The Strange Boys

The Strange Boys are a local band in Austin. The first time I saw them was when they opened for King Khan and the Shrines at Emo's last year. In addition to their music, the singer, Ryan Sambol, is what made the Strange Boys so memorable in my opinion. He had a cool, nonchalant eccentricity about him. He wore a sweater tucked into pants at the show, and it made him look like a real goon. When he sung he'd lift up his neck and get the strangest expression on his face, as if he was writhing in pain. It almost looked like he was strung out on drugs. Whether he was or was not, his voice stood out the most. He has a really whiny and distinct voice that sounds a whole lot like Bobby Dylan. But he uses more tune and pitch than Dylan does, and it works so well. The band obviously has roots in the music of the Dirty South. It sounds like they learned guitar from old African American blues legends like John Lee Hooker or Eddie Kirkland. But they've taken those guitar riffs and blended them with dirty garage punk. The country and blues stick out enough to make the music much more interesting than any recent punk band that I've heard, and I would call the Strange Boys a whinier, more Southern and twangy version of the Black Lips. Sambol's yowls and Dylan-esque singing really is the best, and each and every slip of his voice is done with exact purpose and finesse. Check these guys out, especially if you like Southern blues/rock. Here are a few links to their songs, as well as links to people that I think influenced them.