Watch Big Head Todd and the Monsters Perform Live at Paste Studio

Big Head Todd and the Monsters introduced themselves to the wider listening public with their 1993 hit “Bittersweet,” off their third album, Sister Sweetly. With a sound that embraced the ‘90s roots revival and kept a foot in the British blues-pop tradition of Dire Straits, the Colorado band built a loyal following quickly, then continued making consistently strong records well into the 21st century, even if Top 40 radio stopped following along. In November, BHT&TM released their 11th studio album, New World Arisin’,, on their own Big Records imprint and launched a U.S. tour that leads them down the East Coast this month.

Recorded at E-Town Studios in Boulder, Col., New World Arisin’ was written and produced by vocalist/guitarist Todd Park Mohr with original members Rob Squires on bass and Brian Nevin on drums and percussion. Songs like “Under Your Wings” and the title track go heavy on the muscular riffage, with a creeping blues stomp that gets into Muddy Waters territory. They close with U2-ified cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “Room Full of Mirrors.”

“Some songs fell into place immediately, while others took many years to materialize,” explains Mohr. “Yet after such a long gestating process for the writing, the recording was completed in just six days.”

Watch Big Head Todd and the Monsters perform live at Paste Monday at 2:30 p.m. EST!