Oh boy, a road trip video sound tracked by music that recalls the mellow California sound of the ’60s as epitomized by bands like Buffalo Springfield and The Byrds: just the perfect thing for enjoying on a Sunday morning while your coffee brews in the kitchen!
Continue reading Video Clip of The Week: The Donkeys, “Blues in the Afternoon”
Category Archives: Music
Music and Musicians
The Night Tupac Met Jerry Garcia
In the latest video from The Pete Holmes Show (he comes on after Conan — I love him) Jerry Garcia’s daughter, Trixie, breaks down the night she brought one of rap’s biggest names home to meet her dad.
The thing is, I don’t think they ever actually met? Still, it’s a very funny video, and Jerry’s daughter seems lovely.
Video Clip of The Week: Rival Sons, “Open My Eyes”
Innate ability aside, legendary Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham got a big drum sound by playing big drums. Paying homage to Bonham’s signature, deeply resonant and otherworldly beat from “When the Levee Breaks” for this fantastic clip, “Open My Eyes,” Rival Sons’ drummer Michael Miley plays huge drums in a rather economically configured, three-piece kit while completely nailing Bonham’s nearly inimitable feel. And that should be enough to get any rock fans attention right out of the box. But really, this is just a great, pristinely produced Rock & Roll song by a band that obviously knows its shit.
Reviews I’ve read tag Rival Sons as a “Garage Rock Band,” but to my ears (and based entirely on this track) they sound more like one of the Classic Rock bands of the ’70s that built its foundation on blues and soul influences (Read: Led Zeppelin, Free, Uriah Heep). Just listen to vocalist Jay Buchanan and tell me that he didn’t pick up a few pointers from vocal greats like Steve Marriott, Robert Plant and Paul Rodgers. And just to toss in a comparison from my vault of unknown references, “Open My Eyes” really favorably reminded me of a much-loved-by-me lost track, “California,” from the woefully unsung Unified Theory, which is the band Blind Melon turned into after Shannon Hoon died.
“Open My Eyes” is first single from the album Great Western Valkyrie, due for release on Earache records on June 10th, 2014, which should be well worth checking out. Enjoy!
Video Clip of The Week: The Rich Hands, “Teenager”
Was it easier to be a teenager in the ’50s, ’60s or even ’70s? I was a teenager during one of those decades and I’d say yes, yes it was easier. And you know why? Because life was just way fucking simpler. Back then, my worst problems were waiting for the latest Queen or Who album to be released so I could get a ride to the record store and buy it before any of my friends, coping with telephone “Busy Signals” in the time before Call Waiting existed, and dealing with my stupid parents. Teenagers today probably still have that last problem, but their lives are also infinitely complicated by needing to have the latest technological gadget that fits in your hand, which spawns endless problems in and of itself. Hand to God, you could not pay me to be a teenager in 2014. Ugh.
Continue reading Video Clip of The Week: The Rich Hands, “Teenager”
Video Clip of The Week: SACCO, “Kerosene”
Hey, what’s up. It’s Sunday and time again for the Video Clip of the Week, so what better clip to choose than one featuring a church, assorted religious iconography, plus a (possibly fake) priest and…some other guys? There’s an irresistible, dream-like feeling that’s brought on by watching SACCO’s video for “Kerosene.” The thing is, the Priest, the Wall Street Guy and the Dude trying to set a Fire in the Snow all have the same face /mask on. Perhaps the meaning of this song takes too long to talk about.
Musically, you’ll be pulled in by the seductive undertow of lumbering bass, an almost military drumming cadence and whip smart lyrics like “Patience is a woman I can’t wait to meet” and “Mercy is trigger that I ain’t pulled yet.” Very clever! SACCO, a band that sounds like they potentially have a string of good albums in them, is the creative vision of childhood friends John Fredericks and Andy Breihan (both most recently of Guards) who are joined by drummer Chris Trombley.
“Kerosene” is from the New York by-way-of Southern California trio’s self-titled debut album, which will be released April 22nd on Sensibility Music. That’s also the date when SACCO will head out on tour with Band Of Skulls, so that promises to be a hot ticket! Enjoy!
