The Suffers - It Starts with Love (Deluxe) (2023) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

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The Suffers - It Starts with Love (Deluxe) (2023) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

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Playing a heartfelt amalgam of classic R&B, rock & roll, reggae, and even hip-hop, Houston combo the Suffers have described their sound as "Gulf Coast soul." The group quickly became a regional draw in Texas before earning national attention around their debut EP and eponymous full-length in the mid-2010s. Their sound began to trend toward topical and social issues on 2018's Billboard-charting Everything Here, which referenced the struggles of their hometown in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. After enduring a significant lineup shift, the Suffers re-emerged in 2022 with the passionate and timely It Starts with Love, their first album for the Missing Piece Group imprint. Bassist Adam Castaneda and keyboardist, songwriter, and vocalist Pat Kelly formed the Suffers in 2011, eager to bring a new sound to the Lone Star State. Aiming for a big band, they brought in a handful of talented players they had worked with before – guitarist Kevin Bernier, Jon Durbin on trumpet, Michael Razo on trombone, and percussion man Jose "Chapy" Luna. While Castaneda and Kelly were initially thinking of a jam band with a reggae flavor, as the group began displaying a soulful side, they opted to reinforce with additional members saxophonist Cory Wilson, guitarist Alex Zamora, and drummer Nick Zamora. The final piece of the puzzle came with the arrival of Kam Franklin, a talented and charismatic lead singer who had previously been part of the British group the Very Best. The Suffers debuted in Houston, and within two years they went from packing local clubs to playing festivals across the state. Their 2013 debut single, "Slow It Down" b/w "Step Aside," was followed in 2014 by the Make Some Room EP. The buzz from their energetic stage show and highly touted EP soon helped the Suffers attract national attention and during the next year they appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman, were covered in The New York Times, Paste, and Spin, and toured the East Coast. In early 2016, the band released their self-titled debut album and set out on a tour that included dates with Lake Street Drive and Galactic. After their home town of Houston was devastated by Hurricane Harvey in 2017, the Suffers began writing material that spoke to the city's struggle and resilience, themes that informed their second album, Everything Here. Released by the Shanachie label in July 2018, Everything Here included guest appearances from Houston-based hip-hop artists Paul Wall and Bun B and made a strong number 12 showing on Billboard's Heatseekers chart. Heading into the next decade, the Suffers continued to evolve both in the type of material they were writing and in membership with the departure of Cory Wilson and Alex Zamora, along with founding members Castaneda and Kelly. Pairing their soul-driven sound with more challenging, topical-themed lyrics, the band issued the hooky single "Take Me to the Good Times" in 2020. A second song, the poignant "How Do We Heal," appeared in early 2022 ahead of the Suffers' third album, It Starts with Love.