A GOOD BOOK AND A GREAT RECORD – TWO COMPLETELY UNRELATED REVIEWS - by JCE
I have been struggling mightily to write something for Pencil Storm lately. It seemed like pre-COVID I had sources of inspiration all over the place. I was seeing two or more live shows every month and there was musical stimulation all around. For the last year now, that has dwindled to an acoustic set at a brewery every now and then. Artists are even holding off releasing records in hopes that they can tour in support of a brand new release. (One notable exception: Watershed’s Extended Player.) I truly hope that we will soon have a return to something at least approaching normal. While we wait for that to happen, here are a couple of things that have brought me some enjoyment lately. One is a good book, and the other is a great record. Let’s start with a good book.
VAN HALEN RISING: HOW A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BACKYARD PARTY BAND SAVED HEAVY METAL - by Greg Renoff
This book was published in 2015, but I only discovered it recently. I previously wrote a review about another Van Halen book here: Runnin’ With The Devil - by JCE.
The first thing you should know is that this book covers the years BEFORE Van Halen was signed to a record deal, and it is much more interesting than the average biography of a famous band like the one I reviewed previously. Second, I’d like to let you know that while I like Van Halen’s first few records very much, they’re certainly not my favorite band on the planet; I just happen to read a ton of rock n roll books in general. Okay, so here’s my short review of the book. It was incredibly well researched without a doubt. It will give you a deep appreciation for Eddie Van Halen, which you should have had already, but it will also make you like David Lee Roth more than you probably did before, which may not have been very much at all. When you read the in-depth details of how Van Halen came to be, and then how they struggled to make it big, you will most assuredly be convinced that neither Roth nor Eddie would have made it without each other. The book tells great stories of the band playing in backyards and horrible clubs, and being rejected as dinosaurs by nearly everyone, while punk and new wave took off. Many of the people interviewed in the book were hosts of backyard parties, or just friends that were around during the early years. Roth is quoted via references to his autobiography (“Crazy from the Heat”) but the band members themselves were not involved in the writing of the book. It’s an easy read, as I was pretty engaged in the story from the very start. This book is highly recommended for anyone who likes Van Halen, or just loves a good story of the struggles of a rock n roll band trying to make it.
Now for the great record.
DEATH BY ROCK AND ROLL - by THE PRETTY RECKLESS
Death by Rock and Roll is the fourth full-length LP by the Pretty Reckless. If you’ve never heard them, The Pretty Reckless are a hard-rock band fronted by Taylor Momsen, who has one of the most haunting and amazing voices in rock. After two stellar records - Light Me Up, the debut and sophomore effort Going To Hell - the third release, Who You Selling For was a bit of a disappointment. So, for LP number four I was not sure what to expect—a return to form? Or the sound of a band that was losing momentum? What I got was a record that was beyond my greatest expectations. It’s a little different from prior releases, beautiful and still hard-rocking all at once. The band, pre-COVID, had booked a tour in clubs very much smaller than they were capable of filling. They wanted to release the new record and go play it, along with all of their amazing songs, to an intimate audience. I had a ticket to see the band at the tiny U Street Music Hall in D.C. That show had to be cancelled and the club is now closed-up for good. F*ck COVID. The band held off releasing the record hoping to reschedule. After months and months went by with no relief in sight, they slowly trickled out three singles from the record: the title track, “25” and “And So It Went” featuring Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine). All three songs are great, with “25” being my favorite.
Based on those strong tunes, I pre-ordered the LP as a 2-record, blue vinyl set. When it was released on February 12th, I retired to my basement listening room and put the record on the turntable with the volume turned up loud. I should note that the packaging of this LP is some of the best I have ever seen, EVER. Double LP in a beautiful gatefold sleeve. Inner sleeves with lyrics and amazing royal blue vinyl with one side laser-etched with the band logo. Easily worth the $23 for what they say is a run of only 500 copies in that color. The record blew me away. “I Got So High” is gorgeous and “Witches Burn” is one of my favorite Pretty Reckless songs yet. There are no weak efforts on this release whatsoever. If you know this band and like them, you need this record. If you don’t know them, you should. I give this 4.5 stars out 5. My tickets to see the band will be honored at a show now scheduled to take place at the 9:30 Club, a much bigger venue, unfortunately. But I’m not complaining—if I get to see that show, planned for August, I will be grateful. So very grateful.
Hang in there everyone, we’ll see this thing through and live music will return with a vengeance.
“25” by The Pretty Reckless
“Death by Rock and Roll” by The Pretty Reckless