Aside from Liv Warfield on lead vocals and Ryan Waters on lead guitar, Roadcase Royale is made up of such Heart band members as Nancy Wilson on vocals and guitar, bassist Dan Rothchild, Chris Joyner on keys and drummer Ben Smith.
The CD opens with “Get Loud,” and it is followed by the optimistic and empowering, “Not Giving Up,” which R&B vocalist Liv Warfield nails with her powerhouse pipes. Equally powerful and emotional is “Hold On To My Hand,” which was the highlight performance of their live show at Gramercy Theatre in New York City.
Roadcase Royale throws in a few classic Heart songs in the mix, including “Even It Up” with Nancy Wilson singing lead, and they were able to dust off “These Dreams” and give it a Roadcase Royale treatment, with Warfield and Wilson on heavenly vocals for a tour de force interpretation. They have truly made this classic Heart ballad their own.
This 10-track album closes with a live rendition of “Mind Your Business” and “Never Say Die,” where they leave their fans and listeners yearning for more.
The Verdict
Overall, Roadcase Royale delivers on their debut studio album, First Things First. It is a solid collection from start to finish, and no filler tracks. Each song has its own identity, and there is something in it for everybody. The musicianship of this band is incredible. Nancy Wilson ages like fine wine, and so does her talent. Liv Warfield knocks the vocals out of the ballpark. They are certainly going places. Grab a bottle of wine, and let Roadcase Royale lure you in. First Things First garners an A+ rating.
For more information on Roadcase Royale and their new studio album, First Things First, visit their official homepage.
Read More: Nancy Wilson chatted with Digital Journal about her new band Roadcase Royale.
