The National Reserve

Led by singer/guitarist Sean Walsh, Brooklyn-based Americana combo the National Reserve fuse a panoply of classic roots traditions into their own strain of rugged, heartfelt rock & roll. A handful of smaller releases supported the band's touring, which began around 2009, but it was a series of residency gigs at local Brooklyn clubs in 2016 and 2017 that built their reputation as a truly compelling live band. After working as a solo act in the mid-2000s, Walsh expanded his reach to include a backing band for 2009's Homesick LP, which was credited to Sean Walsh & the National Reserve. As the band's communal language grew, he dropped his name from the billing for 2012's three-song Riff City Boys Club and slightly longer 2015 EP, Easy Does It. A series of Friday night residencies at several Brooklyn clubs further honed the band's live skills and tightened their bond in advance of their full-length, Motel La Grange, which arrived in the spring 2018 via Ramseur Records. ~ Timothy Monger