Localzonely

Pijamas De Gato
The Hitchhiking Party Girl and Her Appetite for Dysfunction
Voodoo Dog

The rumor is that a loan shark financed the recording. All supporters of local music had better buy a copy unless they wanted to see the Pijamas unable to play due to broken fingers. The CD booklet is done up as the cover of a true crime magazine. It doesn’t really cost 50 cents. In case you are an out-of-town reader, the CD is available from PGD, or is that PDG? Don’t call Polygram Distribution Dallas at 214-387-2797 unless you want the band signed to a major label. Write to Pijamas De Gato at 900 East 550 South, Suite 8, Salt Lake City, UT 84102. Net surfers can send e-mail to pijamas@sisna.com. One final piece of local gossip and I’ll attempt to do the music justice. I’m not expecting to see the CD or the band written up in “local alternative weekly” The Private Eye. Some kind of “bad blood” and a $5 debt although, I hear that JS wants HW to write for his paper. Pay attention GE he is willing to pay actual money! Strangely enough one of PE‘s darlings (I love her too, don’t misunderstand) appears as a guest vocalist. Will the Rattle Kings win a trip to Austin? While waiting for the judges’ decision, have a listen to the inimitable Miss Lara Jones, “Area 51” duet with Pijamas vocalist/guitarist Bill Frost. Now that I’ve mentioned “Area 51,” the track local radio has played for some months, and a standout song of sci-fi/garage/hillbilly, what else is of interest?

Two songs precede the number. One must remember that we are dealing with a “power” trio. “Dig Yr Scene” is thrash-blues. What makes it thrash-blues one might be asking oneself? Some guy named Elwood contributes blues harmonica to bring things totally into the past ala The Shadows Of Knight. A tongue-in-cheek tribute to local “scenes” everywhere. If there is a mistake in the total package it has to be the missing lyric sheet. Sarcastic peeks into pop culture and social commentary appear to be the basis of the band’s songwriting philosophy. “Area 51” is the easiest so here are a few quoted lyrics from the tune. “The government won’t help us now / All that’s left is mutilated cow / And our trailer just don’t feel like a home / Will you still love me when space boy’s grown?” Now add those lyrics to the closing guitar lifted directly from the Allmans‘ “Midnight Rambler” and what does one have?

The treated vocals of “Lowball & Sugarfoot” make it impossible to catch all the words. I think it concerns a “cops” television show and a string of modern cliches strung together. “Hazelnut,” “Can’t Shoot Straight,” “Wrong Turn” and “Zamboni Snafu” are all worthy of a few listens. The standouts, besides the hit, are “Polly Prozac” and “Van Down By The River.” “Polly Prozac” is your typical, everyday Ramones tribute with an astounding heavy metal guitar break. “Polly likes girls just a little too much for dad / So he kicked her out of the house at the age of 25 / Polly’s all grown up now with half a life.” I’ve loved Golden Earring for many years. “Van Down By The River” reprises their best with a few lyric changes. There has to be a Blue Cheer record in the collections as well. The best lyrics of the entire disc now make their appearance. “Tony Robbins, Zig Ziglar, Steven R. Covey, Charles J Givens / They just want to be just like old Mat / ‘Cause I’ll tell you where I’m livin’ / In a van down by the river.” Have you guys been working as telephone solicitors for TSI? I fell off the wagon laughing in a fit of motivation.

The title track closes this investigation into three twisted minds with soundbites stolen from two sources. A segment from Spanish radio is followed by the extended rantings of “Mike,” one of the local Bible-thumping, mark-of-the-beast, doom-sayer, survivalists. One channel contains “Mike” and the other has ambient guitar. Some have professed to me that they don’t like Pijamas much. For innocent entertainment, their debut is hard to beat. Genius, pure genius. –Riley Puckett

Honest Engine
Combustion
Cypher Productions

When you were all children, and your friend told you something that was far-fetched, or that you didn’t believe, you’d say “No way” or you simply called them a liar. There was only one response to the false accusation that would get you off the hook. Your buddy would look you in the eye and say “Honest In***.” No matter what the subject, you now had to believe whatever they told you. Honest Engine had to be politically correct and go with the train/auto thing. Too bad. To the point. In the same way that your childhood comeback would level you with security, so does Honest Engine’s debut CD. The band brags of talent throughout the record, especially the bass/guitar fills. And when the question is asked about the songs? Honest Engine delivers with fierce intensity. Ten songs on the record, mostly hard-driven rock with dare I say a funk rhythm section. No, not Chili Peppers but more heavy and more subtle rhythm changes. They go from ballbuster power chords to the 2:00 am blowjob riff very well. Most of you won’t get that. Oh well. “U.R.V.R.” starts with a quote from my favorite movie: “No matter where you go, there you are.” The other thing I like about Combustion is that Honest Engine is very raw and focused on energy when you see them live. On the record, you get the same vibe without them having to rely on the energy cliche. Don’t get me wrong, the record is energetic, but there is more there, better songs, and there’s deeper thought than that. I’ll stick my neck out and say “One Believer” is the best song on the record, but like I said this record is good as a whole. Buy two, and give one to someone you like, that way you won’t ask for it back… you’ll be a good guy. –Kylo DeMilo

Read more from the SLUG archives:
Guilty By Expression
Record Reviews: December 1995