Brad Marino - Looking For Trouble (Rum Bar)

Brad Marino co-fronted New Hampshire’s garage rocking power poppers The Connection, but has been leading the solo life of late. His third LP, Looking For Trouble keeps the faith with the vision he established long ago – raw, melodic ditties with touches of glam and Americana for extra flavor. Armed with his bucket o’ hooks and boyish croon, Marino throws shade on “Something For Nothing” and “Even the Score,” defends his own torpor in “What Do You Know,” goes on the prowl in the title track, and deals with the consequences on “Taillights Fade.” One of the best tracks combines punk & roll with bittersweet poignancy in celebration of the “Local Show,” delineating the bull feces suffered by the neighborhood band trying to find an audience. “It’s a local show,” Marino sings as fellow traveler Kurt Baker tries to get on the guest list, “Which means nobody will go.” (Thousands of musicians will cringe in solidarity.) Musically old-fashioned and proud of it, Marino makes timeless rocking pop on Looking For Trouble.