EP ReviewThe Vaughns are one of those bands I see in the show listings just about every week. From The Stone Pony to local fairs to New Brunswick basements, the Union County four-piece grind it out week after week making connections and honing their chops. The most recent fruit of all of those efforts is tomfoolery, a six-song, self-released EP that showcases some of the polish that The Vaughns have acquired over a year's or so worth of constant gigging.
The Vaughns are a rock band. I hesitate to call their sound "alt" rock because much of tomfoolery is rooted in blues and power pop. It's loud while being accessible and familiar, weaving among hard rockers and poppier cuts. Walls of loud guitars, solos, and a big rhythm section characterize songs like opener "What's Cooking" and final song "Willoughby." Things calm down a bit on "Please Don't Take Offense" (a song with all the earmarks of a big hit) and "Roses," but each of those has its own explosive moments. Anchoring everything are the vocals of singer / guitarist Anna Lies. Kind of like a huskier-sounding Edie Brickell, Lies bends and stretches her voice in a way that gives The Vaughns something truly their own and sets the band apart in a crowded genre.
Tracked by Mike Oettinger, mixed and mastered by Jesse Cannon, tomfoolery exhibits a polish far beyond what you might expect from an independent release. Lies's vocals, David Cacciatore's guitar, and the rhythm section of drummer Ryan Kenter and bassist Tom Losito each shine through individually in the mix, which is pretty amazing given how big the sound is on some of these tracks.
You can stream or purchase tomfoolery over at The Vaughns' Bandcamp page, and I have no doubt that you'll be able to catch them live somewhere soon.
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