Written by Lauren Rosier
The Los Angeles-based rock band, Nikki Wozzo & The Bad Whiskey, are back with a new album entitled “The Bad Whiskey,” featuring a killer blend of rock, blues, country, and more, with the signature Bad Whiskey stamp.
The 7-song set opens with the rock track, “Wild Rose,” a high-intensity rock track with elements of blues and grunge spread throughout the song. On the opening track, he tells a story about a “pretty blonde” he met, who “took his money,” and forced him to go find work doing his “first love” (music), and wanting to have that woman alongside him. She’s his “wild rose.” This track is a hard-hitter for sure. It has elements of country with a terrific storyline, excellent guitar work, and his ever-so-slightly raspy voice makes for an unforgettable song.
The second song, and the album’s title track, “Bad Whiskey,” is all about, you got it, bad, bad whiskey and those nights. The track instills all the grit and grime that I’d envision in a dirty country rock ‘n roll song about bad, bad whiskey.
On the track “Ain’t She Something,“ he showcases his storytelling abilities through writing lyrics with emotion and explaining how he felt throughout his experience. That method of songwriting, I feel, will help engage listeners and make them feel like they relate to Wozzo more.
Wozzo also shares an authentic tribute song about his father, his “Old Man” that highlights some of the different parts of their relationship between going on fishing trips and going through tough times when he was 18. He sings about how he and his father didn’t really get along, but he continues telling the story of his life and how he continued to grow up and play music. In this track, his storytelling abilities shine in this song.
I think my favorite song on the album is probably the upbeat, rock ‘n roll tune, “Rowdy.” It has that authentic, dirty rock ‘n roll grit. His voice even has this rawness to it in the track and I can only imagine the energy at a live show when this song is performed live.
Wozzo has always been inspired by music. After high school, he attended the School of Audio Production & Recording Arts (APRA) in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, where he focused his studies on production and recording arts in film and music. Following his secondary education, he chose to pursue professional performance and attended the sister school of Berklee School of Music, Selkirk College in Nelson, BC, Canada.
Following Selkirk, Wozzo traveled overseas to the United Kingdom to join the British heavy metal band, Serpents Kiss, from Middlesbrough, England, as their lead vocalist. Although Wozzo had been working in his dream industry, he felt he needed more than just music in Canada and the U.K., so he applied to Musician’s Institute in Hollywood, California, to expand his knowledge production, music, business, as well as studying to become a touring performer.
Since 2019, Wozzo has been living in California and working as a Stage Manager/Production Assistant at the world-famous Whisky-A-Go-Go.
Nikki Wozzo & the Bad Whiskey are Nikki Wozzo (lead vocals/guitar/harmonica/keys); Ray Miller (bass/backup vocals); Mike Mallais (drums – “On,” “Lovers Song,” “Ain’t She Something,” “My Old Man,” “All Night Long,” “Music Row,” “Mom and Dad,” and “Hungover”); and Blair Shotts (drums – (“On,” “Bad Whiskey,” “Wild Rose,” and “Rowdy.”)
Connect with Nikki Wozzo & The Bad Whiskey
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