By DJ Tom
New Music Fridays at nOOn
Twin Peaks hit the ground running April 26 in the SOLD OUT Pyramid Scheme, with an extremely STRONG set to open the band’s Ringin’ In The Spring tour. “Tossing Tears,” the first release from the awesome “Sweet ʼ17 Singles” series, and “Good Lovinʼ” from their OUTstanding 2nd album 2014ʼs “Wild Onion,” kicked things into gear.
Twin Peaks have the POWER to easily ROCK OUT a LARGE Arena, but still retain the feel that you are partying in a garage or basement with your friends. Pyramid Schemeʼs room is conducive to this. “Getting Better” and “Walk to the One You Love”, both from 2016ʼs brilliant “Down In Heaven”, were next.
The great instinctive INTERPLAY between these musicians is second nature and constant. One place it is showcased is on the instrumental jam during the second half of “Getting Better.” I have to say here, a sound man can make or break a show. Iʼve seen Twin Peaks four times in three venues, and their sound is always spot on. You can hear everything clearly, well-balanced and with volume.
Connor is one of the best drummers out there, whether hammering out driving energy to his bandmates or cooling down to chill with the lazy, twangy, beautiful guitars of “Shake Your Lonely Heart,” the second 7-inch from the “Sweet ʼ17 Singles.“
“In The Meadow,” followed, with Jackʼs bass-line leading you into a colorful groovy psychedelic liquid light-show dance party, the last release from “Sweet ʼ17.” “Meadow” has Colin switching off keys to lead-guitar. The combination of Colinʼs piano playing, keyboard work and writing is something to be heard and was brought out quite epically in the “Sweet ʼ17 Series.”
Clayʼs classic “Wanted You” from “Goatshead Soup” is always a high point of a Twin Peaks show, with Clayʼs spilled guts and broken heart accentuated by warm bluesy guitars and the trademark Twin Peaks team background vocals, the crowd joining in loudly all night.
If youʼre one of the few who havenʼt heard or seen them yet, Twin Peaks are four singer-songwriters who each have distinct styles, complimenting each other, track by track, songwriter by songwriter, voice by voice on an album or stage. Good old flat-out straight up ROCK & ROLL. What I see and hear leads me to think this is unified by the integrity of the LOVE these five friends, brothers and bandmates, have for each other, their band, their music, playing live for us and for the fun of the party.
Watching and hearing this come into play generates the good vibes and HIGH decibels Twin Peaks gigs are. Perfect examples: “Butterfly” and “Boomers,” igniting some of the most INTENSE response of the night. “Boomers,” which is from their first album, 2012ʼs “Sunken,” is a then fresh-out-of-high-school Twin Peaks, adventuring into a little prog rock, and ending up creating what has become a well-loved Iconic piece of work from that era.
From past to future, we are treated to Cadienʼs new tune that rocked with a powerful OSCILLATING groove-driven guitar riff, and a guitar lead by Colin that made me SEE Jerry Garcia in my EARS. Next up, Jackʼs “Blue Coupe.” When the “ʼ17 Singles” were being released, upon my first {headphone listen} to ‘Blue Coupe,” Cadienʼs guitar on the chorus hit me deep and made my eyes gush. This was before I knew the lyrics, a perfect example of a guitarist playing the emotion of those lyrics. Lead-guitar work that goes from ripping your heart out in one song, to ripping a room apart in the next, one of the show-stoppers, “Strawberry Smoothie” from “Wild Onion.” Always a POWERHOUSE.
After the mosh-pit pleasing first half of the song, the second half takes off like a JET with Cadienʼs melodic, intricate leads placed between the riffs, soaring to a close, slamming into the breaks at FULL SPEED.
The encore was Clayʼs new song from the forthcoming album, which upon first listen brought the house down, just as if it were an old favorite. Someday it will be. After hearing one new song by each songwriter on the opening night of this “Ringin’ In The Spring” tour, I AM EVEN MORE PUMPED to hear this new album and see it take itʼs place in their GREAT catalog. I can’t wait to see what new heights it will take the band to.
The house lights come on and most of the crowd dissipates. The band begins to tear down their equipment and load out. BUT even after being that powerful on stage, taking into consideration the stresses, travel, and work of the opening night of a tour, ALL of the guys still happily took time to chat, sign autographs and take pictures with concert-goers. I asked Cadien and JD what I could let you know about the new album. They just smiled and shook their heads, BUT they DID promise theyʼd be BACK to DETROIT!!!
Editor’s note: View short clips of this concert on DJ Tom’s Facebook page.
Learn more about Twin Peaks:
Official website
Store
Music
“Natural Villain” single
