(no subject)
Awesome.
"...Formed from the remnants of a lesser-known band called the Curiosities, Cold Cold Ground's recent performances have earned them the sort of lightning-fast-but-legitimate buzz that's likely going to prompt jealousy in the ranks..."
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People who appreciate Tom Waits tend to treasure his songs like precious trinkets that speak directly to them, and can usually name their favorite song by the grizzled, gravel-gargling scoundrel in a heartbeat. A quick sampling of my friends yields nearly instantaneous responses: "'Christmas Card From a Hooker in Minneapolis,' hands down!" writes one; "It changes all the time, but today it's 'Ruby's Arms,'" writes another. And copious votes for "Jersey Girl" and "The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me)" are inevitable.
Unsurprisingly, there are also plenty of artists naming their creations in Waits' honor. There are more bands throughout the country named Raindogs than I can count, and locally, the Gun Street Girls were a once-popular, punk-inspired burlesque troupe which took its name from one of Waits' mischief-inducing protagonists. However, I've yet to encounter such a savvy and accurate homage as that of newcomers Cold Cold Ground.
Formed from the remnants of a lesser-known band called the Curiosities, Cold Cold Ground's recent performances have earned them the sort of lightning-fast-but-legitimate buzz that's likely going to prompt jealousy in the ranks. Thanks to good looks and a gloomy organ, the influence of the Murder City Devils is an easy comparison to distill; but unlike bands such as Black Eyes and Neckties, who tread precariously close to derivativeness, CCG are entirely their own creation.
There's a distinct '50s throwback element woven into their punk core, so much so that I felt as if I'd stepped into an episode of The Ed Sullivan Show when I caught them at the Rendezvous' JewelBox Theater last Friday. Frontman Joel Boten even looked like he was on live television, tense and high on adrenalin, furtively aiming his gaze toward the back of the room. There's something especially compelling about a performer who looks like he's standing in front of an oncoming train, but remains unwilling to back down.
Perhaps that's because Boten knows he has a helluva backup crew on hand. Guitarist Zan Ferguson looks deadly serious onstage but plays with an impressive balance of tight and loose grooves, counter-weighted with almost genetic precision by CCG's taut rhythm section. The band is tentatively slated to begin tracking demos at Vera Project with producers Andrew Chapman and Jeff McNaulty (Bow + Arrow, Little Party and the Bad Business) in the next couple of weeks. Your next opportunity to catch them live will be at the Rendezvous again on Friday, February 6.
"...Formed from the remnants of a lesser-known band called the Curiosities, Cold Cold Ground's recent performances have earned them the sort of lightning-fast-but-legitimate buzz that's likely going to prompt jealousy in the ranks..."
Type your cut content
People who appreciate Tom Waits tend to treasure his songs like precious trinkets that speak directly to them, and can usually name their favorite song by the grizzled, gravel-gargling scoundrel in a heartbeat. A quick sampling of my friends yields nearly instantaneous responses: "'Christmas Card From a Hooker in Minneapolis,' hands down!" writes one; "It changes all the time, but today it's 'Ruby's Arms,'" writes another. And copious votes for "Jersey Girl" and "The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me)" are inevitable.
Unsurprisingly, there are also plenty of artists naming their creations in Waits' honor. There are more bands throughout the country named Raindogs than I can count, and locally, the Gun Street Girls were a once-popular, punk-inspired burlesque troupe which took its name from one of Waits' mischief-inducing protagonists. However, I've yet to encounter such a savvy and accurate homage as that of newcomers Cold Cold Ground.
Formed from the remnants of a lesser-known band called the Curiosities, Cold Cold Ground's recent performances have earned them the sort of lightning-fast-but-legitimate buzz that's likely going to prompt jealousy in the ranks. Thanks to good looks and a gloomy organ, the influence of the Murder City Devils is an easy comparison to distill; but unlike bands such as Black Eyes and Neckties, who tread precariously close to derivativeness, CCG are entirely their own creation.
There's a distinct '50s throwback element woven into their punk core, so much so that I felt as if I'd stepped into an episode of The Ed Sullivan Show when I caught them at the Rendezvous' JewelBox Theater last Friday. Frontman Joel Boten even looked like he was on live television, tense and high on adrenalin, furtively aiming his gaze toward the back of the room. There's something especially compelling about a performer who looks like he's standing in front of an oncoming train, but remains unwilling to back down.
Perhaps that's because Boten knows he has a helluva backup crew on hand. Guitarist Zan Ferguson looks deadly serious onstage but plays with an impressive balance of tight and loose grooves, counter-weighted with almost genetic precision by CCG's taut rhythm section. The band is tentatively slated to begin tracking demos at Vera Project with producers Andrew Chapman and Jeff McNaulty (Bow + Arrow, Little Party and the Bad Business) in the next couple of weeks. Your next opportunity to catch them live will be at the Rendezvous again on Friday, February 6.