Six-string wizard Paul Gilbert drops his ambitious new album ‘WROC’ today via Music Theories Recordings and Artone, alongside the video for “Keep Your Feet Firm and Even.” The project stands as one of his most outlandish and inventive statements yet, channeling George Washington’s Rules of Civility into a full-throttle rock manifesto.
“Keep Your Feet Firm and Even” draws from Rules 10 and 19, transforming 16th century etiquette into sharp-edged riffs and melodic hooks. “I realized that some of the rules might be more challenging than I had anticipated,” Gilbert says, admitting he was breaking one while writing about it. The humor runs deep, but the musicianship cuts even deeper.
‘I’ve never in my life had such a good time writing songs,” Gilbert shares. Many lyrics are lifted word-for-word from Washington’s guide, reshaped into driving choruses and soaring melodies. “WROC is my first vocal album since 2016… I hope my vocal and guitar melodies will stir your heart and improve your table manners. Spit Not in the Fire!”
Recorded live in four days at The Hallowed Halls in Portland, the album features Nick D’Virgilio on drums, Doug Rappoport on guitar, and Timmer Blakely on bass. AC/DC crunch meets Steppenwolf grit, with harmonic nods to Burt Bacharach, Todd Rundgren, and The Beatles. The result moves fluidly through shifting time signatures and styles without losing momentum.
From his pop-rock triumphs in Mr. Big to the high-velocity metal of Racer X, Gilbert has built a career on fearless evolution. ‘WROC’ captures that restless spirit, bending centuries-old civility into modern rock firepower. The rules may be historic, but the sound is immediate and alive.