Blacktop Badge is a four-man, two guitar, butt-shakin’, powerful hard rock engine. You know this music. The sound is easily recognizable as vintage FM radio influenced electric blues rock with a modern edge. Onstage they’re high energy and clearly having a damn good time. Their original songs feature soul-tinged vocals and harmonies layered over raucous, weaving guitar lines. You’ll also hear some carefully chosen, foot stompin’ covers of The Stones, early Aerosmith, AC/DC, or Zeppelin, to name a few. Depends on the night.
The Minneapolis based band started as Big Junk, an eclectic rock/funk trio, but something was missing. Adding lead singer Aaron McMenamy and guitarist Cory Jesok was just the trick. With a shared passion for heavy blues rock, the BTB boys started writing new music together. Within a matter of months they had recorded their eponymous debut album of original music. In true BTB hit-it-and-quit-it fashion, the album was recorded in 18 hours straight.
Today the band is gigging regularly, supported by radio play in cities like Grand Forks, Thief River Falls, Menomonie, Eau Claire, and Fargo/Moorhead, as well as national exposure on the syndicated radio program Blues Deluxe. After winning the “Rumble at Renegades†battle of the bands at Renegades Bar & Grill in November 2006, they’ve found themselves playing with local hard rock favorites Scarlet Haze, among other like-minded bands. In April 2007, McMenamy and the band parted ways but BTB lives on as a four-piece with Adam Whisner taking over lead vocal responsibilities.
Their style is a reminder that rock music should be simple and melodic, but still tear your head off. It’s retro, not rehash. It has a backbeat that gets you on your feet. These guys are breathing new life into old school blues rock with classic guitar tones and a truckload of soul. It’s time to get back to the grind.