The Kinks" was released in 1966.) Five local bands (LemonMan & Friends, Al Perry & The Cattle, Sun Zoom Spark, Nowhere Man, Muddy Bug, and local artist Leila Lopez, will pay tribute by covering
the songs of one of the most influential yet underrated bands in rock history...The Kinks.
There have been many tribute shows in Tucson's musical past, but it can be argued that none have conjured the excitement for the music to be performed amongst it's participants, as in this event. To be a Kinks fan, it would seem, is to be a passionate one. Founded by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1961, (the partnership of the siblings is considered to be the most volatile, creative relationship in the history of rock music) The Kinks were part of the mid-sixties phenomena called "The British Invasion."
With hits such as "You Really Got me," "Waterloo Sunset," and "Lola," they continually broke new ground within the confines of the rock genre. They have influenced scores of musicians that span generations, from The Who to Elliot Smith.
Three local musicians, Brad Trojan aka LemonMan, of LemonMan & Friends (formally of The Galactic Federation Of Love), Eric Johnson of Sun Zoom Spark, and Al Perry & The Cattle, sat down with me, (Cozmik Jon Marchand) at Slowburn Studios, (the home of Sun Zoom Spark and The Black Sun Ensemble) to talk about the benefit for KXCI, and the music of The Kinks.
Cozmik Jon I'll start off by asking an obvious
question: How has the music of The Kinks, and the
songwriting of Raymond Douglas Davies influenced you
and your songwriting?
Brad Trojan (LemonMan & Friends) I enjoy his
compositions, his wonderful melodies, his perspectives
and social commentary of the time (the 60s). I also
love the great way he weaves his stories with the
characters he thinks up. He is so good at making
things so personal and so broad to the listener, to
all our lives. It is the most simplistic and
beautiful songwriting when he is at his best.
Cozmik Yeah, you can tell he is often talking
indirectly about himself and his own life, but
deflecting it in a way-communicating his inner world
within a fantasy, a rock and roll one of course.
Al Perry (AL Perry & The Cattle) You know, Ray Davies
was the first guy I really got into as a songwriter.
He just writes such great songs man, all across the
board. You just get the feeling Ray is not into what
everyone else is interested in. When I was a kid in
High School in the early 70s, and I wasn't into sports
or the social scene, songs like "David Watts," really
appealed to me, being an alienated teenager. That
influence carried on into adulthood. The wistfulness
and nostalgia, the social commentary found in the rock
operas like "Preservation," that are just so well
done. He really is a classic songwriter, in the real
sense. More than just a rock sense. I think his
stuff is timeless.
Eric Johnson (Sun Zoom Spark) The Kinks are the cool
Beatles. You have albums where every song is SO
Strong, they almost detract from the record as a
whole. The songs are such perfect little gems of
songwriting, and it is really hard to write a little
pop song.
Cozmik What do you all think stands as the biggest
contribution The Kinks have made to Rock 'N Roll?
Al **** I have to think about that! I just can't
come up with that off the top of my head!
Eric I would have to say solidarity for the working
man. If you think about the other bands of the
sixties, they weren't talking about real things, real
life. Representing the common person was a big thing
for The Kinks.
Brad Right! Also the different styles they would
infuse into the music.
Cozmik They were the first to put in east indian
instrumentation in a rock song with the tune "Fancy,"
a credit mostly attributed to the Fab Four.
Brad They have woven a lot of traditional folk music
as well...These circus-like tunes...He just broke open
the egg and the yoke spilled ut all over the
turntable!
(everyone laughs)
Al Listen to the early stuff, like "You Really Got
Me" and "All Day and All Of The Night," they
practically invented Punk Rock and Heavy Metal right
there. The classic period of 66-69, superior
songwriting! The theatrical things in the early 70's.
Cozmik Yeah, once again, The Kink's "Arthur," was
the first rock opera, although The Who's "Tommy," is
often cited as such.
How do you feel about performing at the benefit for
KXCI, and how hard was it for you to pick the songs
for the gig?
Brad It's great fun! Now that my band has left
me...(laughs)...I'm trying to pick some more obscure
ones, some special ditties for those that may not know
much about The Kinks. Songs that might not have the
mainstream appeal, but are still just as wonderful and
beautiful. I'm very excited to play "Autumn Almanac!"
Eric I could not miss out on an oppurtunity to play
Kinks songs. KXCI has always been a really good
friend to us. We tried to pick songs that cover the
60s, 70s, and 80s, a kind of retrospective. It was a
heart-wrenching task to pick what songs to play.
There are so many great songs.
Al It's always good to do something to help out
KXCI! Especially being a local musician. I can't
think of a more worthy cause. There was a tribute
show every other week there for awhile. I often
thought where are the George Jones, Buck owens, Brian
Wilson tributes? That's why this Kinks this is
so...I'm just happy there is is a really good tribute
night. As far as picking songs-you can just pick up
any Kinks album and stick your finger right there,
because all The Kinks have, are great songs. From the
beginning, all the way through the 80s, man. They were
so consistent. They never really stopped writing great
songs.
- John Paul Marchand, June 2005
For more information on the musicians interviewed:
Al Perry's Clambake can be heard on KXCI every Tuesday
night at Midnight...alperry.net
Sun Zoom Spark: slowburnrecords.net</DIV>
LemonMan : galacticfederationoflove.com</DIV>
Cozmic Jon:
tempestbroog@yahoo.com">tempestbroog@yahoo.com or
kxci.org.
Tempest Broog can be heard on KXCI at 12 am every
Monday morn!
In Stock
Slowburnrecords@aol.com
