The Record Company- Johnson Controls World Sound Stage- Summerfest 6/30/16

photo by Dan Zaitz/Summerfest
originally posted on OnMilwaukee.Com

"We're the Record Company, we play rock 'n roll,"  emphatically stated Wisconsin dairy-farm born front-man Chris Vos with an ear-to-ear grin donned in his signature black cap, denim jacket, t-shirt, slacks and Chuck Taylor's before launching into the first notes of "On The Move," to kick off their show at the Johnson Controls World Sound Stage. Despite a large downpour of rain the Johnson Controls Stage was packed, heads bobbing and jamming along with the band from the first note on.

The Record Company has been a buzz band in 2016, releasing their infectious debut full-length Give It Back To You in February.  The band has since played shows taking them from their current home in Los Angeles all across the country and overseas, including a sold-out show at Milwaukee's Turner Hall with Buffalo Gospel this past March in addition to a stop at Boneroo last month.

photo by Dan Zaitz/Summerfest
originally posted on OnMilwaukee.Com

The gritty-bluesy trio consisting of Vos on guitar, vocals and harmonica, Alex Stiff on bass, and Marc Carorla on drums, harnesses the spirit of working man's rock 'n roll. Their sound consists of deeply catchy bass and drum grooves anchoring down Vos's thick vocals, lap steal and slide guitar licks, and harmonica interludes.   If there is one thing that makes The Record Company stand out from other acts it's their impeccable work ethic.  Vos and company danced and wailed their way around the stage playing a riveting 75 minute set anchored with tunes off of Give It Back To You.

By the time that the band got to their hit, "Off The Ground," for their first encore, the crowd was already in full-throttle mode having jammed their way across the rockabilly infused "Don't Let Me Get Lonely," the funky-swampy "Rita Mae Young," and pounding every-man sentiment expressed in the poetic anthem "Hard Day Coming Down."

Vos announced before the final number, "Feels So Good," that The Record Company would be returning to Turner Hall this coming October.  Rest assured I'll try to be there.   It is true that rock 'n roll lives, and in the case of Vos and his band mates it is alive and well.