For Your Own Good – An Xperience Column

For Your Own Good – An Xperience Column – by Rob Skane.

Sometimes music just blows your mind, right? It’s hard to describe the feeling that overwhelms you when it happens – but I know you know, you know?

Example number one: the J. Geils Band. Holy smokes, they were an incredible live band. The first concert in a hockey arena that I ever attended was J. Geils at the Syracuse War Memorial. Yeah, Syracuse … in February. 11 feet of snow on the ground, most likely. Lake effect, you dig? Anyway, kids – check out the “Full House” LP. That particular record is a jaw-dropping collection of rocknroll, rocknsoul, the blooze and, to some degree, revved up country (“Hard Drivin’ Man”). They did that record in 1972. Half a goddamn century ago.

And, to my ears, that record has stood the test of time. They were blazing during the two nights in Detroit when they recorded that one. And, here’s the thing – hands down, bar none and without question, Magic Dick on the Licking Stick stole the show on that LP with “Whammer Jammer,” the Juke Joint Jimmy tune. Magic Dick was the Harmonica Hendrix, and the magnificent rawness of his performance is the standard that all mere mortal harp players could only dream of achieving. Listen to it. But, then listen….to… it… You’ll thank me next time you see me and we’ll hug and it might get weird – but, so what? It’s all about the music, right?

Next up, the Lyres. I LOVED this band beyond words. The “On Fyre” record melted my brain. It’s ok – there’s pills for that these days. Anyway … back to this record. It’s Farfisa, barely-in-tune and perfectly played rocknroll electric guitar, bass, and drums.  Danny McCormack starred on tremolo guitar on this one – everything he played was exactly what each tune called for. I think, anyway. I mean, if you disagree, write your own friggin’ column …

Jeff “Monoman” Conolly kinda was the Lyres to a large degree, and I think everyone I know has been in this band but me. This record was underground Boston garage rock at its absolute finest – if you knew, you knew. Monoman played organ and sang the tunes. The Lyres do a stunning version of “Tired Of Waiting” on this record, too. But “Don’t Give It Up Now” and “Help You Ann” will just explode out of your speakers with ragin’ full-on exposed-nerve garageland hearts full of strychnine.

More from Rob Skane…