Topic: The Most Brilliant Unknown Rock Band
This is from my myspace blog...
When I was fourteen years old, I went with my dad (my ticket into a 21+ club) to see the late Stevie Ray Vaughan's back up band, Double Trouble, in concert. The show was supposed to start at 9:00, but the Gothic Theatre, an old smoky theatre, was infamous for starting shows late. The lights were lowered at 8:57, and I was shocked, could the opening band, T. Benoit & The Shuckers, be begining their brand of New Orleans Blues early? When the lights came back up, it was clear this was not the opening blues band. A man began playing a heavy riff on a Les Paul, soon thereafter, his voice began soulfully chanelling Stevie Wonder and Donny Hathaway.
The contraditction between styles pulled me in. The combination of black soul of the '70's and heavy riffs of Led Zeppelin and Jane's Addiction was unlike anything I had ever heard before. It was heavy, funky, soulful and rocked so damn hard simultaneously. After a set of this uniquely soulful alternative rock, the band's leader said "We are The Brand New Immortals from Atlanta, Georgia...goodnight". The following two bands, seemed bland, meaningless and unoriginal.
Two years later, I finally got this band's CD. Their only album is called "Tragic Show". It can be found in used CD stores everywhere for a few dollars, I've even seen it for 99 cents. The same price as a box of four Wendy's Chicken Nuggets. Unlike the faux processed chicken, this album has a distinct and sophisticated flavor that hasn't gotten old in the four years I've been spinning the CD. Listening to it over and over is the only thing that can be done. The band broke up shortly after I saw them in 2000. The lead singer and guitarist, David Ryan Harris, has begun a somewhat sucessful solo career. He is also best friends with singer/songwriter/guitarist, John Mayer and now plays rhythm guitar and backup vocals in Mr. Mayer's band. That's got to help. Mr. Harris has released some good solo material, much of it meant for the pop mainstream, but nothing has seemed to capture the magic of "Tragic Show".
Every song is a treasure on the BNI album. No song requires the listener to hit the track >> button. The album recalls days when bands would record albums that meant to be spun in their entirety, unlike today's mass-marketed pop, which contains the singles and the fillers. Yet the album seems relevant in today's music market. The songs sound modern, yet all contain refrences to classic soul, funk, r&b, rock, metal, pop and blues.
Each song is delicately crafted with layerd guitar, vocal harmonies, unique chord changes, brilliant song forms and one of the most flawless production jobs I've ever heard. Its perfect. This album is one of my favorites of all time.
Maybe I'm just crazy and hear something that others don't, but to me it is bizarre to still religiously listen to an album as much as I did years ago, and still feel so much from the harmonic and lyrical content. I urge everyone to check their local used CD store dollar bins for The Brand New Immortal's debut and only full release "Tragic Show". It will alert you about the problems of where music is and where it should go.
Peace.
