Never one to rest on their laurels, Tarntanya/Adelaide rockers William Street Strikers have released Lavender Marriage, the follow-up to their 2022 album Baltimore Train. With just six tracks, it’s all killer, no filler.
This is the seventh release from William Street Strikers. At this point, they’re a well-oiled machine, confident in their sound and their connections. The band strikes the right balance between being tight and just loose enough for real rock and roll. Their harmonies are always on point. Listening to the way their voices naturally come together reminded me just how few rock bands harmonise these days.
Those harmonies aren’t the only element of William Street Strikers’ sound that is delightfully old school. The straight-up rock of the opening track “Candles” wouldn’t have sounded out of place on a record by The Kinks or The Easybeats. “Hands of My Paper” reminded me a little of The Rolling Stones in their heyday. Don’t mistake this band for imitators though. While their sound celebrates nostalgia, none of those classic bands could pull off the cheeky lyrics of tracks like “Tammy” and “I’ll Be Okay.” After bringing solid rock vibes through most of Lavender Marriage, the final track “Pieces” is a real left turn. A gentle piano ballad with strings, it’s not what you expect from William Street Strikers. But this isn’t a band that ever wants to become predictable. By keeping things fresh, they ensure we’re always interested in what comes next, whatever that may be.
Lavender Marriage is available to stream now from the William Street Strikers website. Alternatively you can buy the album on CD for $15 plus postage by emailing the band at thewilliamstreetstrikers@yahoo.com.
Images used with permission from William Street Strikers