About The Band

It’s easy to describe Dead Root Revival’s sound as old school—guitar focused rock and roll played with a Southern flair—but with songs derived from front man Tom Savage’s socially conscious worldview, DRR is a band fully in tune with the zeitgeist. That’s clearly evident on the Kingston, Ontario-based quartet’s new album, The Controller’s Exam, a sweeping 12-song collection available on digital platforms, CD and double vinyl. Dead Root Revival has released a handful of live albums—capturing all the grit and energy of their shows—making The Controller’s Exam technically their debut. Yet, it was also recorded in a live setting with renowned producer David Barbe (Sugar, R.E.M., Drive-By Truckers) at Chase Park Transduction Studio in Athens, Georgia.All of the classic elements are present on the album’s first focus track, “Trillions Of Stars,”powered bySavage spitting out lines like“We are the instigators of our own disease” in between his fuzzy guitar breaks. It’s all supported by Tony Silvestri on Hammond organ and Wurlitzer, alongside the driving rhythm section comprised of drummer Bonz Bowering and bassist Richard Piche.Savage explains, “Our goal with this record was to capture the energy of our live show, andreally give DRR fans something special. I think we've achieved that with The Controller's Exam. It was an incredible experience traveling down to Athens to work with David. His experience and palpable enthusiasm for doing things analogue set us at ease, and allowed us to really focus on performing to the top of our abilities.There is something about recording to tape that raises the stakes and gets the heart beating a bit faster, compared to the digital world of endless tracks, endless takes, and copy and paste.For us, it was the only way to make a Dead Root Revival record.”Indeed, the heart of DRR is their genuine musical chemistry, which draws from many points acrossthe musical spectrum, and sometimes can shift between these influences mid-song. The result is that anyone seeing DRR live can expect a variety of moods,tempos, and dynamics that add up to a powerful concert experience. Although many might know Savage from his more folk-oriented solo output, Dead Root Revival gives him an opportunity to show off a different side of his musical personality—and more importantly to attack the strings of his signature Gibson Nighthawk. Savage will be doing much more of that as DRR plans to hit the road in earnest in support of The Controller’s Exam and remind us of when music grabbed us by the ears, lifted us up, reached straight into our chests, and stole our hearts. ​

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What people are saying about Dead Root Revival:​

"A totally mesmerizing immersive experience. Go see these guys." - Paul Gervan​

"Dead Root Revival weave a spell. This is a collection of exceptional musicians at the top of their game. Beyond great songwriting and playing, what struck me when I saw them again last week, was the sound. Every instrument holds a perfect spot in the arrangements and there is just so much musicality to sink your teeth into. Go see them dammit, you won't be sorry! " - Stephen Stanley(singer-songwriter, founding member of Lowest of The Low)

​“Now if, like me, you are head over heels in love with the Hammond Organ, then you need to set those eyes towards the burning bliss that is The Controller’s Exam, the new record from Ontario’s DEAD ROOT REVIVAL whose combustible grooves and rhythms hark back to a golden age of music long lost to the annals of history. This record has set my soul aflame” - Motorfuzzin' Mondays

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​"To describe their music as a single genre would be a gross injustice to the band. They had elements of Blues, Rock, Hard Rock, Jazz all mixed and molded into one. It was one of the most interesting acts I’ve seen in a while" -Soundcheck Entertainment​

“There certainly is a bit of timeless, bluesy, ‘70s-inspired funk in this Kingston-based band’s sound, recognizable for what it is while at the same time new and not overly steeped in nostalgia like other acts hitting your radio in the past few years.” - A Journal of Musical Things