Cincinnati rockers Heavy Hinges are back with their latest EP, Lonely, which will get the release-party treatment Saturday at MOTR Pub in Over-the-Rhine. The free show begins at 10 p.m. with an opening set from Joe Hedges, the former Cincinnati-area singer/songwriter and onetime frontperson with the popular Middletown, Ohio band July for Kings who currently lives in eastern Washington.
Together as Heavy Hinges since 2012, the band’s Roots- and Soul-inflected Rock sound has only gotten more sublime with time. A newcomer when the group started, Maya Banatwala has emerged as one of Cincinnati’s finest powerhouse vocalists, and Lonely again serves as a showcase for her elastic, soul-drenched voice. (Guitarist Jeremy Singer left the band after recording the new EP; Kirk Hunter has since been playing lead guitar in the group.)
Lonely shows the continuing sharpening of Heavy Hinges’ writing chops, featuring some of the band’s most melodically memorable songs yet. On the hard-driving rocker “Stoned,” the slashing guitars and pounding drums give way to a two-tiered chorus that’s a tilt-a-whirl of next-level Pop hooks. The shimmery glide of “Day to Day” also deserves a spot on any Heavy Hinges greatest hits collection, with its the twinkling guitar rhythms and Honky Tonk-ish guitar leads. The song also provides a great example of guitarist Dylan Speeg’s talent for background vocal arrangements, as he augments the track’s summer-breeziness with low-register doo-woppy croons.
Lonely starts off in high gear, but shifts down after the early Rock & Roll sparks. By the last two tracks, the ace rhythm section of Andrew Laudeman (bassist) and Brian Williamson (drums) has eased into a serene sway. Closer “Ms. Right” begins with just guitar and Banatwala’s bluesy bluster, then slowly rises with twangy guitar, rolling drums and piano plinks that create a desert-sunset mood.
While the incorporation of ingredients borrowed from other styles has always been a key part of Heavy Hinges’ appeal, as the foundational songwriting and arrangements get stronger, so does the band’s own distinct identity. And with a big helping hand from co-producer and engineer Matt Hueneman (who also adds atmosphere with his diverse keyboard playing), Lonely presents Heavy Hinges’ charm and personality exquisitely.
For more on the band, visit heavyhinges.com. Listen to some previous Heavy Hinges releases here.
This article appears in Jun 20-27, 2018.