Remember the swing revival? Bands like Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies and several dozen others you never heard about? Well, the Gas House Gorillas put a slightly tougher, more rockin’ spin on that whole jump-blues-meets-rockabilly sound, propelled by a ferocious rhythm section featuring bassist Crusher Carmean (formerly of the Crescent City Maulers) and drummer Angelo Merendino, ex of Cleveland punks the Vacancies. Guitarist Hiro Suzuki plays swinging jazz chords as easily as scorching rock ’n’ roll solos, while saxophonist Tim Veeder wails and singer Rick Fink keeps the party jumping. This band recalls the Blasters in its ability to combine loosely related genres (blues, rockabilly, swing) into a red-hot, hard-drinking sound all its own.
Phil Freeman - Cleveland Scene (Sep 6, 2009)