Baker’s Dozen
Cakes and Chaos
Pavement Entertainment
Release Date: May 31, 2019
By Nina McCarthy, Sr. Music Journalist
Boston Rock Radio
“Having pulled influences from the likes of The Damned, Guns N Roses, and even Buckcherry…” That’s all I had to read about this Las Vegas, NV band called Baker’s Dozen from the press release and I had to take a listen immediately. Forming in 2016, Baker’s Dozen caught the ears of Pavement Entertainment and were immediately recruited to their roster. Their debut album, Cake and Chaos, will be released May 31, 2019 and I was curious what they had to offer.
Listening to the first two songs, “Love Slave” and “24 Hours in El Salvador,” I am taking back in my minds eye to the days when I first started going out to the local dive bars (the kind where you are afraid to use the bathrooms) to hear some of the best local rock, punk, and metal bands. Some of the best nationally touring bands have come out of these places, such as the The Living Room that once existed in Providence, RI or the legendary CBGB’s in New York City.
Cake and Chaos is 10 tracks full of fast hard rock and roll with no fillers, perhaps better described as old school punk with a modern sheen in my opinion. I can definitely hear The Damned influence, but I'm still trying to figure out the others. Perhaps that's something to be seen in the live performance. The production is raw and very “garage” sounding, but I have a feeling this is exactly what they were going for. This kind of music can be overproduced, taking away the feeling of the live show, so it seems to work perfectly the way it is. I want to hear what they really sound like and kudos to them for keeping that alive in the recordings.
Thank you to Baker’s Dozen for taking me back to the days where my love for the local scene all began. It makes me want to hit a local dive very soon. Hopefully I will be seeing some tour dates near me soon to get the full experience...or dare I say, the complete Baker’s Dozen.
Tommy Elliott- Lead Vocals
Zach Ruble- Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals
Dave Karr-Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Jake Pilcher-Drums
