The 5th by Jason Vivone & The Billy Bats

For their fifth album, The 5th, Jason Vivone and the Billy Bats have crafted five songs which sound so much bigger than the four members who made them: Jason Vivone on guitar and vocals. Backing vocals and guitar by Paula Crawford. Drums and percussion from Matt Bustamante. Backing vocals, bass and saxes by John Lenati.

These were songs written by Vivone, but formed by the band, whose lineup coalesced in 2015. The process is kind of dramaturgical, says the guitarist and frontman: "They'll ask, 'Are you hearing this from a certain era?' or 'Is the character singing telling the truth or being melodramatic?'"

Vivone produced the tracks at Jason Kucerick's studio in Kansas City, who was introduced to the band by bassist Lenati. The Billy Bats started recording the songs, developed during their 2019 live shows, around Thanksgiving of that year. Instead of doing marathon sessions, like usual, Vivone and the band would meet up for a few hours on Saturday afternoons in a process he describes as "very relaxed."

Recording completed in February 2020, and as the pandemic hit, the Billy Bats were receiving mixes through Dropbox. While this was unusual for Vivone, who feels like he communicates better during these last stages face to face, "Somehow, it worked out." More than that, really: with The 5th, Jason Vivone and the Billy Bats have an album which shows a band tighter and more focused than ever.

The Billy Bats were once described by Chuck Haddix, host of KCUR's The Fish Fry as "Pretty wild stuff. Hill country blues on acid," and the swimmingly psychedelic "Book of Dreams" brings that interpretation to vibrant, vivid life. Replete with fuzzed-out guitar, swirling effects, and a sax line from John Lenati that wouldn't be out of place on a Morphine record, the track blasts out of the speakers as Vivone and Paula Crawford sing together.

The 5th's second track is the pure, simple electric blues of "Little Blue River," but by no means does it lack for talent. The song is steeped in tradition, following the lyrical themes all the way back to the headwaters of the genre in a grooving steamboat. It's a distillation of the genre to which you can tap your toes and kick up your heels.

"Elvis at the Drive-In (A.D. 1977)" rides a pure, classic chooglin' rhythm that could've easily found its place in a jukebox alongside singles from Chuck Berry and the titular subject. Perfect in its danceability, the song references a slew of songs by the King, right down to some beautiful slide work which wouldn't be out of place in "Blue Hawaii."

"What Did Love Ever Do For You?", brings all of the elements heard in the preceding songs and boils them down to one, all-encompassing rocker: the beautifully grinding blues chords on the guitar, a low-down bass groove, sparse and infectious drum work, and vocals which climb to a soaring wail before dropping down to be whispered in your ear.

The fifth and final song of the album, "[You Ought A Get A] Medal" is close-mic'd so that you can hear the slide and sweep of Vivone's fingers on the guitar strings, resulting in an intimate listen that feels as though the Billy Bats are playing in your living room. Matt Bustamante's martial drumbeat ties into the idea of a relationship as war.

"Pretty wild stuff."
-Chuck Haddix, KCUR's The Fish Fry

"Jason Vivone & the Billy Bats are not only one of the hottest blues bands in Kansas City , but maybe the entire country."
-Shea Conner, St. Joseph News-Press

“Their blues is honest. They feel it, they sling it, they sing it. Rough around the edges, yes, but brave and in your face. "
-Skaught Patterson, Friends of the Blues

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