals of great bluesmen such as B.B. King (one 'tween many). This song is really beautiful, played with a great '70s style.

"Live To Ride" is a true biker hymn. It inspires freedom... you can almost feel wind the blowing through your hair and the wings on your back. A good country song, perfectly in character with Karloff's voice.

The last track of this advance cd, "Light Of the Morning Sun" begins with a slide intro which introduces an old fashioned R'n'R blues feel that never lets up. A really pleasing song.

This advance cd is surely promising, so I'm waiting for the definitive one. Certainly some more energic songs won't be out of place, considering that Karloff created a very good sound in 1995 with the "Gone Jackals" in their best cd "Bone to Pick".

Let's see what Keith & co. have coming next.

Feel free to check out the new Russian Bonedrivers site!
Use your translator to peruse this great new "Roadhouse Manifesto" review from Italy's Kathodik Magazine.