News & Updates
The Gravel Project, 'Find What You Need'
June 13
With his bluesy electric guitar playing and blue-eyed soulful vocals, Andrew Gravel and his band have found plenty of fans in the local jam and roots rock worlds and drawn favorable comparisons to another group with Boston ties: the Tedeschi Trucks Band. Unlike a lot of their peers, the members of The Gravel Project have figured out how to bring the electricity of their live shows into the studio with a clean recording that echoes the best of their classic rock influences. Gravel digs deep to bring out these 10 musical stories that explore the complexities of relationships, with especially inspired playing from organist Jordan Gravel and master percussionist Eugie Castrillo.
The Gravel Project will celebrate the release June 14 at the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge.


Boston-based roots-rock collective The Gravel Project returns with their fourth studio record, “Find What You Need.” Released earlier this year, this ten-track collection showcases the band’s signature blend of blues, soul, and rock ‘n’ roll.
While the collection is written entirely by the band’s guitarist-vocalist Andrew Gravel, the synergy of the ensemble really stands out with organist Jordan Gravel, drummer Dave Fox, bassist Jesse Williams, percussionist Eguie Castrillo, and vocalist Jen Kearney all playing their parts to perfection.
“Love the Life” is the perfect opener to the album as it crashes out of the gates with an infectious rhythm, driven by Castrillo’s percussion and Jen and Andrew’s soaring vocals. What’s impressive here is that the band immediately switches things up with “Stay with Me,” a soulful piece driven by gentle synths and husky vocals.
“Who did you think you were” is one of the standout singles with a groovy beat and soulful vocals reminiscent of Marvin Gaye. But what’s more impressive than the musicianship is the emotional range that’s covered in this collection, with the band diving right into the emotional turmoil of relationships and tackling topics like doubt,
regret, and conflict.
What I like about “Blues for LA” is that it breaks free of the mould of the “safe” closer. It continues the pattern of varying styles between singles and employs distortion and dissonance to great effect.
Produced by Grammy-winning producers Greg Ogan and John Paterno, Find What You Need is meant to capture the band’s live energy while still maintaining a level of polish. The minimal overdubs allow listeners to feel as though they are sitting front-row at one of the band’s gigs, but the engineering is good enough that nothing feels out of place.
Find What You Need is a record that lives up to its title. It offers something for every listener: groove-heavy jams for those who want to move, and introspective ballads for those who want to reflect. With this record, The Gravel Project have captured the essence of their musicianship, and it’s an absolute joy to behold.