There is always an eager spark of anticipation at The RR when we hear from our friend Roger Deering, because very often he is bringing with him something new for our ears to get into. The recent contact with the vocalist/guitarist of US rockers Smash Fashion has proved no exception for in his eager cyber mitts was the band’s new two track offering, Got Da Hee Bee Gee Bees (at CBGBs).
Smash Fashion is a band with an inimitable sound, one bred in classic and glam rock across the decades with just as potent essences of punk and power pop involved. It has proven the source of great variety and unpredictability in propositions which are certainly individual to the band and fair to say their latest single is another potent weave within that broad and familiar creative tapestry.
Got Da Hee Bee Gee Bees (at CBGBs) is a throwback and homage to the most memorable times of the famous New York City music club and the bands which played there from the early seventies. The track bears the breath of legends such as The Ramones, Richard Hell and The Voidoids, Mink DeVille and Dead Boys in its swagger but soon stamps that recognisable Smash Fashion presence on ears.
Straight away it erupts into a punk bred saunter, the riffs of Deering soon entangled in the more classic rock nurtured vines springing from the lead guitar of Lloyd Stuart Casson. The bold almost intimidating beats of Repo and the similarly imposing bassline of Scarlet Rowe only escalate the temptation which was soon greedily chewed upon. In no time the song had us bouncing and with more eagerness by the minute and listen, the track one of the band’s most deviously fun and relentlessly captivating meaning our holler was soon in tandem with that of the band.
The single’s B-side is provided by a cover of Elton John classic, Bennie & The Jets. It too is given a more punk nurtured breath by Smash Fashion, the band bringing an almost feral tint to its pop theatre; Deering’s snarling tones as ever pure incitement. This is not a song which has particularly lit our fires over the years but in the hands of the LA quartet a certain spark has certainly begun to energetically smoulder.
Got Da Hee Bee Gee Bees (at CBGBs) is another treat from Smash Fashion and if you are still to be caught up in the kind of rousing sounds which has brought acclaim the way of their albums and other releases, it simply offers one of the finest ways to jump on board.
Got Da Hee Bee Gee Bees (at CBGBs) is out now digitally and on Ltd Edition coloured vinyl 7” via Yeah Right! @ https://yeahrightrecords.bandcamp.com/album/got-da-hee-bee-gee-bees-at-cbgbs
http://www.smashfashionmusic.com/ https://www.facebook.com/smashfashion/
Pete RingMaster 03/09/2020
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