Locals: Music Reviews, October 1996

Bohemia 

The CD version came with an essay on the mantra, which is the music. Russ Eastland of Bohemia explains each of the mantras and his purpose for recording them in the essay. There are four of them, and due to deadlines I had a chance to listen only once. The cassette version will accompany me in my automobile because my mind and body are in serious need of cleansing. The music consists of circular heavy metal riffs backing wordless chanting. Eastland would do well to get the CD and tape versions of his music into the hands of those teaching the brainwashing techniques of the new age by meditating to the sounds of nature and Yanni. If I was inclined to spend my life in search of my higher self, Bohemia would provide a much better accompaniment than the previously mentioned materials. As it stands, I am not conversant with most of the subjects Eastland details in his essay. The music he has created appears to be a part of his spiritual search. Since the music was recorded and placed on cassettes and CDs, I believe that Bohemia has a small interest in financial gain, or moreso, they would like others to hear their creation. There are only four songs, so picking up a copy shouldn’t cause anyone to go without food. Who knows, “the mantra is a phrase used in eastern cultures for the purpose of clearing the mind, a meditative tool.” It could work, or it could be that this local band is not trapped by convention. Different is good and Bohemia is very different and very good. 

Lugnut

Finally, all locals can have their very own copy of the band David McClellan has been pumping for so long. We can all listen to the New York influence as created and recorded in a Salt Lake studio. Mastering was done in Orem. The CD has a fat sound. Does this come on a record? “Wanna Dance” is pretty good and so is “Fresh Meat,” but “Confession” has too much of the local influence. Sorry Dave, you sound local on this one. “El Dorado” opens with a nicely done trumpet solo before mutating into the trademark of every local band – funk metal. I’d love to say it ain’t so, but it is. The astounding guitar solo doesn’t help, but the trumpet does tremendously. So far it appears that the CD is receiving a trashing, but let’s continue. Since McClellan is Mr. Bustin’ the But himself, a talent with words is expected. He demonstrates this with the semi-rap stream of consciousness “I’m The One.” That would be “best song of the disc”…so far. More grunge follows, but at least Lugnut isn’t stylistically trapped. “Chiang Kai Chek,” and at last New York, appears. Could we have a little more of that shit before the CD ends? Who would expect a sensitive love ballad from a Lugnut? Certainly not yours truly, but there it is titled “Crying In The Night.” “Slipstream” is alterna-pop, “Sad” and “Be Brave” demonstrate when McClellan is an obvious supporter, “It’s Not My World” is some weird ska-grunge-metal and “You’re Gonna Die, Lady Di” is a carnival-ska-metal song that is even weirder than “It’s Not My World.” Lugnut has enough variety to please even the most jaded among us. As expected, the lyrics are the ticket. Those journalistic types can sometimes pen a decent song and McClellan has done so about ten or eleven times with Lugnut’s brand new release. 

Abstrak – 60 Cycle Hum 

Abstrak did something different for a local band, at least for this batch. They gave their CD a title. I’d love to say they don’t, but they do. There is the funk metal. One thing about Abstrak they do it well: “Ride Trip Nose Ride,” and what is that coming out of the speakers when the beam strikes “Something For Nothing.” So far, the Beastie Boys and ZZ Top have appeared at Fast Forward Studios in West Valley City. Now comes a bit of creativity. While most are content to sing about life and love on the downside, Abstrak has written a song about Reg the Veg. Well, I should have known, it wasn’t Abstrak after all, it was Jamie Shuman. “Andy Taylor” is cow-punk and there has definitely been some in-breeding going on. There used to be a local band named Mayberry and at least one other band has written a song about the town. “Fingerpaint” is almost instrumental and I believe it reveals a mistake in the mix. Abstrak continues with their mission and I’d say that if the Beastie Boys, Orange 9mm or Downset make appealing music, Abstrak might be of local interest. 

Go Figure – Where Now

This band is creative. Take a phrase constantly on the lips of nearly every SLC resident and name your band. They open with an instrumental titled “Lounge” before entering the realm of “alternative” rock. It can’t be too alternative because I haven’t heard Go Figure on the radio. Go figure, I don’t listen to the radio. After two songs, I began to wonder why they aren’t popular like Nada Surf. I guess this is the “smart” band of the bunch, the nerd boys who grew up to play music. They’ve copied a tactic last viewed on the booklet accompanying Royal Crown Revue’s second CD. A one-line explanation of the song’s subject matter follows the title. That makes things easy for me, I don’t need to listen, I’ll just copy their description. I was afraid to check the back of the CD for the number of songs because if there are 13 I’m dead. Three times 13 equals 39, but I’m saved because Lugnut had that hidden #14. Forgach is off muttering in the corner. Now this Go Figure crew have produced the most commercial disc of the batch. Commercial usually means bad and the other bands featured here, with the exception of Bohemia, will no doubt (how many cliches used as band names can I slip into this) move more units. Go Figure pulled a stunt more in common with the local folk community than the underground rock scene and enlisted the help of some friends. Mindy Wimmer for example? There are bits and pieces of everything from the Velvet Underground to R.E.M. and god forbid (is that a band name?) revealed. Roger Fowlks is a good singer and his chiming guitar licks are more like Athens than Salt Lake. Strangely enough, Go Figure are like unto a Salt Lake City indie rock with an inclination for an in-studio production. Believe me, they aren’t this smooth live. A highlight of both the live show and the CD is “Another Man’s Cause.” Jay plays drums and harmonica, Steve Lemmon adds mandolin (missing live) and an entire cast of characters (also missing live) contribute background vocals. Good tunes, guys.  —You Tah 

Read more from the SLUG Archives:
Localszonely
Rage Against the Machine

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