SUNDAY’S TWO FOR THE SHOW
A RETURN TO MY ROOTS - CD REVIEWS
TREE FINGERS - Back in the days of Madlins and Java Joz, I could count on seeing a band like Tree Fingers at least four times a month. Now the find of their first CD, ‘Tree Fingers’, came after the Corner Pocket set put on by Ruckus Riot (the latest music show promotion company to hit town), and long after seeing anyone remotely in their music genre. (The encore free show is set for 10/25, same place - Corner Pocket, 8PM). As with some bands, especially local ones, the charm and uniqueness of the band’s CD starts before you hear the songs inside. The DIY CD has a sweet cut-out photo of a pink and white Gladiola glued on the front and back liner cover. The handmade liner brings to mind an art project, done with love, your son or daughter might be turning in as a project to a favorite teacher. The track title listing and artist notes, all separate paper strips glued to the folded liner cover complete the Granny’s Attic look. Inside, the 19 song offering is as pleasing to the ear as the original art design is to the eye. No Emo, hardcore, or straight-edge, in fact, no edge at all. This is a music CD for all the ‘old-timers’ who think anything youthful is strange and unknown. The music made with guitar, ukulele, violin, stand-up bass, melodica, and anything else, harkins you back to Arlo Guthrie and early Bob Dylan, with a little ‘John&Paul’ thrown in for style. Songs like ‘I Don’t Know’ and ‘Redwood Blues’ are very listenable but all the songs are quiet and artful with just enough rawness and freshness to bring a halt to your busy stressed day and slow it down to a rose-scented spacey lullaby. Oft nights I put on the CD and drift off to sweet dreams from it. Catch TF live and lively at their encore show (see above) and pick up their CD, as great to have as to listen to, kind of like a hot girl that can also cook - icing on the cake - and shake the hand of the smiling dad of Nathan Rivera, writer of most of the CD’s songs.
INVERSE - ‘Leave It All’ - At the other end of the local spectrum is the band Inverse. Perhaps because I’ve seen the band often, as recently as last week up in Hollywood at the Viper Room, in fact, I may tend to take them for granted, sort of. Couple that with the knowledge that I am also linked in business with one of the band’s members, well, you get my drift. However, with the group’s new EP release titled ‘Leave It All’, I felt I had to call attention back to the band, their songwriting talent, and the music chops they do so well. It’s is hard to describe the band’s sound much beyond Indy rock ‘n’ roll without going to their myspace and you can do that here. The new CD has but one downside, and that is, it is not long enough, there should be more songs on it. All the songs, of which there are five, are radio friendly by being under four minutes in length, and very catchy in tunage, memorable for the hooks. However, track #3, ‘The Last Night’, a medium speed power ballad, is a ‘bullet’ if it gets any radio play. The next two tracks would make great side ‘B’ hits, which show how deep the bench of songwriting is for this always popular band that delighted all the Kniting Factory (Hollywood) fans a couple of weeks ago after a grandslam show at the Trevi Entertainment Center in Lake Elsinore put together by Wade (the Underground Recording Studios). The CD is as handsomely packaged as the group photo inside, and shows the level of sophistication that this local group has reached. Be sure and check out where these guys are playing next, and pick up their latest effort at bringing smiles and expert musicianship to the new music market.