Stop Calling Me Frank – “Spider In My Beer And Other Songs”
I like punk. But I think I like rock’n’roll, you know, the real stuff, the fifties rock’n’roll even better.
I like fifties rock’n’roll. But I think I like 40’s and 50’s R&B even better, the roots of rock’n’roll. Both of which, I believe, to be the roots of punk rock.
I like words. That’s why I write. But what I like better than words is the passion and fun and truths that inspire those words. Which all these forms of music embody- people having fun, being themselves, having a good time.
Music that is not only passionate and fun and true but contains all the joys and struggles of life reflected and expressed in word and sound.
I like punk. I like rock’n’roll. I like words. And it appears I like explanations, maybe too well.
But I also, really like Stop Calling Me Frank.
Because they exemplify everything I just explained and everything that I like in life. Well, maybe not everything…there’s no sordid desires tucked in the grooves of their songs. But there sure is old R&B, old rock’n’roll and all that passion and fun and truth that is in the best of punk.
I like this band and I like there new cd. And I like words but sometimes it’s best to listen:
“Spider In My Beer” starts with a simple chord progression on an acoustic guitar with pauses, simple enough. But what is soon fitting into the empty spaces sounds like a psycho rooster cackling “Ca-koo-koo-koo-koo-koo!” Andy and I use to refer to experimental/noise music as “koo koo music,” but here it’s some great, roots rock’n’roll that’s happening here. “Waking up on a Sunday morning, doing the best I can. Goin’ down to the local bar but there’s a spider in my beer.” A moanin’ blues harp accompanies this bluesy, upbeat outing. This song is fun and rockin’ and pulses with pure, swingin’, rock’n’roll- which means pure punk to my ears.
“Gimme, Gimme Hope. Gimme, Gimme Faith. Gimme, Gimme Truth. Gimme, Gimme Life.” So goes the chorus of “Gimme Life,” a life affirming, exuberant little ditty that grooves with a slight, rockabilly feel on the verse changes. A great sax solo out of Roxy Music or more likely, Dion & The Belmonts that just adds the frosting to this tasty delight of a song.
Just having a title like “My Baby Is An Axe Murderer From State Of Wisconsin,” would get it picked by me. But this is also, a rockin’ and rollin’, rip roarin’ number with a sax driven chorus that obliterates all pain, suffering and boredom with a single dose of pure passion punk along with some ferociously, furious fun rock’n’roll!
A real working class anthem “Drinking After Work” bursts forth with a Dictators like energy mixed with Beach Boys/sixties girl groups back up vocals. This song is much like a Dictators recording that was never released. “Drinkin’ to forget, I’m drinkin’ my regret. I’m drinkin’ cause of you, I’m drinkin’ cause of me. I’m drinkin’ cause I’m here, I’m drinkin’ cause I’m there.” I’ll drink anyplace that has songs so rockin’, rousin’, real and great as this song right here. Cheers!
“5000 Miles,”- “Me and the boys gettin’ restless, need another change of pace…decided to take a trip across the United States.” With a walloping beat, a mournful sax and a killer, melodic chorus that burns on all cylinders this song moves along swiftly and deftly taking you to places you need to go and moves me to a happier place, as well. I’ll go wherever this song takes me! My favorite cut on the album.
In the eighties bands like this were the cutting edge on the local scene and were popular, too! And S.C.M.F. was one of those bands. A band that Andy & I saw countless times.
More than punk or new wave they were a roots rock band that took influences from traditional American music like blues, R&B and rock’n’roll and melded it with a garage/punk influence as well.
X and The Blasters were probably the most successful bands of this style. X is and was, one of my favorite bands.
And S.C.M.F. is still one of my favorite local bands today, just like they were in ’83. And you might think this is just some kind of nostalgia, some old geezer reliving his youth.
But I think it’s just me recognizing the passion and the guts, the fun and the wildness, the recklessness and the thoughtfulness that was all part of the same package then as it is now. That this band had then and still exudes now.
Times and dates change but passion and truth stays the same.
And maybe you still think it’s nostalgia but for me- this is the blood of my life that flows through me. This is my mind, my heart, my soul. This is my fucking DNA. That inspired me then and inspires me now.
It flows through my bloodstream and I’m guessing it also flows through yours, too.
And I can’t speak for anybody else. But I think, if you’re reading this, it might also flow through you.
I just know it beats in mine.
Along with this record.
(Slimedog)
