The Roots scene in Los Angeles for almost sixty years has been one of the most vibrant and vibrant cornerstones of attraction in America. In the warm Californian sun, generations of musicians have matured and they have been able to unite with great skill country, folk and bluegrass with rock, opening often unusual ways and experimenting with brilliance those sounds. I See Hawks In L.A. Since 1999, they have been among the best flag-bearers of the bonds between rock and country music, with eight discs of assets that refer to the golden years (between sixty and seventy) of Westcoastian music. Personally, their approach often reminds me of the first New Riders Of The Purple Sage, those who, under the aegis of Jerry Garcia, a great fan of country and bluegrass, added their personal touch of rock and soul (from Bo Diddley to Johnny Otis) and a pinch of psychedelia to flavor everything. Rob Waller and Paul Lacques are at the helm of the band from its beginnings and over the years have kept straight the bar never renouncing to compose excellent country songs forming a repertoire very pleasant and very consistent. The guitarists of the two leaders are joined by bassist Paul Marshall and drummer Victoria Jacobs in a compact and cohesive quartet to which they give a hand in these sessions the talented Richie Lawrence on keyboards, Dave Zirbel that with his pedal steel retraces the deeds of the great Buddy Cage (from the New Riders) and Dave Markowitz on the fiddle. “Live And Never Learn” is a record full of excellent country songs like the song that gives the title to the album, “Poor Me”, “The Last Man In Tujunga” and “White Cross” in particular, a poker d ‘ axes that nobility the record, with the great love for the environment of “Ballad For The Trees” and “Planet Earth”, rock and psychedelic that follow one another in the funny “Stoned With Melissa”, the delicate and poetic “The Isolation Mountains “and the nostalgic” Stop Me “, gems of a selection that confirms I See Hawks In LA among the most valid independent roots bands. And what a name! Remo Ricaldone
