Written By Braddon S. Williams
Tesla: Mechanical Resonance
Tesla always got unfairly labeled as a glam or hair metal band, when they were actually much more of a throwback to the hard rock of the 1970’s.
Mechanical Resonance (1986), was a great collection of songs with plenty of fiery lead guitar work from Frank Hannon and Tommy Skeoch, a granite heavy rhythm section comprised of Brian Wheat on bass and Troy Lucketta on drums, and the charismatic and perpetually happy Jeff Keith on lead vocals. The songs on Mechanical Resonance were full of riffs that were influenced by Led Zeppelin, UFO, AC/DC and Montrose. Furthermore, these guys weren’t wearing spandex or sporting big hair like so many of their peers. I first heard them via the video for Modern Day Cowboy on MTV’s original Headbanger’s Ball and immediately bought the album.
Other bangers on their debut included Little Suzi, Cumin’ Atcha Live, Getting Better, 2 Late 4 Love, EZ Come EZ Go, and We’re No Good Together.
I saw them at the height of their popularity, and once again at a club when they reunited in the early 2000’s and Tesla were dependably energetic and rock solid both times.
Great band for certain!
Vinyl Lair 