Instantly familiar and blowing in like a breath of fresh air, Spirit Kid Is Happening has quickly found a place in my heart. Take a listen below. “Slow It Down” flat out smokes. “Is This Heaven” is a slow dance suckerpunch. “Making Excuses” would make The Raspberries proud. Singling out a few songs isn’t doing the rest of them justice. They all find their sweet spot and deliver the goods. Is Happening is a garage pop masterpiece.
Is Happening is available as a 12″ black vinyl record with a beautiful full cover jacket. You can also pick it up as a CD or digital download.
“Jenny” was the song of the 2014 Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble. I can’t get it out of my head. It’s punk tough and Thin Lizzy cool. It’s got killer harmonies and singable guitar melodies. “Jenny” has it all. There’s even a ‘scuse-me-while-I-kiss-this-guy level misunderstood lyric. Goddamn Draculas had me grinning ear to ear every time they played it. I can’t thank ’em enough.
Haunting and intimate, “Under The Alders” is one of the songs that really stuck with me during the 2014 Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble. Released just before the start of the event, Doom Lover conjure ghosts with theremin and guitar delay on this track. An eerie groove underscores the delicately intertwined harmonies. There’s an intensity to “Under The Alders” that is present even in the quiet parts. It stays with you. Close your eyes. You’ll dream of Doom Lover tonight.
Will Dailey closed out the final Rock-n-Romp of the season. This guy is loaded with talent. I want to say he’s a natural up on stage, but I suspect there’s a lot of hard work involved, too. Will and his band engaged young and not-so-young alike with heartfelt tunes* and an easy going way.
A rainy Saturday was the perfect time to squeeze in one more Rock-n-Romp for the season. Destry got things going at The Sinclair with their laid back, ’60s-inspired pop.
Anngelle Wood, a Motherbravo and a Goddamn Dracula.
Another Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble has come and gone. The 35th one. It’s amazing when anything lasts for 35 years these day.* A big part of the Rumble’s recent resurgence is because of the lady in the picture above. Anngelle Wood has a passion for this whole Rumble thing that we all benefit from. She’s good at it, too. Lucky us.
Congratulations to Goddamn Draculas! You’re the 2014 Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble Champs! You earned it. Every time I thought there was no way you could top yourselves, you did. If that isn’t a recipe for Rumble success I don’t know what is. Of course, the killer three part harmonies didn’t hurt. Thanks to all 24 acts that kept us entertained night after night. The bands in this town really are something special.
So concludes our coverage of the 2014 Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble. I went to every night. I had a good time. I took some pictures. I hope I captured a few of the memorable moments.
