Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol Serve Up ‘Burger Babes…From Outer Space!’

Over the past few years, I’ve had the excellent pleasure of having the fine gentleman of RICKSHAW BILLIE’S BURGER PATROL serving up a list of menu items akin to the heartiest of southern rich meals! I can remember the first time walking into The Lost Well to catch another act that I’ve always relied on for my live music fix, and being completely blindsided by the unique foundation this group provides through their sound and structure. While their offerings in taste and delivery may be a complete overhaul of what your typical joint would be willing to throw up on the menu, please come with me on a stroll through this contemporary dining and neck breaking experience!

First off and simply put, the sound is massive. It always has been and from the looks of it, always will be. The arrangement of the tracks, vocals, instrumental tones, and beats all come together like a quarter pounder that hits you straight in the chest like a silver bullet to each pumping artery. It’s sizzlin’, it’s fresh, it’s juicy, it’s a downright classic that you’ll be coming back to time and time again – just as much, if not more so, than their previous menu items.

Their latest album, ‘Burger Babes…FROM OUTER SPACE!’ (2020), emits a completely new set of palatable taste options that any listener in the heavy rock genre can digest. From the first bite all the way to the last tasty morsel, you’ll understand why this grease filled banger of a playlist has what it takes to knock it out of the park.

It’s notable to recognize that there are present tonal differences, percussive patterns, and underlying low tuning that weren’t previously available between the last EPs Grease Beast and Burger Time Classics. It can be stated that the electrifying guitar and bass tones have stepped up a notch, sprinkling a little extra salt on these grooves, and filling out the combination of flavorings that this trio is famous for.

It seems to me that the addition of Aaron has been like a recipe change that adds a new specialty combo with his low lingering hooks that leaves plenty of cheese melting before you even catch your plate! It’s almost impossible to not acknowledge that Sean has given thorough, delicate, and accurate searing to their new signature patty, too.

The tightness, nuance, and the tender care to jump up or back off of the heat between cook times from track to track are nothing short of ultimate grill mastery. The new signature sauce lended by Leo’s vocal tracking has a special array of flavoring and layers that can be found on more than a few of these tracks. I could only describe it as a habanero mayo that tastes sweet at first bite, then comes creeping back with a vengeance as the distorted vocals hit your gut a moment later.

Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol is:

• Leo Lydon (vocals, guitar)
• Aaron Metzdorf (bass)
• Sean St. Germaine (drums)

This trio comes together with one of the most climactic and tense releases of the year for me. To have seen this DIY outfit countless times over the past few years and still relish every minute of it, speaks to me of how strong an act they are in the current times we’re going through. It’s the change in pace for me, the transition to more heartfelt composition, the feeling of emotion, but in a way also keeping that uniquely thick, dirty, fast, and fucking erratic groove that I can’t point to anywhere else. It’s a lot like one of the classic burger joints you run into across in town that is constantly surprising you with some wild stroke of genius ingredient change-up.

This is the kind of stuff that you’ll soon be jamming at the bar and in the car – it’s ornately different in all aspects. It’s got an edge that you can’t find anywhere on the playing field. I mean, if you haven’t listened to them before, you wouldn’t understand. So let this be your first serving.

Roll up to this joint with a drip pan around your mouth. There’s a fun and revitalizing vibe to this newly outfitted establishment that the boys have been broiling in the back.

Burger Babes… is getting 3 out of 3 Michelin stars from my chap ass!