War On Drugs UK Gig Elevates Elderly Rock Critic Hobbit To Name-Checking Nirvana
You know, dudes in bands always fantasize that someone’s going to call them the second coming of Bob Dylan and The Velvet Underground. But what would happen if somebody actually did? If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you know that we’ve loved the Philly band The War On Drugs pretty much since day one. Thanks to a new label, their latest album, Wagonwheel Blues, has introduced them to an international audience, and they’re currently in the UK, where they were supposed to be opening up for The Hold Steady (who had to bail on some gigs when their guitar player was hospitalized this week). And that thing that bands always fantasize about? Well, let’s just say Uncut’s Allan Jones makes dreams come true:
Years ago, in Glasgow, I saw Dylan play a version of “Masters Of War”, whose arrangement that night seemed inspired by the Velvet Underground’s “Black Angel’s Death Song”. Tonight, War On Drugs give us a hint of what it might have sounded like if Bob had appeared on “Sister Ray”, whose relentless annihilation is fearsomely replicated.
That’s just a snippet of Jones’ thunderous, rapturous review. A true High Fidelity moment, indeed. War On Drugs, you’re livin’ the dream!
Uncut: I Have Seen The Future Of Rock And Roll, And It Lives In Kensington
October 3rd, 2008 at 12:01 pm
The Best!
October 3rd, 2008 at 5:57 pm
what makes this especially interesting is that I, years and years ago, worked with the lead dude (Adam, right?) bussing tables at an Italian restaurant in my hometown. i was like 15 and he was in college or something. i mentioned my interest in making music. he tells me to get “Blonde on Blonde” and learn some specific song. then he finds out i’m 15 and things get reeeal awkward.