The Magnanimous Collector: Pierced Arrows hit their mark
When Dead Moon broke up in 2006 after 19 years, 13 official albums and 11 singles, they left a gaping hole in the international garage rock arena. Although the band put itself on the Pacific Northwest’s '90s rock 'n’ roll map with an early Sub Pop single and a brief appearance in the grunge documentary “Hype!,” they never achieved the recognition their tireless recording, touring and steady vision deserved. After a year-long hiatus, Fred and Toody Cole -- the hardest working husband and wife team in punk -- are back on the scene with a new drummer, Kelly Halliburton, and an impressive new band.
Pierced Arrows take over where Dead Moon left off, featuring Fred’s quavering vocals and moody guitar work and Toody’s minimalist punk bass chops. The debut single on their own DIY label, Tombstone Records, is a heartfelt and moving slice of old-fashioned lo-fi rock 'n’ roll, free of posturing and attitude and bursting with raw sincerity. Flashes of '60s garage rock and punk fury inform the two sharp-as-nails songs, “In My Brain” and “Caroline,” which sound more precise and better-produced than anything Dead Moon ever released. If you caught any of the band’s recent Southland performances in support of Black Lips -- a slot that will assuredly gain them some fresh fans -- you know that their legendary live act is still as tight and driven as ever. Pretty impressive considering the pair of performers are proud grandparents, proof positive that rock 'n’ roll doesn’t have to be a young person’s game. Rumor has it that a full-length album is in the works, so keep your fingers crossed.
-- The Magnanimous Collector
Photo of Pierced Arrows by the Pod.
The Magnanimous Collector, aka Jason Gelt, has 2,500 LPs, 45s and 10-inches. In true collector-nerd style, he once calculated that he could spin records nonstop for more than 65 days. He collects R&B, soul, rockabilly, psychedelic, '60s garage, bubblegum, Jamaican ska, old country, exotica, novelty records, lots and lots of '70s, '80s beyond punk rock and garage rock. In short, he is open -- nay, open-hearted -- to everything. For at least one spin, anyway ...
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Disclosure: I am a colleague of the above here at the L.A. Times. But must also mention that I own over 8,000 albums, including many rare ones in every imaginable genre. This befits my crusty age and as being the son of a composer. So from now on you can label my contributions to Soundboard as being from The Edacious Aural Archivist.
Posted by: Casey Dolan | February 26, 2008 at 03:23 PM