Month: April 2022

(DESERT SPOTLIGHT) Fever Dog – Alpha Waves

by desertrockunited3960, posted in Music Reviews

Formed in 2006 in Palm Desert, California, Fever Dog began as three 6th graders in a garage as Snot Rocket (How DIY is that!). Fast forward to 2012 and the band changed their name to Fever Dog and released their first album Volume One. Moving on to 2021 and the band released Alpha Waves. If you like “quadraphonic star ship rides”, this might be your jam!

The opener “Free Wheelin” is a Saturday night party anthem with a pop style chorus, up in the mix background vocals and keyboard fills reminiscent of 70’s glam rock at its finest. Track 3, Alpha Waves with an extended distorted bass groove and spaced out synth/organ wobbles can take you to another place and time. Track 6, “Bruiser!” drives a straight line to T.Rex style vocals and riffing, but it wouldn’t be out of line to suggest Ty Segall as an influence as well.

Track 9, “Mystics of Zanadu” has a Deep Purple feel to it then at 3 minutes in slows down to a Rush style Xanadu passage. The band clearly has an affinity for 70’s glam, rock and in some instances a few prog flourishes. Having said that, the musicianship is first rate and with only three members, this release is a “fantastical sonic tour de force”, of epic proportions.


Lineup
Danny Graham – Guitar, Vocals, Theremin
Jaxson Fischer – Bass
Joshua Adams – Percussion, Organs, Back-up Vocals

Track Listing
1. Freewheelin 04:04
2. Solid Ground 03:44
3. Alpha Waves 07:50
4. Hold On You 03:36
5. Star Power 05:05
6. Bruiser! 03:54
7. The Demon 03:59
8. King of the Street 04:55
9. Mystics of Zanadu 07:10
10. In My Hands 06:44

(DESERT SPOTLIGHT) Fatso Jetson – Archaic Volumes

by desertrockunited3960, posted in Music Reviews

Archaic Volumes is the seventh album from Fatso Jetson, released in 2010 and one of the best releases from the band. The expanded instrumentation with harmonica, saxophone and piano definitely provides the band a chance to flip seamlessly between surf, rock, blues and their signature time shifting break downs. The first track, blues/desert punk jam, “Jet Black Boogie” gets going with Vince Meghrouni’s harmonica layered above the opening guitar riff with great sax and guitar interplay on the outro of the song.

The album closer the moody, psychedelia infused “Monoxide Dreams” has some really great lyrical lines such as, “There’s so much money in those hills, it keeps the hungry coming back, dreams of coffee colored Cadillacs”. Track 5, “Golden Age of Cell Block Slang” has a rock/boogie/swing vibe and when the sax solo kicks in you really feel the groove and may need to get your dance shoes on. If you need your punk fix Track 6 the instrumental, “Here Lies Boomer’s Panic” might be your jam. You’ll get some SST style speed punk beats along with some heavy guitar riffs and some psycho sax lines. With 10 tracks and a run time of 41 minutes there isn’t time for fluff and overall this is a great release.

Track Listing

  1. “Jet Black Boogie” – 4:12
  2. “Play Dead” – 4:48
  3. “Jolting Tales Of Tension” – 3:17
  4. “Archaic Volumes” – 4:39
  5. “Golden Age Of Cell Block Slang” – 4:10
  6. “Here Lies Boomer’s Panic” – 4:52
  7. “Let Go” – 3:51
  8. “Back Road Tar” – 6:20
  9. “Garbage Man” – 3:28
  10. “Monoxide Dreams” – 3:37
  • Mario Lalli – Guitars, vocals
  • Tony Tornay – Drums
  • Larry Lalli – Bass
  • Vince Meghrouni – Harmonica, Saxophone, Vocals
  • Mathias Schneeburger – Organ, Piano
  • Gene Trautman – Drums (track 10)
  • Dino von Lalli – Guitar (track 9)