The National Reserve, a Brooklyn-rooted Americana outfit fronted by singer and guitarist Sean Walsh, blends an array of longstanding roots-music forms into their distinctive version of sturdy, emotionally direct rock & roll. Early touring that commenced near the end of the 2000s drew support from several modest recordings, though a run of club residencies across Brooklyn in 2016 and 2017 ultimately cemented the group’s standing as a gripping live ensemble.
Walsh had previously worked alone through the middle of the decade before adding a backing unit for the 2009 album Homesick, issued at the time as Sean Walsh & the National Reserve. Once the musicians developed a stronger collective identity, his name was removed from the marquee on the three-song 2012 release Riff City Boys Club and the somewhat longer 2015 EP Easy Does It. Additional Friday-night residencies at various Brooklyn venues sharpened their stage craft and deepened their rapport ahead of the full-length Motel La Grange, which Ramseur Records released in spring 2018.
