With so much negativity floating around these days, it is difficult not to feel defeated and dejected. A time where nearly every aspect of life has been politicized and polarized, it is an era where someone we once called a friend is shunned or forgotten, and blood relations are severed. If you open your eyes, it is a feeling of hopelessness, but if you keep them open a bit longer, you will see there is still some light left in the non-judgmental, welcoming arms of Rock-n-Roll.
A form of musical expression, which Bob Seger once sang “the rock and roll, it saved my soul” (in his 1978 song “Old Time Rock & Roll”), while Rock-n-Roll is not as mainstream as it once was forty, thirty, or even ten years ago, there are still many bright spots to be found. Yes, we are living in an age where artificial intelligence is nearly everywhere we look, lifeless digital production dominates many modern recordings, and the ‘loudness war’ of mastering albums still rages on. However, there are still some youngsters out there who feel the essence of Rock-n-Roll deep in their souls.
Starting just out of high school in 2019, Northern Californians Dino McCord (lead vocals), Davin Loiler (lead guitar), Andrew Edwards (bass), and Andy Nathan (drums) set out to not reinvent the wheel, but do what they felt inside – play unadulterated Rock-n-Roll music. Initially working as a Van Halen tribute band, they soon took shape as an all-original act called Red Voodoo, began playing local clubs, honed their skills, and swiftly turned many heads.
Adding another wrinkle to their story, McCord has professed to be a long-time fan of Van Halen and the mighty Sammy Hagar. Clearly a lover of Classic Rock, ironically, he and Red Voodoo would catch the attention of Hagar himself, with the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer saying –
“These guys are the new Montrose and the future of rock n roll today.”
A very high compliment from one of Rock’s best vocalists (and who is not a bad guitarist either), Red Voodoo continues to pick up steam, signing on with respected independent distributor Deko Entertainment (whose roster has included Brian Setzer Orchestra and Dokken, among others), and putting out a self-titled debut EP on June 7, 2025. Consisting of five tracks, the band teamed up with Grammy-nominated Producer Jamieson Durr (who has worked with everyone from Don Henley and Nancy Wilson of Heart to Sammy Hagar) and created a no frills, dynamic collection.
A debut that features their 2023 single “Mystery Girl” (which has amassed nearly 300,000 streams on Spotify), there are blistering tracks from start to finish where the guitars of Davin Loiler are aggressive, energetic, and full of life. Matching this, McCord proves himself to be a live wire on vocals with a passion that bleeds through in each word sung, and rest assured, there is no studio magic here… this guy can sing.
Altogether, these guys have the aesthetic of ‘80s Rock, complete with a keen sense of melody, groove, and also what it takes to write memorable songs. This is evident in each of the five songs on their EP, including “Hourglass,” “All Night Long,” “Style,” and the sensational “KSA.” Tight, real, and having fun, their authenticity oozes out of each song, and their sound should appeal to anyone who enjoys real Rock-n-Roll not masquerading as something else. So, if you are a fan of Rock-n-Roll that pays homage to the past, but is fresh and hopefully a torch carrier for the future of the genre, Red Voodoo should not be overlooked.
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