Reviewed by Jim Coursey Released: 1981 Iron City Houserockers Blood On The Bricks Genre: Pub Rock, American-style Rating: 4 out of 5 Highlights: This Time The Night (Won't Save Us) Watch Out A Fool’s Advice All you really need to know about how Pittsburgh’s Iron City Houserockers sound is that they are Pittsburgh’s Iron City Houserockers [1] – they sound like they aren’t so far from Springsteen’s Jersey [2]. Well, to be fair, one could easily imagine that with a name like that they might sound like Bob Seger. But founder / singer Joe Grushecky wasn’t just in it to make music for pool halls and roadside bars; his rootsy blue collar rock has a bit more edge to it. The album sets the stage from the start with the driving, anthemic single “Friday Night” – “quittin’ time,” “wash the dirt off my hands,” a tenor sax solo, and we’re off. But by the following track, “Saints and Sinners”, Grushecky has pivoted to social commentary with a song about a Vietnam vet. To be honest, the lyrics are vague, to the point that I don’t know who are the saints, sinners, losers or winners he’s going on about, but I do know that he “closed his eyes in Nam” and now he sees on TV that some guy named Charlie [3] ended up in the hospital. The highlights are spread throughout the album. There are no home runs here, but there are no real duds either. It’s a lot of small ball, which seems fitting for a rootsy band. “This Time the Night (Won’t Save Us)” brings soaring urgency and a swinging guitar lick to the deteriorating relationship of two former high school sweethearts. In that song, the narrator broke things off, while the slinky, sinister closer “A Fool’s Advice” leaves him on the receiving end. Musically, their finale may bring the most transcendent performance on the album, and Grushecky’s vocals are full of anguish without ever feeling overwrought. Two tracks back, “Watch Out” is the most sophisticated of the lot, offering cutting political commentary that previews the “working class white” angst that would later fuel Trump-era politics. “When the steel mills shut down, you feel buried in this town, you want to catch the first thing and ride it out of here” belts Grushecky. People try to reassure him, from the man on TV with the perfect teeth to the politician shaking hands, but Grushecky cautions “don’t believe a word [they] say.” Musically inventive if not completely gelled, the song reminds me a bit more of Elvis Costello (verse) mashed up with something more like the Alarm (chorus), and maybe as close to new wave as they muster. Iron City Houserockers fourth and last album under their original moniker is solid listen from a band that knew how to rock. Piano, horns, and harmonica fill out their muscular sound, with little nod to the trendy neon-bright tones of the era. Grushecky’s voice can get a bit sharp and nasal at points, but you can’t argue with his passion. You may not need more Springsteen than whatever is already in his discography, but if you’re looking for more Boss, his second in command is alright. It’s a shame it’s not on the streamers, though, because I’d definitely revisit a couple of the highlights. ********** 1. I had no idea that “Iron City” was a nickname for Pittsburgh; I thought steel was their metallic mascot. Apparently Iron City is a venerable old Pittsburgh beer. 2. Springsteen produced singer Joe Grushecky’s 1995 solo album. 3. Charlie is “song guy from back home”, so presumably not a reference to the Viet Cong.
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