------Spins------Wooden Nickel Krimsha CD of the Week Make Believe BACKTRACKS $9.99 Don’t let the cover art for Steve Earle Fort Wayne-based Krimsha’s Town (1986) debut full-length , Make Believe, fool you. Despite the When country music went bad in footprints-in-the-sand cover and the early 1980s, Nashville sold itself vaguely wispy title, the music out and looked for the next star based contained within dwells more on looks, not necessarily talent. In fact, closely to the concept-heavy alt name one unattractive country music rock of Coheed and Cambria than anything that may be released by star on the charts today. Can’t do it, Greek new age maestro Yanni. The band, two-time finalists in the right? annual whatzup Battle of the Bands and whose debut has been highly When Earle released this debut not much of the music world anticipated locally, keep their feet firmly planted within the territory noticed, and he became more of a rock star than a country music of contemporary hard rock. star. I was lucky enough to hear about Earle when he broke onto $9.99 The connection between the music and the cover art, title and the scene, and I have been listening to him since. many of the song titles (“Wake Me Up,” “Eclipse,” “Pretend”) Guitar Town opens with the title track, a classic number about comes from Krimsha’s distinctively airy and atmospheric approach life on the road. “Hillbilly Highway” also reaches into the cli- to contemporary hard rock. Their signature, dreamy sound is light ché bag but blends country’s steel and acoustic over foot- GRACE FOR DROWNING but alluring, punctuated with moments of tension and punch. While stompin’ drums and lyrical hooks. “My Old Friend The Blues” Krimsha spend most of the CD somewhere in between the tropo- slows the album down but fits in as the almost downtrodden pitch After fronting the band sphere and the mesosphere, the band does occasionally drop down in his voice sells the track as a country/blues number. He channels for nearly a quarter centu- to earth to find some gruffer territory, especially in terms of vocals Parsons in this one. ry, Steven Wilson has released Drowning and guitar breaks, but they don’t typically dwell there for long. Their “Someday” is a template for the pretty boy country music for Grace, a two-CD opus that contin- breezy style comes across at first as almost effortless, but a closer that’s been coming out of Nashville over the past 20 years. It’s a ues the path forged by his solo debut, Insurgentes listen reveals a great deal of variety in terms of songcraft, style and ballad, and a poignant video helped sell it to the mainstream. , but ventures into more sonic texture. One of my favorite Earle songs is the beautiful “Fearless experimental territory. Wilson himself says Grace is his “biggest project to date.” Pick It’s these little touches and savvy attention to detail that set the Heart.” I’m a sucker for the brokenhearted country vibe of this one. “Little Rock & Roller” also gets me. It’s the story of a truck it up at any Wooden Nickel Music Store recording apart from your typical local band, and a young one at that, for just $9.99. but they also highlight the album’s primary downfall. Namely, that driver calling home, and his little boy answers the phone – one much of the album blends together such that the listener could listen of those “wait for daddy, he’ll be home soon” songs. The record from beginning to end without discerning where one song ends and closes soothingly with “Down The Road,” not to be confused with TOP SELLERS @ the next begins, especially considering the possible over-reliance on his only real crossover hit, “Copperhead Road.” its patented soft-loud-soft dynamic. Imagine the soul of Gram Parsons with the twangy alt-country Wooden Nickel Overall, though, the album comes across as remarkably accom- of Dwight Yoakum; that’s Earle. He just released I’ll Never Get (Week ending 10/9/11) plished, especially for a local band, and is worth checking out for Out Of This World Alive, which has charted on the folk, country, TW LW ARTIST/Album anyone interested in the local scene or for atmospheric hard rock in indie and rock charts. (Dennis Donahue) 1 – FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH general. Fans of bands like Rush, Pink Floyd and, strangely enough American Capitalist the Cure, might be especially pleasantly surprised. And maybe now Although Simon Peter Band are deeply religious, they don’t that Krimsha have demonstrated its command of mood and atmo- force their beliefs on their audience on Two Thousand Eleven. In- 2 2 CHICKENFOOT sphere on Make Believe, they’ll add a little more songwriting crunch stead, they sprinkle it with feel-good, positive lyrics. All in all, this Chickenfoot III (CD & LP) for good measure next time around. (Ryan Smith) is one of the most well-produced releases I’ve ever heard as a local product. The musicianship, songwriting, production and even the 3 3 Simon Peter Band disc jacket itself, are top notch and worth the time to check out. (Mi- The Whole Love (CD & LP) chael “Myke D” Deaton) Two Thousand Eleven EP 4 1 JOE BONAMASSA/BETH HART Don’t Explain To theology majors the name Hip Kitty Simon Peter brings to mind the 5 5 MASTODON fisherman disciple who cut off Hip Kitty EP The Hunter the ear of a high priest’s servant You’ve seen them live, but and denied Christ three times 6 – EVANESCENCE do you really want to take them Evanescence before the cock crowed. To the home with you? rest of us Simon Peter Band are a That’s the question you’ll hard-working blues band found- 7 4 FEIST have to ask yourself before Metals ed heavily in the Christian faith purchasing Hip Kitty’s epony- and whose members have been mously-titled five-song EP. The 8 – RYAN ADAMS staples of the Fort Wayne music scene for decades. fun-loving Nashville-based band Ashes & Fire Two Thousand Eleven Their second release, , is a six-track EP has played Piere’s Entertainment and their first as the “new” Simon Peter Band. After the untimely Center many times in the past, in- 9 7 SUPERHEAVY death of their lead vocalist Jeff Andrews, whose work can be heard cluding two shows this past weekend. The Hip Kitty EP is the second Superheavy (CD & LP) Fishers of Men on their first CD, , Simon Peter Band picked up two set of studio originals released by the band, the first being the 14- new members and chose a new direction. With the addition of Tom song Art of War LP, released in 2008; the band also has another live 10 – PETER GABRIEL New Blood Roach on bass and vocals and Greg Purlee on drums and vocals, the EP, Hip Kitty Live, from 2007, under its belt. musical style of Simon Peter Band has gone from a straight country From the opening strains of the first track, “I’m With Your Best to a more bluesy sound with country influences. Dave Hetric on lead Friend,” the band’s stature is evident – not bad, not great, not en- Sat., Oct. 15 • 7 p.m. • All Ages • Free guitar and vocals and Mike Reese on guitar and vocals fill out the tirely interesting. While the track generates a solidly dirty hard rock Live AT OUR N. Anthony Store: new lineup. groove and the composition and is tighter than a band of The EP was recorded and mastered by Tim Bushong at T. Bush rank amateurs could produce, the song as a whole comes across with Recording Studios in Fort Wayne, and the finished product is fantas- less excitement and appeal than was clearly intended. tic. The recording has an almost raw live feel and is one of the best Things pick up slightly on the more uptempo second track, mixes I’ve ever heard from a local studio. “Over My Head,” which may be due to the generally distorted and Two Thousand Eleven is filled with stellar musicianship, experi- juke joint jive oft-unintelligible treatment of vocalist Jen Halverson’s vocals. Soni- ence, hooks and awesome songwriting. One notable song, “And the cally the track works best when the vocals along with the instruments 3627 N. Clinton • 484-2451 Rain Falls Down,” while not traditional blues, features a killer hook are served up as one heady mix. 3422 N. Anthony • 484-3635 and guitar riff that has been stuck in my head since I first heard it. The rest of the EP is not without its charms. The ballad “On This 6427 W. Jefferson • 432-7651 Perhaps the most bluesy song on the EP is “Mighty Good Friends,” We Buy, Sell & Trade Used CDs, LPs & DVDs very traditional, upbeat blues tune that’s going to be popular with the www.woodennickelmusicfortwayne.com old school listener. Continued on page 23 October 13, ’11------www.whatzup.com------7 SPINS - From Page 7 Side of Heaven” works an effective power ballad tone (complete more a case of the latter. However, instead of a single band Gal- with strumming reminiscent of Guns n’ Roses’ version of “Knockin’ lucci finds his love in the melodic power pop and album-oriented on Heaven’s Door,” which is 20 years old for anyone keeping track), hard rock of the late 70s, combining the old and the new to and “Love Hangover” features some almost heavy guitar chugs along the point where he could be writing a new song or coming with some good old-fashioned Framptone-talkin’ guitars (have any teasingly close to Journey but always giving the listener something guitars spoken on record since the days of David Lee Roth and Bon new. Jovi?). Unfortunately, the band waits until the final track, “Agony & Strange Days is the first solo album by Gallucci, having spent Ecstasy,” to pull out what might be the strongest tune on the album, a couple of decades playing a variety of musical styles in a variety with a reasonably compelling chorus, even though the song is ulti- of bands. But in this album he gives his true musical love free rein, mately neither all that agonizing nor ecstatic. and for fans of music of this period it is glorious manna. Gallucci is Overall, the EP can be an enjoyable listen, and the band produces a masterful musician and capably brings these songs to life. some tight grooves along with the occasional hint of fireworks. The Nowhere is this more apparent than in the opening track, “Does problem is that very little of the material here distinguishes itself as The World Know,” which strikes with big power chords and bright being much above average, and the band rarely hits the marks they keyboards. The guitars on this album are especially tasty, making it set for themselves or delivers much in the way of passion or fire- obvious that Gallucci is a fan of the organic analog guitar sounds of power. classic rock and is able to summon them for his own use. “Cries in The Hip Kitty EP might be up your alley if you have either seen the Wind” showcases his ability to sing stunning background harmo- the band live and want to relive the experience at home or are experi- nies. If I didn’t know better I would think that he managed to talk encing deeply nostalgic longings for the late 80s. But if you’re look- members of The Eagles into stepping into his home studio. “The ing for something with a little more excitement or import, chances Dream” is another winner, expansively opening with an orchestral are you’re better off looking elsewhere. (R.S.) passage before moving to a melancholy verse filled with crisp guitars and one amazing, melodic guitar hook. Ron Gallucci More than a retro trip through a time machine, this album takes the best of classic rock and makes it shiny and new. In addition to Strange Days great songs, Strange Days sounds completely top notch. Professional There are bands like The mastering to complement Ron’s professional playing and first-rate Spongetones who brazenly wear guitar tones gives these songs the chance they deserve. If you’re a their influence on their sleeves, fan of Boston, E.L.O., Journey, Kansas or bands of this era, you owe and countless other bands who it to yourself to check out Strange Days. (Jason Hoffman) try, more or less, to hide and blend their influences, though in Send new CD releases to 2305 E. Esterline Rd., Columbia City, less skilled hands it’s all too easy IN 46725. It is also helpful to send bio information, publicity photos to identify their favorite bands. and previous releases, if available. Sorry, but whatzup will review Then there are projects such as only full-length, professionally produced CDs. L.E.O. that pay tribute to their If you are interested in reviewing local and national CD releas- influences (in this case E.L.O.) by writing songs in the sonic spirit es, please send a writing sample and an email indicating what types of their musical forefathers. In the case of Ron Gallucci, it is much of music you’d like to review to [email protected].

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