Selected Press
East Bay Express profile
On his debut album, Skeletone Machine, blues guitarist and singer Eddy Undertow brings a unique San Francisco perspective to the blues. With the help of his band, Sweet Undertow, he flavors the tunes with hints of rock, metal, psychedelia and country music.
“I grew up with the blues, jazz and the sound of the ’60s on the stereo,” Undertow said. “Then my brother’s Metallica tapes had me jumping up and down on the couch. Next it was Nirvana, grunge, Johnny Cash and Fela Kuti…. READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE
American Blues Scene Premiere
From the Chicago area, Eddy was raised on a steady diet of vintage blues records such as Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Elmore James, Magic Sam, and John Lee Hooker – as well as the local punk scene. Like Johnny Cash, he has been everywhere. He’s been a wildland firefighter, and has wandered Asia and Europe with a guitar as his only constant companion. He’s played in Crimean bars and in an orphanage in now war-ravaged Ukraine.
He’s taken the long way, so to speak, to San Francisco where he has been fulfilling his lifelong yearning since 2016. The place he had traveled for his grandfather’s funeral as a child “is crazy still, but it’s beautiful,” he says…. READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE
Rock & Blues Muse Video Premiere
Rock & Blues Muse is pleased to premiere Sweet Undertow’s new video “Kingdom Come With Me” from their debut album Skeletone Machine out September 16, 2022 via the Mother West imprint. Sweet Undertow is one of San Francisco’s premiere blues/funk bands.
The song is an edgy, tough-shuffling blues/rocker full of big vocals and strong guitar work. His black-hatted rock and roll cowboy style situated against the desert landscape makes for some classic visual Americana that fans will be pulled into immediately… READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE
Gonzo Kanagan Album Review
Here is Sweet Undertow’s inspiring debut. Skeletone Machine is a genre bending blues fuelled look at humanity that, at times, feels like a long lost Mellencamp record- due in no small part to the depth of subject matter as well as Eddy Undertow’s raspy singing voice and the rustic instrumentation. It may take you awhile to climb inside, but it is worth the effort.
The press info categorizes this as “authentic bluesy Americana”, but the psychedelic overtones of a track like Ride Out The Night with its fuzz-tone guitar leads and the galloping rock beat that kicks in about 2/3rds of the way through begs to differ. Stones- inspired acoustic grunge, maybe? That feels closer.… READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE
Grateful Web Album Review
Sweet Undertow is pleased to announce their inspiring debut album, Skeletone Machine, to be released Sept 16th via Mother West. The album captures years of frontman Eddy Undertow’s guitar-in-hand globetrotting and inquisitive artist’s ear. It’s a cinematic document of a wide-eyed quest for something universal yet tantalizingly undefined, channeled through authentic, bluesy Americana.
“There are songs about love, lust, death, lonesomeness, and anger,” mulled Eddy. “I try to create moods and paint with lyrics, trying to evoke images in peoples’ minds. But also, y’know, shake their asses.”.… READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE
Chicago Blues Guide Album Review
Fronted by native Chicagoan and former punk-rock globetrotter Eddy Undertow, San Francisco-based Sweet Undertow channels lust, anger, loneliness and more on their latest CD, mixing rock-steady, driving beats with blues-infused Americana to produce one of the most unique albums you’ll hear this year. After Eddy wandered across the seamier underbelly of Europe and Southeast Asia, he settled in the Bay Area and started Sweet Undertow.
A full-band alignment that incorporates harmonica, pedal steel, organ and violin this group delivers a surprise at every turn, blending strong, electric riffs that play with acoustic accents that’ll keep you intrigued throughout..… READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE
Blues Matters Album Review
A brilliant debut release. Always exciting to hear new music and new bands. Here is a four-piece from San Francisco with their debut release of ten original songs, all loosely blues based with a grungy underground feel that makes the songs feel more real and honest. The band was the idea of lead singer and guitarist Eddy Undertow. His sidekicks are guitarist Jim Semitekol, bassist John Eckstrom and drummer Dave Tavel. This release was recorded just before lockdown in 2020 at John Vanderslice’s Studio. These are songs about, love, death, loneliness, and all washed down with a dose of anger, but all songs are raw and have their own identity..… SUBSCRIBE TO READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE