As the band members started to write songs together, they took several musical influences that include rock, reggae, and blues to create their sound. The self-titled release by The Gentlemen contains 10 songs that alternate between the reggae, rock, and blues influences that are contained within the group's style. Falling somewhere between The Police, Weezer, and Cream, the band has a style that could fit with straight reggae groups as easily as it could fit with straight rock bands.

On songs like No Trouble and Follow, the band lets their reggae side shine. And with the quality in the production on the songs, plus Tyler's ability to come up with bass riffs that sound like they could have come from bands that are actually from the Caribbean, the reggae tracks sound more genuine than some of the other bands that have incorporated some reggae into their styles.

The band's song, DUI In Idaho, is a song that could easily be turned into an extended jam while the band is in concert. The Gentlemen admit that they do tend to extend their songs into jams while on stage, so the jam feel on DUI In Idaho makes sense.

The track Move On Outta Here begins with a very rockin' intro before it slows down into a rock/reggae jam. The song also includes a few guitar solos that are very bluesy in feel. The song is the perfect combination of the rock/reggae/blues styles that the band has shaped their music around.

Along with Move On Outta Here, Uptown Blues is another song on the album that features the band in a very bluesy mood. And with the song being performed at a relaxed and easy pace, it shows that the band members are just as able to perform straight blues songs, as they are able to rock out.

On their own, Kevin, Tyler, Bobby, and Luke are fine musicians. And together, they have formed a band that could easily take the stage at any venue and keep an audience entertained for a long time.

The Gentlemen are a band that knows how to write songs that people will really enjoy. And their 2008 self-titled release proves it. If you like straight-out rock, rock-flavored reggae, or even jamband music, The Gentlemen deserve your attention.

To find The Gentlemen and discover their music for yourself, you can find the band on MySpace at MySpace.com/VirginiaGentlemen.

--Matheson Kamin

Matheson Kamin began writing for the hard-copy Cleveland publication Exciting City in 2004. After writing for Exciting City for almost three years, Kamin began writing for an online publication called The Rock And Roll Report. Find him online at www.rockandrollreport.com, www.artincleveland.com, and http://matheson12.wordpress.com/

The band's self-titled disc mixes a rock-tinged ska-reggae sound with some dub and jam-band vibes that will undoubtedly appeal to fans of a certain age (their own), and the playing is so sure-handed and unified that it's obvious they're thinking of music as more than just something to do at frat parties.

They sing about heavy topics like "My Booze," and set the tone by saying "We don't want no trouble" on the opening track from their self-titled disc. Though they hint at a larger social conscience on "War Goin' On," most of the songs are simply light, fun, stoned-out grooves suitable for dancing—or drinking—your cares away. That is to say, the Gentlemen have a good thing going here, a sound that could easily ingratiate them to the East Coast jam circuit. Get 'em in the van, stat!

--John Brodeur

John Brodeur has been a music writer for several years, and a musician for dozens. His writings have appeared in the alternative newsweekly Metroland, where he continues to serve as music editor; he has also written for music websites like Aversion.com.