(Note: this series was originally published elsewhere.)
Something in music: origin
One evening at a hot, trendy L.A. nightclub on a rare solo outing, yours truly found himself standing alone at the bar preparing to review the upcoming act. Before he had taken more than a few notes, however, he was bookended by a pair of vivacious vixens who insisted on engaging your rockin’ writer in cozy conversation. Strangely, the subject of “marriage” arose.
One of the young ladies noted that when a gal is about to get hitched, she needs “something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.” Your provocative penman was immediately inspired. After all, those very same terms could be applied to music too: “Something old” or classic, “something new” or recently released, “something borrowed”, a cover, and “something blue”, a blues song or a song with “blue” in the title. The rest is history.
‘Something’ in Music 300
Something Old
Our “something old” in this edition is the classic cut “Too Many People” by former Beatle singer-songwriter and musician Paul McCartney and his wife Linda. It first appeared on their 1971 platter Ram. It is also included on the more recent 2022 collection titled The 7” Singles Box.
Something New
Our “something new” this time is the new single “Silverfish” by the Los Angeles-based Cambodian and American rock band Dengue Fever. The group roster includes songstress Chhom Nimol, guitarist Zac Holtzman, keyboardist Ethan Holtzman, horn player David Ralicke, percussionist Paul Smith and bassist Senon Gaius Williams. “Silverfish is the second single off their upcoming sixth studio album titled Ting Mong.
In an e-communique, Williams spoke of the release. He said: “We gave ourselves parameters recording Ting Mong, but we smashed the rules we created for ourselves on past albums. The songs' sole purpose was to let our lead singer Chhom Nimol’s voice soar.”
He concluded: “It was our mood or perhaps the mood of the world that gave us focus on the sublime and the melancholy. We purposely left the frenetic energy and noise to yesterday.” (Keep following this column for a possible review of the new nine-track work which drops in September.)
If you’d like to see the band perform live, you’re in luck! Here are some upcoming tour dates. Check ‘em out:
Something Borrowed
Our “something borrowed” in this edition is the 1966 song “Hold On I'm Coming” which was written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter and first recorded by Sam & Dave. This audio adaptation is by the Somers Point, New Jersey-based act known as the Billy Walton Band. This video was recorded in 2018 and features Billy Walton on guitar and vocals, William Parris on bass, Eric Safka on keyboard, John D'Angelo on drums, Tom Petroccaro on saxophone, and Matt Fischer on trombone.
If you’d like to hear more of the band’s music, you’re in luck. The Billy Walton Band is performing live every Thursday at The Point in New Jersey from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. Admission to this 21+ residency, a.k.a. “Rockin’ The Point”, is free.
In an email, Walton discussed the gig saying: "For our Residency at The Point, we'll dig into our back catalog, play some favorites, debut new songs, and jam on some classic covers. We even put our stamp on some more current songs. There's something for everyone.”
If you can’t make it to the band’s 2023 Thursday night Summer Residency at The Point, the group will be performing elsewhere too. The band will be playing at the Rye Bread Music & Arts Festival in Schaghticoke, New York on July 25th and 26th. The band roster currently includes Walton (Southside Johnny, Little Steven, Gary US Bonds), bassist William Paris, singer and guitarist Destinee Monroe, saxophonist Tom Petraccaro, keyboardist Eric Safka and drummer Daniel Gonzalez.
Something Blue
Our “something blue” in this edition is the song “Hateful Blues.” It is a clever cover of the chain-gang stomp first recorded by Bessie Smith, arranged and recorded by Texas-based blues-rock singer and guitarist Ally Venable. The tune is off Venable’s 2021 disc Heart of Fire. If you’d like to see Venable perform live, check out these tour dates.
Jul. 21, 2023
Houston, TX
House Of Blues Houston
Jul. 22, 2023
San Antonio, TX
Aztec Theatre
Aug. 1, 2023
Tucson, AZ
191 Toole
Aug. 2, 2023
Phoenix, AZ
Rhythm Room
…and in honor of our 300th edition…
Something Special
Our something special for this 300th edition is French-born vocalist Lili Roquelin's cover of the 2011 song “I’ve Got This Friend” by the musical duo known as The Civil Wars. This stripped-down 2016 acoustic adaptation features award-winning New York City-based singer-songwriter, musician, and producer Roquelin and guest New York City-based musician, and singer-songwriter Jaime Garamella. You can check out Roquelin's exceptional full-length studio albums on her official website!
Did we mention your favorite “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue”? If not, let us know. Don’t forget to send us your bride photos too!
(Images courtesy of Rock n Roll Bride and/or original owners)