by rick grant rickgrant01@comcast.net
The French Quarter was rocking and rumbling like a supercharged 427 V8 last Friday night for Big Engine’s CD release soiree and the celebration of their record deal with Anaphora Music. Finally, Tony Mikus’ efficiently run rock band’s 16 years of hard work has paid off. The band has now graduated to national artist status. Their new CD Rock’n’roll Machine has skyrocketed in sales and is receiving national radio airplay.
For Tony Mikus, who graduated from college with a degree in accounting and took a chance on a music career, this gig was huge. Tony’s career in music began in the early 1980s with a band called Area. He recorded his first vinyl record album in my studio. After that, Tony struggled to find the right musicians until finally in 1990 he launched Big Engine, which has gone through the usual personnel changes. However, Tony’s present lineup has been together for more than 14 years with Tony Mikus on lead vocals and guitar, Banner Thomas (from Molly Hatchet) on bass, Hans Oellerich on lead guitar and vocals, and Benny Puckett on drums.
The band has relentlessly toured the country playing a variety of venues from biker bars in Daytona to outdoor festivals in the Northeast. But I credit Tony’s business-like approach to running his band, his savvy songwriting skill, and his dedication to making Big Engine a national act as its claim to fame. All those years of struggle came together last Friday night at the FQ. The place was packed with Engine’s loyal fans, and the band performed one of its best shows to date.
Of course, I’ve been covering Big Engine for their entire career (since 1990). Over the years, I’ve witnessed the band develop from a cover band to a cutting edge original modern rock band. Today, Big Engine is a no-frills groove machine with a new CD of 12 hit songs. One of the songs from the album, Party like a Rock Star will be featured in the soon to be released horror film, Bad Blood. Yes, big things are happening for Engine and I couldn’t be happier for Tony and the lads, who have paid heavy dues to make this giant leap into the big time.
Rock’n’roll Machine is 12 great songs with no filler material. Each song can receive heavy rotation airplay, gleaning requests from the listeners. All of the tracks can be played live and sound the same on stage as on the recording. In other words, there was no studio fabrication or extra musicians to enhance the songs. What you hear on the album is what you get live, which serves as a crossover promotion of both Big Engine’s live shows and their latest album.
Engine’s new CD features hard driving rock with catchy hooks and poignant lyrics. Party like a Rock Star is a burner that inspires Engine’s fans to get rowdy. Its simple message puts the party back in rock, which is where it began. I Hate Love distills unrequited love into a rock song groove, the lyrics express the many disappointments of maintaining a romantic relationship as a gypsy musician. “You’re the reason I hate love.... I want my CDs back!” Alrighty then!
Indeed, Sister Mary is a classic rock anthem in all its glory. It’s the Engine’s showcase song with one of the greatest guitar breaks in rock history. “Sister Mary’s got some strange medicine lately–keeps her up all night–makes her sleep all day,” says the refrain. If this song doesn’t get your adrenaline pumping then you’re dead.
Bassist, Banner Thomas contributed a song aptly titled Bury the Hatchet, which serves as a forum for his lingering acrimony with the Molly Hatchet band. “Bury the hatchet in my head, but you better make sure I’m dead,” goes the refrain. To Banner’s credit, it’s one of the hardest rock originals on the album.
Just Another Night tells the story of the loneliness of the traveling musician as the miles roll by and the truck stops seem all the same. “Just another night down the highway just another chance to sing my song,” goes the refrain. It’s reminiscent of Bob Seger’s famous song about a touring musician. “A thousand miles of highway run underneath these wheels,” Tony sings.
Ride It like You Stole It is a kick-butt rocker with Han’s heavy Marshall sound dominating the hook. Yes, Engine has come a long way down the road. Unquestionably, this is Engine’s best record yet. It’s impeccably recorded with much improved vocal harmonies and solid musicianship. It’s modern rock stripped down to its basic power sound that drives this Engine to rock’s stratosphere.
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