The Society Of The Angelic Potheads – Behind 12 Bars
www.reverbnation.com/societyoftheangelicpotheads
self release
14 songs time – 54:07
The Society Of The Angelic Potheads, a somewhat rag-tag U.K. outfit, puts out music that encompasses anything from blues, punk influences and what can pass for their version of drinking songs. Guitars, bass, minimal synth, harmonica and bare bones percussion underscore the rather hap hazard and boozy vocals. They execute eleven self-penned songs along with three covers. Everything here is performed in a loose fashion. They cover unusual topics with off-the-wall lyrics.
“3 Fingers” bemoans the effects of too much boozing. It’s a modern day juke joint blues. Billy Mac’s soulful vocal, biting electric guitar, harmonics and bare bones drums create an old timey vibe. Another Billy Mac vocal, acoustic and electric guitars, harmonica conjure up a laconic blues in “Ain’t Going To Let It Happen”. “Don’t Mean Nothing” is a bit of a repetitive down home fluff. Now it’s as the booze is taking effect as Ed Tokerite leads a quick-fire off the wall Cockney sing-along on “Born Too Late”. Ed kicks in with more Cockney goofiness in “Harrietta”, a sing along ditty with synth horns. Billy Mac continues the boozy goofiness on “Me And My Horse”. Bet ya never heard a song about a girl finding her boyfriend’s belly button fluff. Try the poppy “Stella” on for size.
W.J. Dodd gets in touch with his “Feminine Side” in a toe tapper about cross-dressing- “My baby’s still my baby, but now I’m her bitch”. All righty then. The band itself concedes that they don’t know themselves what the punkish “Flip Flap Flop” is about. In any case it’s a toe tapper.
The narrator of “Little Willy” ponders about the sad state of his member-“Nothing’s coming up at the moment.” And now sports fans, here is some ginzo blues. “Ham And Eggs” pits distorted guitar and synthesizer noises against each other. The Allman Bros.’ “Midnight Rider” gets the Pothead treatment with the riff intact along with cutting electric guitar over that pesky synth. Billy Mac’s vocals are loose here.
How’s this for an unusual choice for a cover-The Doors’ “Roadhouse Blues”. Their works well in the Pothead style. They offer up a rather conventional take on “Rock Me Baby”, showing that hey have blues cred when they are so compelled. The guitar and harmonica are spot on.
This motley crew of British geezers present a diverse, loose and loopy program of music. Blues, punk, drinking songs and who knows what else are all jumbled together to create an interesting and at times befuddling experience.
