Review and Photos by Max Stewart
There is something refreshingly authentic about The Record Company. In an era when rock ‘n’ roll can feel increasingly polished and predictable, the blues-rock power trio continues to thrive on the raw ingredients that made the genre so compelling in the first place: gritty guitars, infectious grooves, soulful vocals and an undeniable chemistry. Led by charismatic frontman Chris Vos, alongside bassist Alex Stiff and drummer Marc Cazorla, the band brought their blues-soaked swagger to Terminal West in Atlanta on November 5th, delivering a performance that was equal parts garage rock revival and soulful musical exploration.
The evening kicked off with “Rita Mae Young,” one of their classics off of 2016’s Give It Back To You. “Hard Day Coming Down” and “Baby I’m Broken” followed, allowing Vos to flex his unmistakably raspy vocals while the rhythm section kept things tight and punchy. What makes The Record Company such a compelling live act is their ability to make three musicians sound considerably larger than the sum of their parts. Again, a true blue-rock power trio. Vos effortlessly moves between guitar, lap steel, pedal steel, and harmonica… constantly keeping the crowd on their feet and engaged.
As the set progressed, the band dug deeper into its musical influences, including a nod to the Grateful Dead with an acoustic version of “New Speedway Boogie,” a fitting selection for a group that so comfortably inhabits the intersection of American roots music and blues-rock. “Last Lonely Night” is a fantastic new single and fit perfectly in the setlist, and Vos mentioned to us in his interview there is a new record on the way in 2027 too. There is a certain musical honesty to what The Record Company does. They aren’t reinventing the wheel, but they certainly know how to make it spin in a unique new way.
The closing stretch was packed with power and featured the harp-heavy “Give It Back to You,” a rousing cover of Beastie Boys’ “So What’cha Want” and the always-explosive “Off the Ground.” All of these served as a reminder of the band’s breakthrough success over 10 years ago and their enduring ability to get a room moving. An encore featured a fantastic version of The Kinks’ “All Day and All of the Night” and “I’m Getting Better (And I’m Feeling It Right Now)” from 2018’s All Of This Life, capping off a night that celebrated the timeless appeal of live rock ‘n’ roll. Nearly a decade after breaking through to a wider audience, The Record Company continues to prove that great songs, genuine musicianship and a healthy dose of bluesy attitude are more than enough to deliver a memorable evening. No gimmicks necessary, just three musicians who know how to bring the goods.
