Concertwire.com

On their self-titled Virgin Records debut, Saving Abel boast a cool, alt-rock, Southern-tinged sound that’s instantly familiar and irresistible. With songs ranging from the intense rocker “New Tattoo” to the sexy groove of the first single, “Addicted,” the quintet from Corinth, Mississippi are radio-ready. Singer Jared Weeks and guitarist Jason Null met in late 2004, and by 2005 were recording acoustic demos with producer Skidd Mills (12 Stones, Saliva, Submersed). Saving Abel then moved into a more rock/electric direction with a full band lineup, while “Addicted” garnered local radio support that led to a 2007 deal with Virgin and the 2008 release of Saving Abel. With influences including Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Seattle sound, Johnny Cash, and AC/DC’s Angus Young, Null explains that Saving Abel has been “compared to the Black Crowes, Nickelback, 3 Doors Down, even Incubus--everyone seems to hear what they want in us. We’re just trying to connect with people.” Adds Weeks: “And we’re going to keep doing what we do until they don’t want to hear it no more!”