Nashville is sitting at the cusp of a musical explosion. A generation of brilliant local musicians emerges, and as always, an influx of extremely good non-locals regularly adopt Nashville as their home, enriching us with diversity.
I have two such bands to tell you about who, though not born here, have chosen Nashville as their homes, and by doing so, have made us guests of honor to a movement of music that will re-create the musical culture of Nashville, by amending its backdrop.
There is, thank goodness, a new wave of cooperation by humans with the sources that inspire them to create beautifully written and executed music.The mystique and sentimentality of music hearkened to by old romantics and seekers of raw, pure, lilting, tilting, jilting expression is in full order when you come to Nashville, Tennessee on nights like Oct 10, 2009, see Mikky Ekko at 12th and Porter at 9:30pm, and then go see Heypenny at 12:15 over at Mercy Lounge.
When the music of this pair of bands is considered in tandem it is always and only improved upon. Both bands produce shockingly real and good rock music, but in completely different ways.
Heypenny music, for instance, has perpetual electric energy that never really has to begin or end, whereas Mikky Ekko has more of a succession of animal energies which are awakened, pass through stages, and then return to sleep.
When it comes to Mikky Ekko, names of comparison sort of string along. From Mike Patton to Kurt Cobain, Jim Morrison, John Dillinger, Johnny Depp, Heath Ledger, Val Kilmer, Che Guevara, Prince, Micheal Jackson, Link, in the Legend of Zelda, The Joker, Jeff Buckley, Tori Amos, Bjork, Liz Phair, the star quarter-back, Paul "Muad'Dib" Atreides of Frank Herbert's "DUNE", (USUL, among the Fremen, a word meaning "the base of the pillar".
--(if you're under 30 btw, you might not know he was called "Luke Skywalker" the 2nd time around)...... perhaps you get the picture.
Mikky Ekko, "Crystal Helmet" Live
So, it seems that in Mikky Ekko, we have a Bene Gesserit, or Jedi Knight, if you will. "The Chosen One"... for all I know, the guy could be an angel. He sure sings like one.
Heypenny can be thought of as what the actual four Beatles would be doing, were they still alive, young, perhaps if they had come up in this, a post Beatles era, but by some other name? Heypenny is so good, they make you step back and wonder again what made the Beatles as good as they are.
Heypenny forges music. It sounds like something that has been assembled with great patience, strength, and care, like a massive and intricately crafted flying machine, that only ever touches the earth, and never quite lands.
Remember how the Beatles made us feel anxiety and excitement, the rush of adrenaline at the very thought of their images, or the sound of their music, or the next chapter of some goofy storyline of theirs? Or how they seemed so good, and were learning so much traveling throughout the world, that many sought them out not only for musical, but also for spiritual pursuits?
I do certainly hope Heypenny doesn't mind this comparison. There hasn't been, to my knowledge, anyone, from Britain or anywhere, for that matter, since the Beatles, who could write music as they did so masterfully. I believe however that the United States of America, even Nashville, herself, will soon be hailing it's very own legendary "American" rock stars.
Heypenny show detailsOct 10th-Mercy Lounge, NBN
Heypenny played a flawless concert. Absolutely brilliant, as they careened on stage through hit after hit, including "Cop Car" and "Parade", both crowd favorites, and of course, throughout the show, Kevin and Ben, the usual frontman, switch places at the keys'. I honestly forget which play what songs. I'll have to pay more attention next time. (there will be many)
The picture they make on stage, and the character they illustrate so clearly with music, gesture, and decoration, is one of true, beautiful, and raw talent. Born for the stage are they, and so be they musicians, not of an average bent, mind you, but reminiscent of the spirit we have seen only in the true pioneers and legends of our time. Jethro Tull, for instance, Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac,
They played "Oh No" strongly, always strongly, and also, some very good new song that I can't recall the name of. I will find that soon. All in all, I think Heypenny played 5-6 songs, or more, by the time they left the stage, and man, what a show. They nailed their songs, as usual, with the live twists they sometimes throw in for all our amusements.
Of course, stage decorations were in order for Heypenny as well, with some of the Huge tapestries painted at their Copcar EP release
The strange thing was, there had been other musicians milling about, one by one, mingling through the crowd from somewhere in the back of the Lounge, and as quickly as heypenny had departed the stage, they had reassembled with this small orchestral section over in the bar stool section with tables beside the stage , with some sort of keyboard that Ben sat at, and the various instruments, including the tuba, an upright bass, a cello, i think, maybe more, and kevin with a guitar, I think dj just had a tambourine. I'm not sure where Aaron was.
The lights dimmed, and before seating themselves Heypenny announced they were going to do a special little encore, and began to string out christmas lights through the crowd. Several long strands they ran, and the crowd was lit up with them as the drums for "Single Ladies" began, and they, and we, as they indicated, was ok, sang along and thrummed our way through the song together.
Next was a timely cover of Elton John's "Goodbye yellow brick road", to which , we all again chimed in for, was rendered quite beautifully.
The mood inspired by this encore was soothing and rewarding. The lights, the ambiance, the length of time they stayed, was all fantastic. They played a few more full length songs of theirs. Full set list details asap.
More info about this incredible band in previous and forthcoming reviews as well as in a Teradyme profile, which is, due to the gravity of its' importance, yet to be assembled.
Look forward to more Teradyme exclusive footage and media collected about both of these revolutionary, history-making bands.
