Question: What do you get when you toss Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, My Bloody Valentine and Tom Petty into a blender?
Answer: The War on Drugs cocktail.
Guitarist/vocalist Adam Granduciel moved from California to Philadelphia in 2003, where he met fellow guitarist Kurt Vile. Along with Charlie Hall (organ/drums), Kyle Lloyd (drums) and Dave Hartley (bass), they released a demo EP as The War on Drugs in 2005. The group gave away its Barrel of Batteries EP for free early in 2008.
After their debut album, Wagonwheel Blues (2008), Vile, Hall and Lloyd left the band. Steven Urgo (drums) and Robbie Bennett (keyboards/guitar) joined Granduciel and Hartley for The War on Drugs' second record, Slave Ambient in the summer of 2011.
The Indie band's brand of Americana is reminiscent of the early Wilco and Son Volt records. Listen to their live performance of "Brothers" and judge for yourself.
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