Tuesday, May 22, 2018

“Darkness In Mind” by River Whyless - A Song Review

     Following in the footsteps of highly successful bands of the 1960s, River Whyless has the courage to fire a missile that is outside the expectations of its fervent fanbase and into the area of Psychedelia. The launch site is similar to that of The Byrds, while the sound of the launch is more aligned with The Beatles.

     “Darkness In Mind” is the fourth engaging track from the album “Kindness, A Rebel,” which will be released on June 8, 2018 via Roll Call Records. Of the four, it’s the first to feature the vocals of Halli Anderson and the first to include Psychedelic sensibilities. River Whyless is a Folk Rock band; thus the comparison to The Byrds’ exploration with the release of “Eight Miles High” and other tracks on the 1966 album “Fifth Dimension.” But the sensibilities come across more as processing effects, similar to songs such as “Tomorrow Never Knows” by The Beatles (although the River Whyless song is far less dedicated to the effects).

     The initial seconds of “Darkness In Mind” are Byrds/Beatles-like, but the song is fundamentally a steady-rhythm driving melody. The percussion and guitar provide the vehicle, with the vocals establishing the changing scenery.

      Kindness, A Rebel” will drop on June 8, 2018 via Roll Call Records. The album can be pre-ordered by visiting http://smarturl.it/KindnessARebel.

     River Whyless is based in Asheville, North Carolina. The members are Ryan O'Keefe (guitars, vocals), Halli Anderson (violin, vocals), Alex McWalters (drums, percussion) and Daniel Shearin (bass, vocals, harmonium, cello, banjo). Their tour schedule is included at the bottom of this post. It includes a visit to The Chapel, arguably the most beautiful of the San Francisco venues (for tickets to the SF visit, CLICK HERE).

     “Darkness In Mind” by River Whyless


Lyrics of “Darkness In Mind” by River Whyless
What am I making love for?
Why do I carry on?
How can you enjoy it when you’re so far gone?

You want me to explain it
You want me to confess
That I don’t tend to wander on the road to success

I have got the darkness in mind
You’re all right
And I am fine

But I have got the darkness in mind
In my mind I can lie
All the time

All you need’s a good idea to get the things you want
And if I had two of them
I’d surely give you one

So pick up your pace now
And listen for the bell
The only way to make a dime is to fall down the well

I have got the darkness in mind
You’re all right
And I am fine

But I have got the darkness in mind
In my mind I can lie
All the time

Watched you at the cannery
Beneath the boomer’s sweat
And followed you from the factory to your television set

Open up your cupboards
And take your glasses down
I wanna see you break one, so I can understand

I have got the darkness in mind
You’re all right
And I am fine

But I have got the darkness in mind
In my mind I can lie
All the time
In my mind I can lie
All the time
  
Tour – for ticket information, go to https://www.riverwhyless.com/tour/
06/01 – Charlotte, NC @ Live on the Green at First Ward Park
06/02 – Herndon, VA @ Herndon Festival
06/03 – Nelsonville, OH @ Nelsonville Music Festival
06/07 – Roanoke, VA @ Martin’s Downtown
06/08 – Alexandria, VA @ Grist Mill Park
06/09 – Canton, NC @ Cold Mountain Festival
06/10 – Roswell, GA @ Chattahoochee Nature Center
06/12 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
06/13 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
06/15 – Fall River, MA @ Narrows Center for the Arts *
06/16 – Allston, MA @ Great Scott *
06/17 – Croton-on-Hudson, NY @ Pete Seeger’s Clearwater Revival
06/19 – Buffalo, NY @ 9th Ward at Babeville *
06/20 – Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues ^
06/21 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall *
06/22 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry *
06/23 – Viroqua, WI @ Pierce Hill Performing Arts *
06/25 – Lawrence, KS @ The Bottleneck *
06/27 – Vail, CO @ Vail Bluegrass Series
06/28 – Pueblo, CO @ Brues Alehouse Brewing Company
07/19 – Nashville, TN @ High Watt +
07/20 – Chattanooga, TN @ Songbirds +
07/21 – Tallahassee, FL @ Sundown Summer Concert Series
07/23 – Mobile, AL @ The Merry Widow
07/25 – New Orleans, LA @ The Parish at House of Blues +
07/26 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall – Upstairs +
07/27 – Austin, TX @ 3Ten at ACL Live +
07/28 – Dallas, TX @ Three Links +
07/30 – Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad +
07/31 – Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar +
08/01 – San Diego, CA @ Casbah +
08/02 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Moroccan Lounge +
08/03 – Anaheim, CA @ The Parish at House of Blues +
08/04 – San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel +
08/06 – Sacramento, CA @ Goldfield Trading Post +
08/07 – Arcata, CA @ Humboldt Brews +
08/09 – Eugene, OR @ HiFi Lounge +
08/10 – Bend, OR @ Volcanic Theatre +
08/11 – Portland, OR @ Aladdin Theater +
08/12 – Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern +
08/13 – Spokane, WA @ The Bartlett +
08/15 – Bozeman, MT @ Live from the Divide
08/16 – Salt Lake City, UT @ State Room
08/19 – Lyons, CO @ Rocky Mountain Folks Fest
08/21 – Omaha, NE @ Slowdown
08/22 – St. Louis, MO @ Duck Room
08/24 – Indianapolis, IN @ White Rabbit Cabaret
09/05 – Portland, ME @ Port City Music Hall
09/06 – Bar Harbor, ME @ Criterion Theatre
09/23 – Louisville, KY @ Bourbon & Beyond
     * w/ Jalen N’Gonda
     ^ supporting Lake Street Dive
     + w/ Adam Torres


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