JANGLE ON!
SEPTEMBER
by Eric Sorensen
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Wow! After several months of little in the way of jangly music, a plethora of new material – featuring chiming Rickenbacker 12-string riffs – has been released. In addition to the obvious Byrds references in many of the songs, there has been a Gene Clark theme – so summer 2014 is ending on a very strong note. August was going to finish in grand style anyway, since I had the chance to see Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen perform at the Birchmere on the 28th. The duo’s 22-song set included “Eight Miles High,” “Bells of Rhymney,” “Have You Seen Her Face,” “The Times They Are A Changing” and “Turn! Turn! Turn!” I will get to see Herb Pedersen again in two months, when he returns as a member of the fabulous John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band. So much music, so little time!
New jangly discs and songs that are topping my playlist include:
Brand New Day – The Ugly Beats. Not only is this discs a 2014 Top Ten contender, but it is the finest pseudo-60s disc to come along in ages. Where do I start? I can hear the Long Ryders, the Grip Weeds, the Hummingbirds and the Rose Garden in the vocal/instrumental mix … and “Throw Me A Line” harkens back to “Hey Little Girl” by the Syndicate of Sound and “Little Black Egg” by the Nightcrawlers. The primo track is “All Of The Things” – which sounds just like it could have been written by Gene Clark in 1965. The very next track – “Beataroo” – is one of the finest jangly instrumentals of this Millennium. I was so impressed with Brand New Day (on the Get Hip label), that I ordered each of the group’s previous three discs. Take A Stand With The Ugly Beats has cover art that cleverly borrows from the Byrd’s debut Mr. Tambourine Man album … and the disc has some cool tracks that remind me of the Flamin’ Groovies. Austin Texas (also home to Freddie Steady Krc) definitely has a burgeoning pseudo-60s pop community!
Sidewalk Scene – the Sidewalk Scene. San Diego’s The Sidewalk Scene (lifted from the lyrics of “Eight Miles High”) take the Gene Clark influences to an even greater level. This all-star pop band has just released a four-song CD EP that will have pop fans anxiously awaiting a full-length release. Without sounding redundant, the opening track – “The Last Time It Rained” – sounds just like it could have been written by Gene Clark in 1965! The other three tracks are “I Know My Rider,” “Gene Clark” and “So You Say You Lost Your Baby” (the way this Gene Clark-penned track would have sounded if the original Byrds had recorded it). Long may you run, members of the Sidewalk Scene!
Twilley Won’t Mind: Dwight Twilley Band Tribute – various artists, on the Zero Hour Records label. Some tribute discs hit the nail on the head – and this is one of those efforts. The disc includes 23 tracks by 23 different artists. Standout jangly tracks are “Sincerely” by Donovan’s Brain, “Trying To Find My Baby” by Jared Lekites, “Chance To Get Away” by the Bottle Kids,” “Didn’t You Say” by True Stories and “I Don’t Know My Name” by Spike Priggen. From start to finish – with or without chiming guitars – this is what a tribute disc should be!
Good friend Ray Verno has culled the INTERNET for other Byrdsian tracks, and he found “The Birds of St Marks” by Jackson Browne, Starry Eyed & Laughing’s excellent cover of Roger McGuinn’s “I’m So Restless” (to be included on a soon-to-be-released Starry Eyed & Laughing Forever Young compilation), and three new tracks by the Belltowers.
Until next time, jangle on!
ERIC
