On May 20th, the acclaimed Nashville via Birmingham quintet Banditos return with their long-awaited third album Right On (Egghunt Records). Comprised of 10 new songs, Right On represents a significant turning point in the band’s evolution with their most fully realized offering to date. Watch the video for the boisterous new track “Here Tonight” HERE.
Right On is the result of significant shifts for Banditos in both sound and band structure. For starters, the group collectively decided that the electrifying Mary Beth Richardson would officially take on the role of lead singer, putting her incredible voice out front, as opposed to having two additional male lead vocalists in the past. Also, following the departure of their bassist, banjo player Stephen Pierce stepped in and became proficient on the instrument bringing new rhythmic styles to the group’s sound thus allowing more space for creative exploration. Along with bandmates Corey Parsons (guitar), Randy Wade (drums) and Jeffery Salter (guitar), who round out a stellar band, Banditos have taken full advantage of the new dynamics, which is evident on “Here Tonight” and the previously released first single “On My Way”.
Album opener “Time Wasted” wastes no time making a statement right out of the gate with its pulsating beat, wall of sound-inspired arrangement and Richardson’s strong yet vulnerable vocal. “The Waves” blends a spacey soundscape with subtle banjo and crisp guitar with Richardson delivering soft tones before the expansive and melodic chorus. On “One More Time”, Richardson becomes a soulful chanteuse as she sings of personal heartbreak, while album closer “Ozone” finds the group offering a message of hope while slowly building to a crescendo that features a tasteful blend of New Orleans and vaudeville, complete with kazoos.
Following the release of their 2015 self-titled debut and 2018 sophomore album Visionland, Banditos established themselves as a genre melding group who created infectious music with no boundaries. The press agreed with positive coverage ranging from Rolling Stone and American Songwriter to Garden & Gun and The Washington Post, while their commanding live performances elevated everything to new heights. Right On was completed just as the pandemic struck, putting everything on hold. Then the band’s label was in a state of flux before eventually shutting its doors and keeping Right On and Banditos in limbo, until now.