Crushing your head with double shots from The Replacements and Patti Smith Group and a trip to hell with Alice Cooper!
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Archive for April, 2011
Double Shot Week continues with Chuck Prophet, a seemingly perfect rock ‘n’ roller who’s knocked out distinctive, memorable and hugely satisfying music since the late 1970s when he first rose to attention in Green On Red. However, it’s Prophet’s solo work, particularly in the past decade, that marks him as a rootsier American answer to Richard Thompson, displaying his own nuanced way with a guitar, a tune or a vocal delivery that makes one lean in and pay attention. The sweet meat with Chuck Prophet is often found in the details – a slight turn of phrase, a wink in a black tale, a totally unexpected yet perfect flash of guitar, tenderness in a punch – and his albums are the sort that just keep getting better & better with repetition and time. Like we said, kind of a perfect musician, and goddamn great live performer, too. Here’s two recent killers from his pen, and check out Dennis chat with Chuck Prophet from a few years back here.
Ah heck, it’s Sunday and we adore Chuck, so we’re gonna make it a DOUBLE Double Shot!
Mark Karan by Alan Hess Photography
Mark Karan is cut from a classic mold. In his ceaselessly tasty playing one hears grin-inducing hints of Mike Bloomfield, Marc Ford and Roy Buchanan. Karan has serious technical knowhow but he never lets it get in the way of delivering feeling, dipping into gutbucket rawness as well as a delicacy that’s akin to guitar calligraphy.
More than anything, the man plays to songs, sidestepping almost all the usual showboating and spotlighting seeking one often finds in guitarists. He listens hard and has an instinct for melody and flow that’s a deep pleasure. It’s especially commendable that he has maintained this level of humility coming from the cult-minded world of Grateful Dead fans, for whom he’s played in The Others Ones and Ratdog, where Karan has been an exemplary guitar foil for the highly idiosyncratic Weir for many years, providing stability and grace where Bob is all sparks and flying colors.
These days Mark Karan is focused on his own band, Jemimah Puddleduck, where he sings lead vocals and takes on primary songwriting duties for their originals while leading a band of pros comprised of Bob Gross (bass), Billy Lee Lewis (drums) and JT Thomas (keys), though some upcoming dates will feature Bay Area great Mookie Siegel on keys while Thomas is out touring with Bruce Hornsby. Find full tour dates here.
Karan has been one of the Impound’s favorite six-string wizards for close to a decade, and the guy only seems more varied and right-on with every passing year. He’s one of those wonderful, rare musicians whose presence means things are gonna be better than they would have been otherwise. Mark has a strength of character and musical depth that rings through in his voice, his instrument and his stage presence, and we’re delighted to pick his brain for this segment.
One of the great joys of 70s FM radio was the days when they’d play two in a row from a band. The first cut would stir one’s appetite and the second finish ya off. It’s a simple gimmick but it worked, and we’re never averse to using an old trick that’s still got play. So, for the next seven days the Impound will offer you two tunes from bands we think you ought to know. Instead of the usual well-worn names that get the double shot treatment, we’re gonna hit ya with gems that’ll enrich your listening knowledge and tickle your ears.
We begin Double Shot Week with the band once touted to be England’s answer to The Band in the early 70s. Brinsley Schwarz never reached those heights of popular or critical acclaim, but they were a damn fine band that launched the career of Impound Hall of Famer Nick Lowe (check out Dennis’ chat with Nick from a few years back here). Curious folks should snap up Brinsley’s self-titled 1970 debut, Despite It All and Silver Pistol for the best this bunch had to offer. Now, on with the show…
