“New Orleans Brings the Beat, and the Heat, to Seattle”
The Revivalists gave an inviting blend of dance-worthy alt-funk and genuine personality that is rarely seen in live performances. When they were really grooving as a unit, the sound was nothing short of sexy. I couldn’t shake the inner voice in my head wishing that more bands would play like this.
-Isaac Rivelle, Seattle Audiophile
“The Revivalists…Amen, I’m a Believer”
What’s unique about The Revivalists is that the band defies categorization. They take elements of rock, soul, country, funk, roots, and folk, throw it in the pot, and cook up an addictive, spicy musical jambalaya. This is a band with solid chops, solid songs, and a range of styles and influences. Their wide array of musical colors and Shaw’s thoughtful lyrics give them a very rich palette to paint from in studio and on stage.
-Greg Roth, Seattle Music Insider
I was impressed by the atmosphere created by The Revivalists. They were incredibly fun and funky. You can tell they put 100 perfect effort into their music.
-Jamie Howard, The Dome
“The Revivalists, Born of a Chance Encounter, Hit Their Stride”
The Revivalists look and sound like a band on the brink…Melodies and hooks are well-constructed, vibrant lyrics plumb the give and take of relationships, and pedal steel guitar and horns jazz clever arrangements…The band intends to release “City of Sound” independently in early 2012, even as the album is shopped to record labels. Meanwhile, the Revivalists continue to tour hard, building a fan base. In the past year, they’ve logged nearly 60,000 miles in their 2005 15-passenger Chevy van.
-Keith Spera, The Times Picayune
The free-wailing, high-flying Revivalists are all kinds of right.
-Mike Hume, Fall Church News-Press
“Ones To Watch”
The Revivalists have become a staple to the ever-evolving New Orleans music scene. Seamlessly crossing back and forth between the indie rock bands and vibrant funk and jazz genres, the Revivalists have taken the city by storm and now they are ready to take their music even further…By incorporating both a pedal steel and saxophone, the band puts an unusual twist on what could be a common sound…the Revivalists combination of unique mixture of flavors manages to produce a sound that bends genre and pushes listeners out of their comfort zone.”
-Madison LaGrone, Where Y’at Magazine
“On The Ground at New Orleans Jazz Fest”
It was merely gray and humid when a young New Orleans group, the Revivalists, kicked off the day with a Crescent City-rhythm spin on jam-band jubilee and, at the end of the set, a barely-R-rated burlesque troupe. Singer-guitarist David Shaw had a dash of Dave Matthews in his crusted tenor, but there was a heavy-rock spring in the Revivalists’ strut, and pedal-steel guitarist Ed Williams added distinctive wah-wah-treated scream to “Appreciate Me” and “Soul’s Too Loud,” both from the group’s new album, Vital Signs.
-David Fricke Senior Editor- Rolling Stone Magazine
“Top Local Music Picks of 2011: Favorite Live Music Performance”
One of the most surprising and greatest performances came from New Orleans band The Revivalists, who played a Saturday afternoon set at this year’s Voodoo Music Experience. Frontman David Shaw’s stage presence and vocals are reminiscent of Adam Levine, with a bravado and confidence that led the Revivalists through one of the strongest sets of the fest as he raced across the stage while an epic soundscape of pedal steel, drums, bass, and sax played behind him. The band mixes indie, alternative country, soul and everything in between effortlessly, earning them accolades and admiration…Look for their next release, produced by Galactic and Trombone Shorty producer Ben Ellman, in early 2012.
-April Siese, Where Y’at Magazine
Album Reviews
There’s a fine line between a jam band and a band that jams. New Orleans’ the Revivalists fall into the latter category. The group burst onto the scene in 2008 and honed their chops in 2009, expanding their live set as well as their songbook in the process. After spending some time in the studio, they return with Vital Signs, an album that brims with soulful melodies, explosive jams, and down-home rock ’n’ roll…
-Aarron Lafont, OffBeat Magazine
Press play and album opener ‘Not Turn Away’ will quickly get you acquainted with The Revivalists’ warm, inviting sound. Hearty pedal steel riffs and gentle sax-play weave in-between lovelorn lyrics that echo the blues. Like most Southern gentlemen, The Revivalists find solace in the simple pleasures of a stiff drink and a good woman, as evident on tracks like ‘Catching Fireflies’ and ‘Purple Heart’. The songs on Vital Signs set the groundwork for some playful live liberties – which is where these Gulf Coasters really Revive you. On the road, new material including ‘Soul’s Too Loud’ and ‘Appreciate Me I’ invite nightly reinvention.
-Audra Tracy, thewaster.com
Jazz Fest Recap
A staple of contemporary New Orleans music, the fusion of genres has become a popular channel for musicians to develop new sounds and to collaborate with the wide-ranging tastes of their fellow bandmates—The Revivalists, for example.
-Carolyn Henegan, New Orleans Live Music Examiner
EP Review
The Revivalists know how to infect a live venue with a sense of purpose and energy. Their performances veer from pop sensible and anthemic to progressive and brooding, often within the space of the same song (often within the space of the same minute, in fact), and show an innate talent for finding the balance in the tricky dichotomy of a hooky chorus and an indulgent jam. The overall effect is inspiring, and, most importantly, never boring.
There definitely is no better live music than The Revivalists, at least in my mind for right now, we wish you good luck and to keep going and keep giving it to us for many more years.
–DJ Sherwood Collins, WWOZ 90.7
Considering it takes most bands so much longer than a year to make such an impact and gather this many fans, these guys must be lucky… Nope, they’re just that good!
-Meghan Jones for NewOrleans.com
CDBABY.com Editor’s Pick” in American Traditional Rock and Jam-Band Genres
-November 2008
With the crowd gathered from the stage to the door, they served up a set of gritty, reggae-inflected rock that launched one of the most out-of-control parties that I’ve experienced in quite some time. Wrapping feel-good, danceable melodies around funky, shape-shifting jams, their songs came to life as their young, energetic fans latched on to and got down to their grooves
-Groovescapes.com Concert Review
Jazzfest Quick Thoughts
The Revivalists set the bar high for showmanship when they opened the Gentilly Stage on Friday. Not only did they bring guests out before noon—the Rebirth Brass Band—but they also brought out burlesque dancers who removed their tops and revealed their pasties as the song came to an end.
-Alex Rawls, Offbeat.com
“The Revivalists a must see Saturday at French Quarter Festival 2011“
In little more than three years, The Revivalists have emerged as a contender on the local rock scene. The quintet’s full-length independent debut, “Vital Signs, ” sounds like a major label release, with its hearty production and stout arrangements and musicianship that, at times, evoke the Dave Matthews Band at its most focused
-Keith Spera, Times Picayune , Nola.com
The Revivalists performed moments before winning a trophy for Best Emerging Band.
Photo by Jose L. Garcia
- Best of The Big Easy Awards – Gambit Magazine, May 2011
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