Rock Torch

King Khan recommends Jeff Clarke

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King Khan and Jeff Clarke

King Khan and Jeff Clarke

King Khan’s artist recommendation: “There are often many unsung musical heroes who never seem to get the credit that they deserve. Jeff Clarke is one of those heroes. During the past 15 years he has branded his own type of psychedelic country rock n’ roll such that world has never heard before.

I remember meeting Jeff Clarke in 2002 in Montreal when the Demon’s Claws first shared the stage with King Khan & BBQ. Watching them play made my mouth drop, it felt like discovering the Rolling Stones! They managed to capture the raw power of pure unhinged rock ‘n’ roll and add to it a gunslingin’, whiskey drinkin, severed-head-on-a-stake kinda swagger the likes of Merle Haggard, Billy the Kid and Conan the Barbarian all in one!!!

The reign of the Demon’s Claws was one that was wrought with many accidents and bumps along the road but what they left was a huge stain across North America and Europe. They were a part of the origins of the “Death Cult” along the likes of the Black Lips, Jay Reatard, King Khan & BBQ, the Gris Gris and the Spits. In fact in many ways they were the outlaws amongst the outlaws. Their unruly hedonistic behaviour was stuff that legends were made of and subsequently had them banned from many clubs and feared by many promoters. The truth of the matter is that the sound that Jeff Clarke “not-so-innocently” unearthed nearly a decade ago has influenced so many of the young groups of today. There would be no Acid Baby Jesus if Jeff Clarke hadn’t inseminated rock n roll with his fertile seed.

His new incarnation goes by the name of Hellshovel where he has teamed up with an international team of players. Their sound invokes both demons and angels. This time around Jeff Clarke’s songwriting has truly evolved and embraced a new level of fiction. Imagine Walyon Jennings being sucked up into an orgasmatronic UFO and surrounded by light beings that poked and prodded him.

Could Jeff Clarke be the Arthur C. Clarke of modern Rock n Roll? Is Hellshovel that great black monolith in the sky that will have all the primates crushing each others bones over? All that can be really done is celebrate that we are amidst a true living legend in his prime. If his music isn’t enough to draw you into his world then try his avant-garde paintings or perhaps his incredible comic art. Whatever form of Jeff Clarke you chose to try it will leave you with a very strong taste in your mouth and might change your life forever.”

King KhanAbout our guest author, King Khan: Spy the image of King Khan in his wacky merman warrior helmet on the front page of his website or read about how he mooned Lindsay Lohan and it’s easy to think of the guy as some sort of camp novelty act. Don’t be misled. Khan, born Arish Ahmad Khan, has been creating great garage-funk-rock since he joined The Spaceshits in 1996 and has collaborated with the likes of The Black Lips (they were all part of a side project called The Almighty Defenders) and has performed with GZA of Wu-Tang Clan. Khan is now touring behind his new album, Idle No More that sounds like spaced out tour through rock and soul’s most exciting music, making stops at the exits for James Brown, Sun Ra, The Velvets and The Rolling Stones. His touring band, The Shrines, will simply blow you apart with an assault of precision percussion from Ron Streeter (who previously supported Curtis Mayfield and Stevie Wonder) and a blazing horn section led by Torben Wesche (tenor sax) and Frederic Brissaud (baritone sax). Check the YouTube clip below to see what you’re in for and then check the King Khan and the Shrines tour page to see the 2013 dates that are closing in on your home town.

Kelsey Wilson of Wild Child recommends Holiday Mountain

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Kelsey Wilson of Wild Child and Holiday Mountain

Kelsey Wilson of Wild Child (r) and Holiday Mountain

Kelsey Wilson’s recommendation: “The only music I listen to most of the time is music that was made at least thirty years ago. Nothing moves me more than the high priestess of soul, Nina Simone, or some good old-fashioned Stevie or Aretha. I grew up dancing in my living room to Curtis Mayfield, The Meters, and Sly and the Family Stone, and even now, funk, reggae and soul are still what wakes me up in the morning (literally – Sly’s, If You Want Me To Stay is my alarm clock).

That being said, within the last couple of weeks, I was introduced to a band from here in Austin called Holiday Mountain. Their album, Become Who You Are is the best thing I’ve heard in AGES. It’s the perfect combination of funk, reggae, soul, and a little something you’ve never heard before, that makes it impossible for you, or at least for me, not to wiggle around like an idiot.

The vocals are so perfect, kind of goofy, and listening to them you can’t help but smile and remember that music should always be made from love. You realize that the lyrics don’t really matter if the melody, rhythm or something else about the song makes you happy and makes you feel something when you hear it. Their lyrics are incredibly unique and uplifting, almost chant-like at times. Every once in a while the vocalist will just make silly noises that are so perfect it gives you chills.

I think as a musician, the most infectious thing you can do on stage is just smile and actually enjoy what you’re doing. People can hear it in your voice. That’s something I’m constantly reminding myself to do when I’m playing, and I’ve almost never seen any band do this more naturally or effortlessly than Holiday Mountain. Seeing them play reminds me to write and play and sing with passion, have FUN doing it (even if it doesn’t look cool), and remember that if you love making it, someone will probably love hearing it for that reason alone.”

Kelsey WilsonAbout our guest author, Kelsey Wilson: Yes, we jumped on the Wild Child bandwagon when we heard that the mighty Ben Kweller was slated to produce their sophomore album, The Runaround, but honestly, we should have been on top of this one sooner. Kelsey and Alexander Beggins are the co-leads of the band and they simply killed it with their debut album, Pillow Talk and the press responded appropriately. “By far one of the best albums to be released this year,” exclaimed KUT, Austin’s premiere radio station, a sentiment that was repeated by IndieShuffle and The Austin Statesman. If that praise doesn’t sway you, know that they also just cleaned up at the 2013 Austin Music Awards where they took home the awards for Best Indie Band and Best Folk Band. Simple arrangements, flawless harmonies and songs of heartbreak filled the first effort, but imagine injecting a fuller sound and Ben Kweller into the mix? Damn…the possibilities are endless. Be sure to keep up with the latest band news and tour dates at the Wild Child official band site

Amy Ziff of BETTY recommends The Barry Sisters (and others)

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Amy Ziff of Betty and The Barry Sisters

Amy Ziff of BETTY and The Barry Sisters

Amy Ziff’s recommendation: “I’m inspired by so many artists, including Joni Mitchell, Marlene Dietrich, Judy Garland, Edith Piaf, Francoise Hardy, and some of today’s artists such as JD Samson, Jane Siberry, Tracy Bonham, Sia, to name just a few. One of my favorite groups is The Barry Sisters. I respond to their expression of truth and soul in songs and lyrics and phrasing. Just a simple note or breath or sigh sung by these artists, changes the way I feel about something in my life at any given time.”

New to The Barry Sisters? Amy suggests you start here: “My parents played At Home With The Barry Sisters for me and my siblings when I was growing up. Listening to them sing, made me want to pursue Life as a singer and performer. And here I am, in a band with my own sister and best friend for more than 20 years…still loving what we do together and how we make music and travel the world. Long live rock n roll.”

Amy ZiffAbout our guest author, Amy Ziff: Amy is the lead vocalist for BETTY, the pop/funk band that formed in the ’80s in Washington, DC and later migrated to New York City. Some may know the band for their theatrical performances of BETTY:Inside Out and BETTY RULES (directed by Michael Greif (Rent). Others may know them from their appearances on The L Word (the show for which they also wrote the theme song for) or their performances at gay rights rallies and breast cancer benefits. But theater, fund raisers and television are only parts of the BETTY puzzle. They also have eight studio under their belt, the latest being Bright & Dark, a collection that is produced by David Maurice (Garbage) and features a vocal collaboration with Kate Pierson of the B52s. The album is consistently packed with whip smart stories (watch the Did You Tell Her clip below to get the feel) and shifts effortlessly in styles, from funked up grooves to grungy guitars. Be sure to cath their fantastic live shows by checking hellobetty.com for tour dates.

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