Laden Swallow

It's rare that I actually have something to say about a band from my own corner of Northern California, but I want to tip alert readers off to this young new band, Laden Swallow. They're releasing their debut album, Awaken, this Friday [UPDATE: here's my feature in the Times-Standard]. They used to be kind of a jangly pop band, but they recently obtained a heavy metal drummer (apologies to Wilco) and started rocking too hard. But one of their singer's influences is the late, great PFR, and so he can write sentimental but un-schlocky gems like "Blast Off," which I'd like to share with you.

Laden Swallow - Blast Off

Mark Staley, the songwriter, uses obvious wordplay in a lot of his songs, but he uses it so carefully that it doesn't come off as cheesy. This song uses the numbers 1-10 and then 10-1 (in that order) in the chorus, and man, it works. There's also a lot of interesting fodder on this record for people who like to trace the influences of the Christian faith in rock and roll -- dude obviously has some, uh, issues with Christianity ("Supertele"), but can also write anguished and ambiguous about faith ("Awaken").

The show:

May, 18 2007 at Azalea Hall, 1620 Pickett Road, McKinleyville, 95519
Laden Swallow w/ Strix Vega, Steel Toed Slippers and Try-Blynd
$6