Editor’s Note: Once again as part of our new reoccurring tuesday segment. We offer some tracks from Gainesville artists for your listening pleasure. Most of the songs I will post come from recordings that are free for download and also ones that have been made very recently. The idea behind Tuesday playlist is to give you an idea of what is happening in Gainesville’s recording industry. Suggestions are always welcome, enjoy!
“This Must Be The Place” (Talking Heads Cover) – Pseudo Kids
I’m posting this song because it’s one of my absolute favorites; not just by Talking Heads but anybody. Lyrically, it’s just as heartbreaking as any song Roy Orbison or Otis Redding ever wrote, but musically it makes you want to dance, bob your head or just move. It’s an interesting combo that Pseudo Kids seem to understand. This recording was made live at Rob McGregor’s Goldentone Studio in Gainesville, FL. Pseudo Kids realized the groove oriented nature of this song, leaving the drums and bass to carry most of the load, sprinkling in Rhodes piano and guitar to carry any melody left behind by the vocals. In terms of vulnerability these lyrics are stark naked, and Scott Kauffmann sings them like a newborn crawling for the first time; unsure, curious and brave. You can download the rest of the Live From Goldentone Studio recordings as well as the previously released Lost Year EP for free here.
“Old Black Shuck ” – Waylon Thornton and the Heavy Hands
Waylon Thornton and the Heavy Hands can claim a couple of things in the Gainesville music scene. First, the band is probably the only man and wife combo playing consistently in this town. And secondly, this isn’t some James Taylor/Carly Simon, Sonny/Cher type music. This is the stuff that’s born from wacky, sinister outlandish worlds better suited for a Todd McFarlane comic, not Gainesville. Thornton self describes the music as “what a sunburn feels like.” Although I’m typically against these analogies because they very often make sense, I couldn’t help but smile when listening to this track. It’s got a swampy, psychobilly strut to it. The scream in the beginning makes me think of a pasty, sunburnt beachgoer jumping into the shower after a long day in the sun and feeling that first sizzle of hot water on their skin. The rest of the album, Sixteen Dreams plays out in a similar fashion. It’s thirteen tracks of head-splitting guitar riffs with grimey reverb, chunky drum rhythms and fuzz-laiden vocals. To call it swamp rock would strip the music of its horrific charm. So rather than continue to find adjectives, I’ll just let you listen to the fucking songs. You can download them here for free.
“Little Devils” – Deputy
“Little Devils” is the kind of riff that girls get undressed to. It’s raunchy and it’s supposed to be. Maybe that’s why Chris Hillman, drummer for Morningbell and temporary side man for many other bands, is Gainesville’s sole purveyor of sleazerock. Deputy is the bedroom project that’s making sleazerock happen. He uses crunchy guitar tones, simple blues-oriented riffs and lots of attitude. After all, the difference between great rock n’ roll and the pretenders is attitude. Hillman eventually plans to take Deputy to the stage, but hasn’t found a bar divey enough to fit the music. A full length album from Deputy is also coming soon, so stay tuned.
Stay tuned for next week’s Tuesday playlist, and as always leave a comment!
