Rootstime (Translated from Dutch)

Bovina, New York, is the home of bassist John “Chico” Finn, and guitarist Keith Christopher, co-songwriters of the sextet ‘Esquela’, dedicated to delivering the real roots rock of Americana music. The band includes the great singer Rebecca Frame, lead guitarist Brian Shafer, guitarists Ira McIntosh and Matt Woodin and drummer Todd Russell.

Producer Eric “Roscoe” Ambel, who has worked with Ryan Adams, Marshall Crenshaw and ‘New Heathens’, is a former member of ‘Joan Jett & The Blackhearts’ and today is in ‘The Del-Lords’, was on the buttons in the recording studio. In three days, Esquela and Ambel had cut the basic tracks Are We Rolling? — the follow up to the bands’ debut album, The Owl Has Landed from early 2010.

The soulful and powerful voice of Rebecca Frame reminds us of Brittany Howard, the singer of the successful band ‘Alabama Shakes’ from their album “Boys & Girls” which stole so many awards last year. Dynamic, energetic, and at times, lustful sounding, Frame delivers on everything from roots rockers like “Free Beer”, “Free Bird”, “Genesee Fever” as well as on the more sensitive ballads on the disc like “No Questions”, “Frozen Chosin” and again on the easy-listening country-rocker “Too Far Left”. Chico Finn takes the lead vocals on the track “Phone Home”, again enhanced by Frame’s striking harmony vocals.

The crucial question remains how long it will take before this group ventures to Europe because we have been long convinced that they would catch on quickly here and play packed houses because Esquela’s Are We Rolling? brings the sound that the typical, critical European audience craves.