“Straight Outta Jacksonville Florida! Southern Rock fans - meet the SAM HILL band! The hottest new band in the Southern Rock genre has a fired up new CD that is already turning heads on us in the media! From the blistering licks , southern boogie riffs , and organs , this band has catchy tunes packed into this CD! We will be doing interviews and more soon for the magazine. A must have CD in your collection. You'll be playing it!”
——Leon Jonjock (Red Rocket TV Productions, Rebel Magazine)
“Jacksonville, FL has often been referred to as the birthplace of Southern Rock. Many have attempted to walk the Skynyrd walk and a few have succeeded. Right now, the next chapter in Southern Rock has just begun. It’s name? Sam Hill. I’ve known the boys for about a year now, and they are a group of seasoned session musicians who originally threw in under the name Steele. One shady manager later…..think Zanz Kan’t Danz by John Fogerty…..Bringing It Back Home is released. I know a number of tracks from the album and have heard them in various stages of production, and now the finished product! The boys RAWK and are positioned well for a shot at the gold. Bringing It Back Home is 8 tracks of unleashed Southern In Yer Face rock. The fact is, there are nine tracks on the CD, but two come together (Best of Me Reprise and Best of Me) as one song. Reprise is a great piano walkup by Andy Orth, formerly of Molly Hatchet. Dusty Barber, who also plays in Al Green’s band, kind of challenged us to play the full version of the song. I told him “yeah, why not, we play the full version of Inna Gadd Velveeta (it’s a cheesy song)!” So we play it and this strong track has become a monster in a year. Great vocals from Mike “Ray Jett” Murray and a blistering guitar solo from Dusty. Track one, Better Man, is a favorite. “Yessir and no ma’am, that’s who I am, be proud you’re a southern man my son”. Blistering slide guitar brought to ya by Duane Johnson - you know him from Shanty Town. Come on! Do I gotta spell it out? In The Water is a kick-ass song most of us really understand around springtime when the place floods with pretty women. Wait, what…..something in the water? Or is it the fat beat coming from Eric Mason’s drum kit? Then, you’ve got my favorite - Preacher Man. This one is about a bipolar man whose intentions are the best, but the gun is on his hip and the ‘word’ is on his lips. He is out saving souls but will he meet adversaries…..flesh bound devils? You’ll have to listen to find out! Bringing It Back Home is an outstanding debut album from Sam Hill. Getcha some !!”
——-Chris Br (TheShopRadio.com)
“This band AMAZES!! As good as it gets.”
——Greta Blackburn (Actress: 48 Hours, Yellowbeard, V-The Final Battle)
“As most folk know, I am a colossal Southern Rock fan, hell, I’m practically a devotee to the genre, so I pride myself on recognizing real Suvvern Rawk quality when I’m presented with it. Now, let me tell you, this debut by Jacksonville’s Sam Hill is an absolute gem! It must be something in the water in Jacksonville, because if you know your Southern Rock history, then you’ll understand that it’s almost the wellspring of the genre, with Southern Rock Royalty such as Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet, Blackfoot, Mofro, .38 Special, The Allman Bros, Grinderswitch, Big Engine, and a host of others all coming from the city.
As if it isn’t enough that they come from such a place, then what should also turn your heads is that the band is actually something of a supergroup, as the members come from Molly Hatchet, Mofro, David Allen Coe Band, Toots & The Maytals, and The Al Green Band – you don’t get to be in any of those acts unless you are a damned fine musician! So, who are they? Ray Jett fronts the band, Duane Johnson and Dusty Barber are the twin guitarists, Andy Orth supplies keyboards, while the rhythm section is comprised of Stewart Dalrymple on bass guitars and drummer/ percussionist Eric Mason.
The band technically doesn’t class their music as purely Southern Rock, using instead the term ‘Swamp Metal’ to describe their sound – so you can immediately see that they have much more in common with the likes of Blackfoot and Molly Hatchet than the more country end of the genre. Their music is foot stompin’, head bangin’ and booty shakin’ stuff, all huge riffs and thunderous rhythms, I would so love to see these guys in the live environment!
It’s not just that the guys are great musicians, they’re also terrific songwriters, the songs are all of a uniformly impressive standard, beautifully crafted and played with huge passion – I absolutely love this album, they deserve to be absolutely huge. With songs as melodic yet punchy as ‘The Best Of Me’, which highlight’s Ray’s powerfully soulful voice, success should be unquestionable. ‘Better Man’ struts and swaggers with well-deserved ease, it’s a boot stomper of a song.
The title song itself is a thunderous statement of intent, all razor riffs, melodic keyboards, and a thunderous bottom end, this will be killer in the live environment. ‘My Way’ brings to mind the very best of Molly Hatchet or even The Regulators – it’s an absolute beast of a number with a huge chorus! ‘Preacher Man’ is a mean and moody number, a real slow-burner that positively oozes with attitude. Finally, ‘Right Here In The Room’ is a dramatic and melodic number that closes out this debut in huge style.
I honestly wish this album was longer, as I truly can’t get enough of it! ‘Bringing It Back Home’ is self-financed, self-produced, and is an example of how truly great fully independent music can be. This is easily one of the best Southern Rock albums that I’ve heard in a very long time, and if you have any sense at all. You’ll rush out and buy a copy of this total gem!
——Chris O’Connor (Rockposer.com)