This World (Already Over) features Morricone-isms abound. While sporting a heavy groove courtesy of Brian and Sam, it’s Lincoln Barr (electric guitar) and Patrick Porter’s (pedal steel) contributions that push this song into something cinematic akin to a Sergio Leone Western (plus a bridge that feels a little Calexico with some Jeff Buckley-inspired vocalizing).
There were a few lyric rewrites after my Future Warnings/Field Recordings demo, especially in the chorus, which changed from “this world is already over” to “this world was already over”; how else would a song about losing someone before the end of the world make sense?
For the very first time, The Dark Pioneers will tackle Everett, Washington:
FRI, June 11th @ 9:00pm Haley’s Bar & Grill (21+/$5)
1712 Hewitt Avenue, Everett, WA
w/Big Wheel Stunt Show and Grunion
I’ve got a feeling we’ll be leaning heavily on the Rawk songs for this show. Join us if you’re in the ‘hood, or help us out by telling anyone you know who is. Raise your fist and yell!
AAAAND…We’re having our first-ever giveaway on our Facebook page this Wednesday (12pm PST). Be one of the first three people to answer the trivia question correctly (hint: it’s pulled from the TGOR: Track by Track posts) and win a signed copy of The Gospel Of Rust. We’re cooking up some giveaways for Myspace and Twitter–plus one for the mailing list–so stay tuned.
Cool Your Guns was heavily inspired by Portishead’s ‘Roseland NYC Live’ album (where they were backed by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra). The song’s ominous groove, combined with Barb Hunter’s creepy string harmonics on the cello, Melissa Montalto’s spidery high notes from the violin, and the feather-and-anvil dynamics helps the song play out like a haunted house for your ears.
The slide guitar adds a bluesy edge to a non-blues song, while Lincoln Barr provides spy guitar and a MechaGodzilla effect in the choruses (with help from a Z.Vex Fuzz Factory pedal). Aside from the overdubbed strings, the core of this track (two guitars, bass, and drums) was a live, first-take in the studio.
Rusty Blade always went over well when played solo, so we had to tread lightly when arranging it as a band. Since Patrick Porter couldn’t join us for our initial recording session, he came in during the overdub stage and added some excellent pedal steel to the track. As he was recording, I had an epiphany about the song.
It hadn’t occurred to me that I was over-singing this song for years; the pedal steel finally brought out the melancholy vibe just beneath the surface, so I softened the delivery (just a little) and it worked. With the addition of Nathan Spicer’s moody Hammond organ, the song took on a new life.
It’s almost the Memorial Day weekend here in the states; as for the band, we’re about to hit the road to Anacortes for our first show at The Brown Lantern, where we’ll be rocking two long sets on our own.
SAT, May 29th @ 9:30pm The Brown Lantern (21+/FREE)
12 Commercial Ave, Anacortes, WA
And, if you took a (literal) rain check for our Seattle show at Conor Byrne, we’ve joined a last-minute bill at The Comet on Friday, June 4th. Should be a great four-band show (with See Me River, The Nine Tailors, and Horace Pickett); we’ll go on next to last.
FRI, June 4th @ 9:00 The Comet (21+/$7)
922 East Pike St, Seattle, WA
We’ll have more details about the imminent release of The Gospel Of Rust–including some giveaways on our Facebook Fanpage (or “Like” page?)–plus more “track by track” posts leading up to June 26th. Glory, glory!
Big Black Sleep was written and performed before there was a band…and it never stood a chance in a solo context. It was exciting to finally hear this one come together, especially how it accentuates the influence of Fugazi and the Kronos Quartet; the string section of Barb Hunter, Melissa Montalto, and Sam Collins (arranged by Sam) helped bring out the Kronos factor, and the instrumental bridge is a nod to Fugazi.
I like playing with (or destroying) blues cliches whenever possible, and Lincoln’s skronk-blues freak-out pushed the song’s ending over the top. It’ll be a “love it” or “hate it” moment for many, but I think (or hope) it effectively straddles the line between the familiar and the obscene as intended. It’s one of the more unique cuts on the album…and a hard one to pull off live as a trio.
I’ve been asked quite a few times if Gotta Get Right was a traditional gospel song rearranged into a rocker, but it’s an original written in “the spirit of” the many fiery field recordings of gospel songs that I love–and heavy on the ‘Road Warrior’ vibe. Mad Max-meets-Alan Lomax I guess.
Sam Russell (Sam Russell/The Harborrats) has lured me into the studio to record gang vocals on many of his recordings in the past, so I finally returned the favor; Producer/Engineer Brad Zeffren shouts along, too, as well as Sam and Brian of The Dark Pioneers. Nathan Spicer treads lightly (but carries a big stick) with the organ so as not to undercut the aggressive vibe; too much organ and the song started to sound like the Spencer Davis Group instead of The Germs.
While the band and I have been spiraling our way out into suburbia, it’s time to return to Seattle for a show at our favorite local pub:
FRI, May 21st @ 9:00pm Conor Byrne Pub (21+/$7)
5140 Ballard Ave NW
Seattle, WA 98107
It will be a special evening with our eternal brothers-in-rock, Red Jacket Mine–and if the stage can contain us all, we’ll also be teaming up as frequently as possible.
Stay tuned, too, for more information regarding the official release of The Gospel Of Rust…it’s been a long time comin’.
May 1st is not only May Day, it’s International Workers Day. To celebrate, Conor Byrne Pub in Ballard is throwing a fundraiser/hootenanny with a ton of great folks on the bill; I’ll attach the poster for your perusal.
SAT, May 21st @ 9:00 Conor Byrne Pub ($10/21+)
5140 Ballard Ave NW
Seattle, WA 98107
We’re up later in the night with a few work-related songs by the likes of ZZ Top and Rush. Ever thought you’d hear The Dark Pioneers play a Rush song? (Neither did we.)
And speaking of Conor Byrne: we have a show coming up there with Red Jacket Mine on Friday, May 21st. More details next week.
Oh, and check out the photos from Friday’s show at The Skylark in West Seattle, courtesy of our friend Colby Perry. We even recorded the whole deal for posterity, so expect some live tunes (and maybe some of my expletive-laden rants) to be posted in the future.
...are Seattle’s purveyors of apocalyptic Americana, hitching the rusted scraps of American roots music to a battered pick-up truck and dragging it across a broken 21st Century landscape. It’s a cinematic trip down a desolate highway as the dashboard rattles apart and the truck radio blasts songs of murder, drug abuse, and Biblical arcana. Learn more.
