Sometimes I come home and think that this whole city I live in is just awful. I don't mean the job, that's part of it too. I mean all the people who are desperately searching for their next fix, all the folks with their "What are you looking at?" faces, all the unfriendliness, the gray uniformity, and the dirt on the streets.
Do I really need this?
Still deep in thought, I put on the new record by SMOKEY BASTARD from Reading in the UK, and I was curious whether the band could improve my mood.
How fitting that the opener of the album is called "Wasteland".
This song really kicks off and can be seen as a Celtic-Irish punk rock hit that will especially get the place boiling live, I'm convinced of that. Besides the music that makes you want to dance, the lyrics also convinced me.
And then everything happened quickly; by the third chorus, I thought of my hometown and agreed with myself that this is indeed my home. SMOKEY BASTARD sing,
…this wasteland is our home…
There are many places one can live, but this place is my home, and it's here in my city. After listening to the song, I felt much better.
“Token Folkin“ takes the tempo down a bit at first but then kicks off as a nice sing-along number in mid-tempo. Here you can already hear the elaborate arrangements of the band, which seem to work together as if several melodic factions are autonomous yet determined. The influence of traditional music from the northern islands of Great Britain and Ireland is unmistakable, as evidenced by the use of mandolin, whistle, and accordion.
Two musicians join the instruments who also act as singers, along with four musicians contributing background vocals.
A truly hot mix. One could also call it musical speed from the UK.
I'm surprised myself, but SMOKEY BASTARD resemble few other bands from the scene. For some, they are too dirty, for others too fast, for others too traditional, and for others simply an overdose. In some ways, the group might be seen as traditional PIPES & PINTS. At least the fast songs go in that direction, although the Czechs from PIPES & PINTS don't have the traditional instruments that give the sound something unique.
The fifth song “My Son John“ begins with just their singing. If anyone hasn't noticed by then, they must realize here that the guys can all sing damn well.
It's moving what the band lets resonate from the speakers in “My Son John“.
In “Boatepitaph“, the singing becomes almost choral. I'm thrilled-
It's truly amazing what the band offers on “Tales from the Wasteland“ and in what musical and vocal class it is presented.
SMOKEY BASTARD are worth remembering and visiting on their next tour.
Recently, they made a little detour to the mainland; let's fervently hope it wasn't their last trip.
