The Weeklings Inspired Take on "I'm On Fire"

The Weeklings are a terrific New Jersey based band who are well-known for their sterling interpretations and re-imaginings of the music of The Beatles. The group also creates fantastic original power pop music in the spirit of their British Invasion heroes. Their album 3 is one of the best power pop records of the last decade. They released a video for their marvelous rendition of The Fab Four's “I’ve Just Seen A Face” earlier this year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGlfZ6up7NI. 

The band’s latest single (on JEM Records) is a superb re-invention of a memorable Bruce Springsteen song. “I’m On Fire,” a classic track from the album Born in the USA, rose to number 6 on the charts in 1985. The Weeklings take this brooding, intense number and re-imagine it as an all out rockabilly rave up. Yes, you read that right. The band reworks “I’m On Fire” into an old school rocker, complete with James Burton-esque guitar and vocals that recall early rock and roll heroes like Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran. This splendiferous, electrifying revamp of a much revered tune from The Boss is one of the most electrifying covers I've heard in a very long time.

The Weeklings "I'm On Fire" is a brilliant version of an iconic song that takes it in an entirely different, but tremendously exciting and compelling direction. I think it’ll get stuck in your head, and you’ll find yourself wondering why no one's ever thought of this idea before. Kudos to Glen Burtnik, aka Lefty Weekling, on bass and vocals, Bob Burger, aka Zeek Weekling, on rhythm guitar and vocals, John Merjave, aka Rocky Weekling on lead guitar and vocals, and Joe Bellia, aka Smokestack Weekling, on drums and vocals, for making this left field (but truly inspired) cover of "I'm On Fire" work so well. Check out the video for for the song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rO43E2LFc8o.
 

A High Energy "Rattled Humming Heart"

When I reviewed Red Letter Glow, the debut album from The Midnight Callers back in 2020, I waxed rhapsodically about the band, their well-crafted songs, and their fantastic sound, a perfect fusion of classic rock and power pop, featuring a touch of punk. The band is back with their sophomore release, Rattled Humming Heart, which will be released June 23rd on JEM Records. I’m here to tell you that Red Letter Glow was no fluke. Rattled Humming Heart is one of the best rock and roll records I’ve heard this year.

“New York Tramp,” the album’s opening salvo, explodes with a hard-driving guitar and drum attack, amplified with some terrific vocals, wrapped up in a song that will remind you of vintage Cheap Trick. Rattled Humming Heart is positively drenched in the sounds of classic rock and power pop, with a bit of glam added to the mix. If you’re a fan of T-Rex, The Raspberries, Badfinger, Big Star, Queen, Dwight Twilley and Tom Petty, you’ll find tunes such as “Closer” and “Without Ya” absolutely hitting your sweet spot. Songs like “Step!” and “Baby Let Me Be” will warm the hearts of power pop fans everywhere, and have them quickly reaching for the replay button.

The Midnight Callers also know how to rock out, as evidenced by the boisterous “What Goes Around,” and the high-energy “Little Runaround.” In addition to the classic rock influences which permeate this must-have release, there’s a modern rock vibe on songs like “Girl On The Run” and “Colors," which has a bit of an Alarm-like feel to it. It’s hard to pick favorites on an album filled with such splendid tunes, but I really dig the synergy of wonderful lyrics, vocals and instrumental work on “The Plan,” and the acoustic-laced “Maggie,” a pair of love songs that have a lot of heart, and amply display the versatility of this outstanding band.

The group may wear their influences on their sleeves, but they’re not a copycat act. Their passion for creating extraordinary music is evident throughout Rattled Humming Heart, illustrated by their top-notch playing, as well as their superb songwriting skills. The band’s stellar lineup consists of Chris Paine on rhythm guitar and vocals, Marley Myrianthopoulos on bass and vocals, Martin Stubbs on lead guitar and vocals, and Julien Budrino on drums and vocals. The album was produced and mixed by the uber-talented Kurt Reil (of Grip Weeds fame), who did a phenomenal job working with the band, helping them craft a disc that’s even better than their impressive debut.

The Midnight Callers aren’t jaded rockers going through the motions, they’re excellent musicians at the peak of their powers, both as players and songwriters. This band is clearly dedicated to crafting first class rock and roll. Rattled Humming Heart fulfills the promise of Red Letter Glow, and shows us that the best is yet to come from these New York City based rockers. For more on The Midnight Callers and Rattled Humming Heart, head over to JEM Records: https://www.jemrecordings.com/.

A Spectrum of "Periodic Boyfriends"

Drew Pisarra is a well-regarded author who has written about the emotional and erotic aspects of queer love in works such as the powerful poetry cycle Infinity Standing Up (2019), and the engaging and affecting short story collection You’re Pretty Gay (2021). His latest work is Periodic Boyfriends, a collection of witty, insightful and passionate examinations of his romantic adventures. Many of us, queer or straight, have likely jotted down some memories regarding our past fling and flirtations, but I’m sure most of us haven’t done so in the form of sonnets. We certainly haven’t organized and titled them after the entries in the periodic table of elements, as Pisarra cleverly does in this new collection.

The eloquent and masterfully constructed sonnets in Periodic Boyfriends will by turns bring a smile to your face, a tear to your eye, and perhaps inspire memories of your own adventures in the dating (or hook-up) arena. Pisarra openly shares the desires and emotions which he felt during (and after) these couplings, and offers some reflective musings on his encounters. These poems are witty, sardonic, romantic, and imbued with a strong sense of the passion he felt during these experiences. The cleverly constructed poems in this collection are deeply infused with trenchant observations about his partners, and sharply sketched details about the location of the trysts.

Pisarra is an innately talented writer, and pulls no punches in these ingenious sonnets, which are tinged with a humor, ardor,  a sense of (occasional) regret, and some perceptive ruminations on love, lust and the white-hot combustibility of sexual attraction. It’s no simple feat to make this format work so well, but Pisarra succeeds admirably, and I think you’ll find yourself regularly re-visiting these well-crafted poems. Some of my favorites include “Krypton,” “Thallium” and “Nihonium,” but the entire spectrum of Periodic Boyfriends is worthy of exploration.

In addition to his masterful poetry and short fiction, Pisarra has penned several excellent plays, and written and performed some acclaimed one-man shows, including Singularly Grotesque and The Gospel According to Saint Genet. I highly recommend checking out Periodic Boyfriends, which is available from Capturing Fire Press, as well as seeking out his other work.

A Horror Movie Survival Primer

Have you ever been watching a horror film, and wanted to shout at the screen when a character does something supremely silly, like walking into that spooky, abandoned (and obviously haunted) house, picked up the cursed object they've been told to stay away from, or even (as Scream so aptly illustrated) answered the phone? Then you've got to check out Seth Grahame-Smith's skillfully written How To Survive A Horror Movie, a humorous look at all the best ways to stay alive if you're find out you're trapped in a scary movie. It's a fun look at all of the cliches, tropes and oft-repeated scenarios that are featured in many of the horror films that fans love, or love to hate.

Grahame-Smith knows his away around a horror tale, having penned the novels Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter. He was also a producer on the big-screen adaptation of Stephen King's It, and wrote the screenplay for the Tim Burton version of the classic horror soap opera, Dark Shadows. This lovingly crafted guide to surviving the "Terrorverse" will bring a smile to the face of lovers of cinematic murder, dread and tales of unstoppable supernatural forces. You'll find out how to identify the type of slashers you might be dealing with, and how to handle killer cars, murderous dolls and zombie apocalypses.

How To Survive A Horror Movie is a tongue-in-cheek tome will educate you on how to recognize some of the most common threats in horror films. Learn about how to survive the killer consequences of that deadly hit and run you were involved in (and tried to cover up) last summer, or how to make it thru summer at the camp you're attending, which has played host to a machete-wielding killer in the past. Grahame-Smith is a lifelong fan of horror movies, and it shows. If you need to know "How To Survive A Night of Babysitting" or "How To Defeat A Killer Doll," then this not so deadly serious primer is the book for you.

I laughed out loud several times while reading this entertaining book during a recent vacation, and found myself flipping back to re-read some of the sections a second time. There are some nicely done illustrations throughout, and a handy guide to some of Grahame-Smith's favorite horror films, so that you can program a little festival of the movies he considers the best of the genre. I think you'll have a lot of fun reading How To Survive A Horror Movie. After all, this might be the only place you can find out "What To Do If Your Corn Has Children In It" and "How to Tell If You've Been Dead Since The Beginning of the Movie," so pick up a copy today. I promise it isn't a cursed book.

The Devil, The Tower, The Star, The Moon: A Fabulous Album from The Anderson Council

The Anderson Council, those New Jersey purveyors of psychedelic flavored rock/pop, are back with The Devil, The Tower, The Star, The Moon, a spectacular new record, which just might be their best release yet. That’s high praise, considering their previous efforts, which include terrific albums such as Worlds Collide and Looking At The Stars, are top notch efforts in their own right. You can always count on an Anderson Council disc to deliver some of the best psychedelic rock and power pop inspired songs you’ll hear anywhere, and The Devil, The Tower, The Star, The Moon delivers a dozen of them.

The Devil, The Tower, The Star, The Moon kicks off with the fanciful “Tarot Toronto,” a guitar-driven number that, like many of the band’s songs, wears its 1960s influences proudly on its sleeve. That awesome opener is only the appetizer on a full menu of top notch tracks mixing psychedelia, pop and straight ahead rock. You’ll groove to tunes such as the sunshine pop of “Million Miles A Day,” the British rock infused “Times On Thames,” the sprightly “Messes Up My Mind,” and the modern rock sounds permeating “Sunday Afternoon.” There’s even a dash of country on the delightful “Untrained Eyes.”

Peter Horvath, the leader of The Anderson Council, co-wrote the songs on The Devil, The Tower, The Star, The Moon with Michael Temkin and Dawn Eden Goldstein. Much of the songwriting work occurred over texts, emails and FaceTime during a three year period, from 2019 to 2021. The album also showcases the work of two new band members, drummer Scott Jones and guitarist Michael Potenza, who join lead vocalist/guitarist Horvath and bassist Simon Burke to form the group’s new lineup. The Anderson Council are outstanding musicians, and they all sound magnificent. The one and only Kurt Reil (of Grip Weeds fame) guest stars on percussion, keys and vocals, and helped Peter and the band with production on the record.

The album definitely showcases Horvath’s passion for late 1960’s pop and rock. If you love groups like The Beatles, The Zombies, The Creation and Pink Floyd, you’ll find much to enjoy on this record. As much as Horvath pays homage to these much beloved bands, he also puts his own unique spin on these songs, giving them a fresh and original sound. If there’s any justice in the music world these days, every song on The Devil, The Tower, The Star, The Moon will be part of the soundtrack of your summer, or better yet, a permanent part of your personal playlist.

Check out the first single, the spiraling, energetic “Alone With You,” which is now available, as well as the rest of this fantastic album. The Devil, The Tower, The Star, The Moon will be released May 19 on JEM Records. If you’re looking for a phantasmagorical set of songs that evokes the spirit of the late 1960s, with a touch of power pop and indie rock, then this disc is a must have. By the way, the band's moniker comes from the first names of blues artists Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. Yep, the guys in Pink Floyd took the first names of those same artists to christen their band. You can check out the video for “Alone With You,” by following this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DMYw89-LHU, and for more on The Anderson Council, just head on over to https://www.jemrecordings.com/.

Marc Platt's Stellar "The Runaway Train"

I always look forward to checking out new music from Marc Platt, a talented singer-songwriter who's been writing and performing outstanding songs for many years now, both as a member of the power pop band The Real Impossibles, and as a solo artist, on albums like That Midlife Thing and The Golden Ticket. His latest release, The Runaway Train, is another top-notch collection of well-crafted folk-rock tunes, filled with an emotional resonance that hits you right in the center of your soul. That's certainly not true of most of what passes for pop/rock music these days, but Platt always wears his heart on his sleeve, and I mean that as a compliment.

Just take a listen to evocative tracks like the heartfelt "AM Radio," where he reminisces about listening to music in the car with his Mom, or the powerful "The Way It Goes" in which he examines the roads traveled in his (and our) lives, and perhaps laments the ones he (and we) haven't taken. Platt's insightful and sometimes heart-wrenching look at the ups and downs of love and relationships is a recurring theme in his music, and it's showcased on The Runaway Train via terrific songs like "The Score," "See You Again," and "Never Look Back."

The Runaway Train also includes another Platt trademark, some cool 1960s pop-infused tunes, including the title track and "Like a Time Bomb." Platt successfully captures the essence of the classic rock, pop and folk sound, while still giving the music his own personal spin. Other standouts on the album include the sardonic "Thoughts and Prayers," and the reflective "My Love Waits," and "The Way It Goes." One of my favorites on an a record filled with high points is the lovely "New Year's Bells," a tune that should be an instant addition to your holiday tunes playlist.

The instrumental work and production on the The Runaway Train (all superbly handled by Platt) is excellent, as usual. The album is another magnificent jewel in Marc Platt's ouevre. I urge you to check it out, and to take a deep dive into the rest of his discography. You can find the album at bandcamp by following this link: https://marcplatt.bandcamp.com/album/runaway-train. Platt also does some really fine work with his company Radio Candy, helping indie artists get their music out there and heard on internet radio. You can find out more about that by following this link: https://radiocandyradio.com/.

DeLisle's Back & Rocking With Cherie Currie!

I don't usually highlight the same artist two weeks in a row here at Eclectic Avenue, but it's also not very often these days that a performer releases two terrific singles within a short span of time. Unless, of course, that artist happens to be someone like the supremely talented Grey DeLisle, a versatile musician and voice actor who's been featured on The Simpsons as Martin Prince, and is also the long-time voice of Daphne in the Scooby Doo franchise, among her many roles in animated films and TV series. Her magnificent work as a musician and songwriter spans multiple genres and musical styles, including rock, country and children's music.

Last week, I raved about her down and dirty, bluesy number "I Can't Be Kind." Well, Ms. DeLisle recently issued another excellent single entitled "Forty-Somethin' Runaway," which features her sharing vocals with none other than Cherie Currie, a founding member of those celebrated 1970s rockers The Runaways. The song tells the story of a hard-livin' chick who's "headed eastbound in a stranger's car/leaving LA with a mix tape and a scar." While the "hitch-hikin life ain't going her way," this "Forty-Somethin' Runaway" may be down, but she certainly isn't out, as this badassl rock and roll tale illustrates, thanks to some cool lyrics and impressive work from DeLisle and Currie.

Their superb performances anchor the song. Their voices blend together perfectly, and there's some cool guitar and cowbell driven instrumental backing courtesy of producer Marvin Etzioni, who also worked on "I Can't Be Kind." If "Forty-Somethin' Runaway" and "I Can't Be Kind" are any indication, DeLisle's forthcoming album is going to be fantastic, and well worth the wait. In the meantime, head over to this talented and prolific artist's page on YouTube and check out some of her other work. And rock out to "Forty-Somethin' Runaway," by following this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoTFPNuMAHY.