I feel like I’m sitting on pins and needles wondering about Touch and if things will come what may for it. Which leads me into a new song coming out from Ian Thornley and his group Big Wreck. In the course of his music, it’s more progressive sounding than his progressive past.
What do I mean by that?
Some of my favorite songs by Ian are song that are very different in their rhythmic structure. My favorite where he mixes odd time with a tune has to be Ladylike. There’s such a cool combination going there. However, this new song of his Come What May is pushing that balance into an uptempo number that feels like it could be some sort of pop style rock song. Unfortunately it contains chords and movements that will cause most people to scratch their heads. Unlike most of his melodies, this one isn’t instantly catchy, but damn it sure has a cool movement to it.
Come What May
Break off a little piece of happiness
No body gets hurt more or less
Whatever it takes to get you through
The night is gonna have to do
Under the weight of daily bread
You’d rather wake to cake instead
Would you believe a photograph
Was all it took and all that’s left
Of missing pieces
I throw myself in the river
I need to wash my head and float away
‘Cause I know that I’ll be delivered
Everything cast adrift
Come what may
I’m fed up with the pace of saving face
I’m squeezing what I can’t replace
Fiddled with the fire ’til I got burned
With all I’ve lost you’d think I’d learned
By missing pieces
I throw myself in the river
I need to wash my head and float away
‘Cause I know that I’ll be delivered
Everything cast adrift
Come what may
I throw myself in the river
I need to wash my head and float away
‘Cause I know that I’ll be delivered
Everything cast adrift
Come what may
I throw myself in the river
I need to wash my head and float away
‘Cause I know that I’ll be delivered
Everything cast adrift
Come what may
Enjoy your day!
Don’t you hate it when you’ve missed something awesome? If you’ve been following me for at least the last two months or longer, then you know that I was in Anaheim for the NAMM show in January. The show/convention is so damn large it’s impossible, not virtually but truly impossible, to see everything that goes on. As it turns out, one of my favorite musicians was there and I had no idea. Grrrr. Ian Thornley is a powerhouse of a writer, guitar player and singer. Powerhouse! Not only was Ian there, but he also performed at a private party for an amp manufacturer Suhr. I’ve heard of their amps, though I’ve never played one. A few nights ago as I was prepping the video I released this week as part of the recording process for vocals on a new single – I came across video of Ian’s performance at NAMM. It’s so damn amazing that I had to share it you all.
So many live performances sound so horrible that live music can often leave a lot to be desired. However, when you watch this, you should be floored by how awesome it sounds. I know I am. It sounds like a freakin’ recording. That’s how tight, how solid, how rich, how in tune these guys are. Remember, this is live, and it’s a band that had one rehearsal (it’s not Ian’s regular band). This is why I love playing with awesome professionals. They make it look and sound easy – and it is if you’re like Ian. There’s a real joy when working with musicians who transcend to this level. I remember my first album and how I wanted to be able to pull it off live – to sound just like the record. Wish that band could have stayed together, they had the calibre.
Blown Wide Open Performance I Missed
Do yourself a favor, go buy his music. Go see him live.
Yesterday I happened to catch a Facebook post by a long time friend of mine. We both played on the Los Angeles circuit with our bands when we were cutting our teeth. His post was how he had just discovered an artist called Ian Thornley who fronts a little group known as Big Wreck. It reminded me how I had heard of Big Wreck from some friends in Las Vegas some time after they had released The Pleasure and The Greed. I was hooked immediately. Amazing and creative rock guitar based writing, smothered with clever lyrics and an insanely awesome rock voice that I kinda wish I could have. Ian also had a band after Big Wreck called Thornley. However, about a year and a half ago Big Wreck put itself back together and recorded a new set of songs. My favorite single from the release is Wolves. I love the groove, the guitar parts, the mandolin parts, the lyrics, and the amazing melody. It hits a great niche of music where being awesomely clever still means something to rock ‘n’ roll – unfortunately the masses don’t get it. Immerse yourself and bleed out your heart from beating for other music that isn’t so clever. 😉
Wolves
Oh mark my words
In between the lines
And every little piece
Of the story’s entwined
I always told my side my way.
There was no more room
In the packet of wolves
They wouldn’t let me in
Saw the mission was afoot
They showed us all we were without
Oh, they said bleed out your heart
If it’s still beating for someone else
Trap all those chains
That keep you tethered, that keep you safe
A rosie little world
In your packet of wolves
A cosy little hang
In the back of your school
Those stories always get so old
Well is that one night
Going off the grid
I never said you didn’t
I never said you did
And all of my favourite stories are about you
You said bleed out your heart
If it’s still beating for someone else
Break all those chains
That keep you tethered, that keep you safe
They said bleed out your heart
If it’s still beating for someone else
Trap all those chains
That keep you tethered, that keep you safe
Bleed out your heart
If it’s still beating for someone else
Break all those chains
That keep you tethered, that keep you safe.