Archives: April 14, 2004
Bastards Torch Northside
Up-and-coming band swaggers in the shadows of the greats
By Chris St. Charles
Queen City Forum Magazine staff writer
Well, it was the two-year anniversary of the Northside Tavern. In honor, loyal patrons were treated to a set by The Heartless Bastards, an amazing power alt-rock trio from the now fabled land of Dayton, Ohio. The reason Dayton has become “fabled” is because it is also home to Guided By Voices and The Breeders, among many others who have slaved in the “ghetto” bar pits.
|
The Heartless Bastards Stairs and Elevators album review in Rolling Stone online also pick up the story on the local band reaching the heights in this week's Rolling Stone at news stands
|
|
As far as the performance, no one could have asked for anything more befitting a celebration. Their sound is like taking a 3:00 in the morning, 90 mph ride in a Mustang convertible with the top down through the forbidden parts of town. All you’re able to feel is your most valuable possession (blood) swelling to the aural canals and the wind slapping your face as you hold on for dear life.
They are “the next big thing.” Trust me.
The “Bastards” are fronted, were created and are vaporizing the nation because of guitarist/songwriter/vocalist Erika Wennerstrom. She is the heart and soul of the operation as well as a master of drop D tuning. Her songs have the amazing power of a Marshall stack and the grace of a ballerina (I know she won’t appreciate being compared to a ballerina, but this is my column, and I wallow in musical honesty.) Her lyrics speak of love and angst without being sappy or even condescending. Considering the market value of teen angst and other dead horses in today’s corporate-engineered teenage pseudo-rebellion, the Bastards are a welcome breath of fresh air.
Wennerstrom exudes musical honesty. Songs like “Pass and Fail,” “Autonomy” and “The Will Song” express maturity beyond years mixed with the bounding energy of life at the beginning of the trail. But don’t take my word for it. |
In the inset of The Heartless Bastards $5 demo EP, sold only at the shows, she penned, “My Name is Erika Wennerstrom. I’m 25 years old and from Dayton, Ohio. I’ve wanted to be a songwriter and performer since I was born. I wrote all the songs on this CD and played most of the instruments.” The demo is a bargain considering you’ll have to pay $15 to $20 in the not-too-distant future, most of the cash going to the greedy, slime-like reptiles commonly referred to as record executives. I won’t blame them for eventually taking the deal; everybody has a price, including music journalists and everyone who wears a tie to work.
The Heartless Bastards are rounded out by the slick, acid-drenched and frenetic drums of Dave Colvin and the melodic, fat and piercing bass of Mike Lamping. Both of them have been at least as much schooled in The Who and Zeppelin as they have in The Stooges or any other “must be cool because the music intelligentsia says they are” old-school punk outfit.
Remember young hipster wannabes, it’s ok to like the classics, and it’s even better to emulate them. Good is Good no matter what “Spin” pimps you. On top of that, you should never trust a music magazine founded by the son of a smut peddler. Not that there’s necessarily anything wrong with smut peddling; you just shouldn’t insert art in that paradigm.
Links
Contact Information
|
