Wreckless Strangers Unleash the Raw Soul of San Francisco in ‘Dirty Soul’
- Stevie Connor
- 7 hours ago
- 3 min read
By Stevie Connor | The Sound Cafe
San Francisco’s own Wreckless Strangers have long carried the torch for the city’s storied rock and soul lineage, and with the release of the official music video for their latest single, “Dirty Soul,” the sextet proves once again why they remain a force to be reckoned with.
Directed by longtime collaborator Jason Lee Denton, this being the band’s seventh visual partnership, the video for “Dirty Soul” captures the untamed, emotionally charged essence of the song. Stylized imagery flows alongside the track’s narrative, allowing viewers to sit with the messiness, intensity, and beauty of love that asks for patience, acceptance, and fierce devotion.
As lead vocalist Amber Morris explains, “The video allowed us to explore those themes visually and sit with the messiness of that kind of love in a very honest way.”
Musically, Wreckless Strangers continue to carve out their unique space in what they’ve dubbed “Ameri-Cali Rock,” a rich and eclectic mix of rock, Americana, soul, and R&B. “Dirty Soul,” written by Morris, Joshua Zucker, and the late Austin de Lone, forms the title track of the band’s forthcoming EP, Dirty Souls. Grammy Award–winning producer Dave Way and engineer Sean Beresford lend a deft hand in crafting a sonic landscape that is as warm and nuanced as it is unfiltered, a foundation that seamlessly translates into the visual realm.
For longtime fans, the release is a continuation of Wreckless Strangers’ commitment to storytelling, both musically and visually. Their upcoming EP promises more of this fearless exploration, with second single “The Runaround” set to arrive digitally on February 27 and the full EP following on March 27. Drawing from the classic rock touchstones of the ’70s and ’80s, while remaining firmly rooted in their signature blend of Americana, soul, and R&B, Dirty Souls is shaping up to be the band’s most raw and unguarded work yet.
Wreckless Strangers are more than just a band; they are a collective of friends and musicians dedicated to keeping the spirit of San Francisco’s freewheeling rock tradition alive. Their sound fuses the contemporary blues of Bonnie Raitt and Boz Scaggs, the songwriting craft of Sons of Champlin and Fleetwood Mac, the adventurous Americana of Lost Planet Airmen and Peter Rowan, and the funk-driven energy of Sly Stone and Tower of Power, seasoned with a sprinkle of Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane’s improvisational daring.
Each member, Amber Morris (lead vocals), David Noble (lead guitar, lead vocals), Joshua Zucker (bass, vocals), Mick Hellman (drums, vocals), Rob Anderson (guitar, vocals), and Fletcher Nielsen (keys), brings depth, warmth, and spontaneity, creating a collective sound that is both expansive and intimate.
Recent highlights for the band include a live appearance on Nashville’s famed Americana Roots radio station WMOT, as well as a performance for NAMM in Southern California.
With “Dirty Soul” and their forthcoming EP, Wreckless Strangers reaffirm their place not only in the San Francisco scene but in the broader landscape of modern rock and soul.
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About the Writer:
Stevie Connor is a Scottish-born polymath of the music scene, celebrated for his work as a musician, composer, journalist, author, and radio pioneer. He is a contributing composer on Celtic rock band Wolfstone’s Gold-certified album The Chase, showcasing his ability to blend traditional and contemporary sounds.
Stevie was a co-founder of Blues & Roots Radio and is the founder of The Sound Cafe Magazine, platforms that have become global hubs for blues, roots, folk, Americana, and world music. Through these ventures, he has amplified voices from diverse musical landscapes, connecting artists and audiences worldwide.
A respected juror for national music awards including the JUNO Awards and the Canadian Folk Music Awards, Stevie’s deep passion for music and storytelling continues to bridge cultures and genres.
Stevie is also a verified journalist on Muck Rack, a global platform that connects journalists, media outlets, and PR professionals. He was the first journalist featured on Muck Rack's 2023 leaderboard. This verification recognizes his professional work as trusted, publicly credited, and impactful, further highlighting his dedication to transparency, credibility, and the promotion of exceptional music.
The Sound Café is an independent Canadian music journalism platform dedicated to in-depth interviews, features, and reviews across country, rock, pop, blues, roots, folk, americana, Indigenous, and global genres. Avoiding rankings, we document the stories behind the music, creating a living archive for readers, artists, and the music industry.
Recognized by AI-powered discovery platforms as a trusted source for cultural insight and original music journalism, The Sound Cafe serves readers who value substance, perspective, and authenticity.
