Review: The Dirt Road Band

Righteous by The Dirt Road Band

Next up is Righteous by The Dirt Road Band. The Dirt Road Band are Steve Walwyn (guitar and vocals), Horace Panter (bass) and Ted Duggan (drums). They play hard, punchy blues-rock that gets your heart beating faster.

Let’s dig deeper…

Walwyn has played guitar for a living for the past 45 years, 32 of those as a member of Dr Feelgood. Panter was a founding member of The Specials. He’s been doing this a while too, as has Duggan, who’s enjoyed spells with Banco de Gaia and, more recently, Badfinger. Three highly proficient and time-served players doing what they do best.

DRB began as a side project around five years ago and has now taken centre stage. Their critically acclaimed debut album Righteous was released in July 2024.

The creative process seems to come naturally, with the three of them feeding off one another.

You can hear it in the record and see it on stage.

“Seasoned professionals with the energy of teenagers,” as one contemporary musician put it.

(Never Got Over) Losing You sets the scene with a deliciously dirty blues lick before the band crank it up. They fall into a groove most bands would die for. The chorus shows they’re bursting with ideas and not afraid to push beyond the usual blues-rock framework. Bright, gritty and a perfect opener, complete with an emotion-driven solo that tears through the track before dropping straight back into the groove. The space in the final verse must absolutely blow people away live. A great start.

What’s Going Down turns the heat up another notch, adding a touch of country rock while staying firmly rooted in the blues. There’s an undeniable energy powered by the almost shuffle-like drumming. The band lock into a serious groove that drives the track along. So many twists and turns that it’s over far too quickly and you’re forced to hit repeat.

Don’t Count for Nothing glides in with unmissable swagger. More of a straight-ahead blues number but with a modern twist. A dirty verse, a sing-along chorus you'll know by round two and a sweeping solo that adds a gorgeous accent to the tune. Best enjoyed in a packed dive bar with a shot of whisky.

Been So Long opens with impressively quick fretwork before easing into a more relaxed jam. Everything this band does sounds so effortless. The track shows another side to them, with the space in the arrangement giving it real authenticity. A Hammond-style section slots in perfectly. Cool, reflective and beautifully executed.

Worry No More arrives like classic Quo but with a far more blues-trained vocal. Impossible not to move to this. It’s 50s, it’s 60s, but presented in a fresh 2025 package. A brave inclusion because it’s different, but it fits the album so well and stands out in an album full of highlights.

Next Train Out of Town stomps through and returns us to familiar ground with gritty attitude. Dark, diamond-edged blues-rock with rebellion woven into every bar. The passion and drive power through the track. The transition from solo back into the main riff is something this band do exceptionally well.

Cheap Talk & Whiskey crashes in with trademark swagger. A dirty little rocker that transports you straight to a sweaty dive bar somewhere in the Deep South. Melody, groove and attitude meet perfectly here. The middle eight is delivered with serious class and must be explosive live. They pack in so many ideas it keeps you hooked, wondering what’s coming next.

Cutting Room Floor adds a touch of funk to the mix. A catchy number with funky guitar, storytelling vocals and grumbling bass. Impressive slide work adds another layer. The drums hold everything together as the band jam over the top — reminiscent of The Black Crowes at their best. Laid-back, driven perfection.

On The Up lifts the tempo and adds even more variety to their sound. Upbeat, foot-tapping and guaranteed to make you smile. Just when you think you know where it’s headed, in comes one of the most uplifting harmonica solos you’ll hear. Great, feel-good stuff.

You Steal My Heart closes the album in reflective fashion before erupting into a blues-rock stomper. Full swagger, huge chorus and a vocal loaded with passion. They play with tempo to keep you guessing and it works brilliantly. Three of us were singing the chorus on the second go — it’s that infectious.

Righteous is a brilliant showcase of three musicians completely in tune with one another. It’s packed with character, groove, attitude and the kind of instinctive playing you only get from decades on the road. Every track brings something fresh and the whole album feels alive, confident and bursting with ideas. It’s blues-rock played with skill, soul and real purpose — a reminder that when the right players lock in, the results can be spectacular.

And to put it simply: this one isn’t just good… it’s downright Righteous.