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.
02 Big Black Sleep by nathanwademusic