It Has To Be From The Heart: Firewater

Photo © Julie Finley

Fast forward to the performance: the only song I recognized was “Get Out of My Head” from the 2001 Psychopharmacology, and the rest was new stuff from the latest album The Golden Hour. Now that may sound like a negative summary, but believe me. . . it’s not! The show was fucking fabulous! The band was so tight, it was insane! The lineup was completely different since the last time I’d seen them, and the only ones I recognized were Johnny Kalsi (Afro Celt Sound System) and Erik Sanko (Skeleton Key).

Photo © Julie Finley

I’m not sure of the other members, but there was an ethnic girl playing trombone (as well as other horn instruments), and she was the bomb! I also remember Tod mentioning that the drummer just received his Laureate in Music Composition. . . I believe he may have been French. The other members were good, but I can’t remember too much detail about them other than the fact that they were all ridiculously talented (and far too talented to be playing in that dumpy venue!) The crowd were a mix of diehards and retards. . . same as at any other show. Oh, and before I forget to mention it, Tod doesn’t appear to be aging. He looked exactly the same as he did from the “Green Light” video (from The Ponzi Scheme album) from 1999.

His voice still sounds like a chainsaw. . . but that’s what I like about it! The new album is a MUST-HAVE, and one of the best albums I’ve heard in years. . . and, I can honestly say that it just may be the best work Tod has ever done. Lyrically, it’s even more honest than previous Tod A stuff, and musically, it’s even richer. The combined musicianship of the band (who hail from lands that are known for not getting along), turned out to be such a beautiful soundscape!

Photo © Julie Finley

So with that said, and the show primarily consisting of new work, it wasn’t a bad thing. Oftentimes when a band goes on tour and they play the new stuff, people bitch about it, or they look at it as the time to go use the restroom. Well. . . I was glad that they didn’t resort to a Greatest Hits show. Then it would be clear that the motivations were solely monetary. In this case, I’m sure it’ll pay some of Tod’s debt, but. . . playing the new stuff was truly coming from his heart!

Additional Resources:

For more on Tod A and Firewater, please visit the Firewater website.

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