Sin City Sinners - Exile On Fremont Street (2010)

I have made it my mission to follow anything fellow Canadian Todd Kerns has done since the dissolution of his original band The Age Of Electric in 1998.  Since then he created the band Static In Stereo with his brothers John and Ryan until it also folded, he has toured with Faster Pussycat (where he met Brent Muscat and formed the Sinners with), made guest appearances on select albums, released a solo album and most recently was hired on as touring bassist for Slash to promote the legend's solo album.  Basically, Todd Kerns has been a busy man.  Before touring as part of Slash's band, Kerns could be found hanging out in Vegas with his new outfit, the Sin City Sinners.  They play free shows on the sunset strip while playing a good mix of originals and covers.  They are best known for their special guests which have ranged from Vinnie Paul (Pantera/Hellyeah) to Joey Belladonna (Anthrax).  On the debut album from Sin City Sinners, you can expect to hear some pretty rocking tracks.  The Sinners have a traditional rock sound to them with a little bit of punk rock thrown in for good measure.  Big, harmonized solos and melody are all equal parts the sound Todd and the boys have mastered.  Kerns has always been able to write a catchy guitar hook and can still belt it when he wants to vocally.  4 of the tracks found on this album were written by Kerns for his solo album entitled Go Time!.  The album had a lo-fi DIY sound to it as Kerns had written and recorded all the tracks himself.  Usually what you're hearing was done in one or two takes.  As a result, the 4 tracks ("Turn It Up", "It's Not You, It's Me", "My True Love" and "Probable Cause") all sound beefed up and polished here while played in a new, lower key.  Tracks "Arianna Incomplete" and "Blow Up Doll" were also originally Static In Stereo tracks.  "Arianna Incomplete" features a driving bass to get the song going until the guitars kick in for the chorus and Todd's voice soars beautifully on this one.  A cover of Donnie Iris' "Ah! Leah!" is also present on this album.  A blast from the past (the 80s to be exact), which Todd has apparently played with every band he's ever been in.  Make sure to also stick around until the end of final track "Goin' To Vegas" otherwise you'll miss a fun cover of "Viva Las Vegas".  Kerns also oversaw the entire process of the album from pre-production all the way to mixing.  It's great to have some of these tracks be given another chance to be heard as I've always appreciated Todd's music.  While many Americans are surely unfamiliar with Kerns' former Canadian bands they now get the chance to hear some of his past history for the first time which must be a truly great feeling.  It sounds like Sin City Sinners have a good thing going on.  Kerns seems to be enjoying himself and has had a lot of great opportunities.  Hopefully things continue to flourish for him.

www.myspace.com/scsinners