Author/journalist Joel Gausten talks with NJ Punk/Oi! scene veteran Tommy B. (Squad Car Vandals) about his history in music and his experiences promoting shows at the '90s-era venue The Clubhouse.
EMAIL JOEL at gaustenbooks@gmail.com
Tuesday, July 30, 2024
Sunday, July 28, 2024
Real Gone the RIGHT Way: Lindi Ortega and Jack Barksdale Reimagine Tom Waits
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| Jack Barksdale and Lindi Ortega (photo courtesy of Reybee, Inc.) |
It ain’t easy covering Tom Waits.
When you strip away the guy’s notorious voice—basically the sound of someone who washes down three packs of Camels with a gallon of gasoline every day—it’s clear that the world’s most beloved sonic drunkle writes from the soul. Waits’ lyrics have always struck a delicate balance between the sordid and the saintly, brilliantly flowing from glorifying the gutter to capturing the quiet sadness of love gone by. With so many treasures throughout Waits’ decades-long discography, it makes sense that plenty of artists have tried their hand at covering a few of them over the years—but not all these acts have succeeded in getting the feel right. Rod Stewart’s radio smash rendition of “Downtown Train” was epic, beautifully produced, vibrant, soaring, and all wrong. (Don’t even get me started on The Eagles’ “Ol’ ’55.”) Apart from Patty Griffin’s flawlessly heart-wrenching interpretation of “Ruby’s Arms,” the 2019 tribute album Come On Up to the House: Women Sing Waits was a listless borefest perfect for drive-time NPR but utterly useless for 3 a.m. self-immolation.
Thankfully, some acts actually got it. The Ramones’ cover of “I Don’t Wanna Grow Up” is The Ramones covering “I Don’t Wanna Grow Up” (and thus excluded from all possible scrutiny on principle), while the brightest moments on actress Scarlett Johanssen’s 2008 album of Waits remakes, Anywhere I Lay My Head, are left-field beauties that could have easily found a comfortable home on the classic 4AD roster. (Fellow actress Megan Mullally has also taken on Waits with admirable aplomb.)
Canadian singer/songwriter Lindi Ortega and Texas-based singer/guitarist Jack Barksdale are two more artists who do the man justice. While not a household name in the U.S. (yet), Ortega has been steadily releasing stellar noir-tinged Country music for years. (Think a gothy Emmylou Harris doing the soundtrack for a Lynch film—then give this video a watch/listen.) One of the most promising young (and I mean young) talents in music today, Barksdale released his first studio album, 2022’s Death of a Hummingbird, at the ripe old age of 14. Recently, the pair released their collaborative reimagining of Waits’ “How’s It Gonna End” (off 2004’s Real Gone) and “Yesterday Is Here” (off 1987’s Frank’s Wild Years).
The results are extraordinary. Check these out:
Interview Pt. 2 with B.T. (THE WRETCHED ONES/THE BURNT/ARTESANZ)
In this second installment of a three-part interview, author/journalist Joel Gausten talks with guitarist and New Jersey Punk/Oi! music scene veteran B.T. (The Wretched Ones/The Burnt/Artesanz) about the history of The Wretched Ones.
EMAIL JOEL at gaustenbooks@gmail.com
Interview with DAN LORENZO (HADES/NON-FICTION/PATRIARCHS IN BLACK)
Author/journalist Joel Gausten talks with veteran Metal guitarist Dan Lorenzo (Hades/Non-Fiction/The Cursed/Vessel of Light/Cassius King) about Patriarchs in Black, his project with drummer Johnny Kelly (Type O Negative/Quiet Riot/Danzig).
EMAIL JOEL at gaustenbooks@gmail.com
Interview with JOHN BOMBER (SEIZURE/SONIC SUPERCHARGER 66/DUMPSTER DIVE ZINE)
In this two-part interview, author/journalist Joel Gausten talks with musician, zine publisher, and Connecticut underground Punk/Hardcore scene veteran John Bomber (Seizure/Sonic Supercharger 66/"Dumpster Dive" zine) about his decades-long history in music.
Part 1:
Part 2:
EMAIL JOEL at gaustenbooks@gmail.com
Sunday, July 21, 2024
Interview with RON KEEL (KEEL/STEELER/BLACK SABBATH/SOLO)
Author/journalist Joel Gausten talks with veteran singer Ron Keel (Keel/Steeler/Black Sabbath/Ron Keel Band/IronHorse/Fair Game/Solo) about his fantastic new album KEELWORLD, the first new Steeler recording in 40 years, his brief stint fronting Black Sabbath, and his longevity in the music industry.
Links in the Video Description
EMAIL JOEL at gaustenbooks@gmail.com
Interview Pt. 1 with B.T. (THE WRETCHED ONES/THE BURNT/ARTESANZ)
In this first installment of a three-part interview, author/journalist Joel Gausten talks with guitarist and New Jersey Punk/Oi! music scene veteran B.T. (The Wretched Ones/The Burnt/Artesanz) about the early history of The Burnt and the start of The Wretched Ones.
EMAIL JOEL at gaustenbooks@gmail.com
Thursday, July 18, 2024
Interview with CHIP Z'NUFF (ENUFF Z'NUFF)
Author/journalist Joel Gausten talks with Chip Z’Nuff about the current status of Enuff Z’Nuff, playing in Missing Persons and Adler’s Appetite, his friendship with singer Jack Russell (Jack Russell's Great White), performing and recording with the late Jim Ellison of Material Issue, and more.
Links in the Video Description
EMAIL JOEL at gaustenbooks@gmail.com
Friday, July 12, 2024
Interview with REV. CHAD WELLS (THE JACKALOPES/CRICKETBOWS/THE CREEPY CRAWLERS)
Author/journalist Joel Gausten talks with Rev. Chad Wells (The Jackalopes/Cricketbows/The Creepy Crawlers/Carcass on the Highway/HorrorShock Records) about his history in music and tattooing.
Links in the Video Description
EMAIL JOEL at gaustenbooks@gmail.com
Sunday, July 7, 2024
Interview with AFZAAL DEEN (CRISIS/STALWART/MASTER'S ASHES)
Author/journalist Joel Gausten talks with veteran guitarist Afzaal Deen (Crisis/Skullsick Nation/Stalwart/The Angels Whispered Danger/Son of the Soil) about his history in music and his latest project, Master’s Ashes (with former members of White Zombie, Voivod, and Crowbar).
Links in the Video Description
EMAIL JOEL at gaustenbooks@gmail.com
Monday, July 1, 2024
Interview with MATT G. PARADISE (THE ACCUSATION NETWORK)
Author/journalist Joel Gausten talks with content creator Matt G. Paradise about his popular Metal-themed YouTube channel, The Accusation Network, and asks him for his thoughts on a variety of genre-related topics.
EMAIL JOEL at gaustenbooks@gmail.com