“White T Shirt” by Bad Flamingo – A Song Feature

 

     Bad Flamingo remain loyal to their sound, one that they own. Their music conveys the feel of present-day cowboy, featuring sparse instrumentation and a lyrical narrative that carries sufficient clarity to paint the intended scenery while leaving some open canvas for personal interpretation. Remaining true to their sound embodies the essence of the duo’s recurring quote – “Give a man a mask, and he will tell you the truth” (Oscar Wilde). Bad Flamingo always wear masks.
 
     "White T Shirt" is Bad Flamingo's most recent release.  Instrumentally, the start of the song features acoustic guitar. It isn’t until around the 1:24 mark that what sounds like an autoharp enters. The autoharp is a string instrument that sits in the zither family. The band’s website notes that the autoharp is played by “The one on the right” which is one of the many mysterious touches of the band’s description. Both members are attributed as being banjo players.
 
      Thematically, our interpretation of “White T Shirt” centers around reuniting with a first love. The other person appears to have initiated the reconnection, based on the lines “The water was still till you skipped that stone // Now I'm coming on home.” The early relationship was not necessarily a healthy one. Interestingly, this song joins a long list of tracks that make reference to the significance of 17 years old (for our first post about the musical significance of being 17, CLICK HERE). The best guesses at the lyrics are included at the bottom of this post.
 
     “White T Shirt” by Bad Flamingo

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Lyrics of “White T Shirt” by Bad Flamingo (some best guesses)
We got acres and acres of green
We got years and years of 17
The water was still till you skipped that stone
Now I'm coming on home
 
White T shirts fallin' to the floor
Been here before
Baby
Whiskey and cola from the corner store
Drunk as before
 
Your hands got rough
But your lips are still soft
The storms are still wet and summer's still hot
Leaning me back on the hood of your car
Old habits dying so damn hard
 
White T shirts fallin' to the floor
We've been here before
Baby
Whiskey and cola from the corner store
Drunk as before
 
First cop, first wreck, first everything
We still fit like the best damn blue jeans
 
Give me a hug, I’m off the wagon
Give me a…
Give me a…
I’m off the wagon
 
White T shirts fallin' to the floor
We’ve been here before
Baby
Whiskey and cola from the corner store
Drunk as before
 
Drunk as before
Give me a…
I’m off the wagon
I’m off…

“Radio” by Moon Veil – A Song Feature

 

      "Radio" starts with a slow-tempo intro, and the first three notes distinctly capture the Soft Rock essence reminiscent of Seals and Crofts' "Summer Breeze." But that essence is soon discarded by the emergence of a drum burst and a shout of “Hey!” The single by Moon Veil is more aligned with Classic Guitar Rock, although with soaring power vocals that rival those of contemporary bands such as Nothing But Thieves. It's worth noting that Moon Veil self-identifies their genre as "Pop/Psychedelic Rock."
 
     A more muffled shout of “Hey!” resounds at the 2:39 mark, just before Moon Veil's guitar skills seize the spotlight. “Radio” is a hook-laden single with a diversity that maintains its freshness from start to the final moments of sustained guitar anguish. Still, it is the guitar solo following the second “Hey” that stands out as the instrumental highlight. Perhaps fittingly, the most vocally isolated and demanding section of the song coincides with the conclusion of the guitar solo. Moon Veil is a force from both the instrumental and vocal perspectives.
 
      The band explains that “Radio" is a song “about being out on the open road, leaving home, and finding the adventure that awaits—going so far that the only way for your past to hear you is on the radio! It marries a driving rhythm and bass with atmospheric guitars, a rippin’ guitar solo, all tied together with smokey but smooth vocals.” Moon Veil is based in Manitou Springs, Colorado. The social media of the band submit that they are “5 dudes making trippy music in the attic of an old house and in venues.” The members are Korben Mitchell (vocals), Julian Dillon (guitar), Jon Murphy (bass), James Phillips (guitar, synth), and Skye Lewis (drums).

 
      “Radio” by Moon Veil

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Quoting content regarding of Moon Veil:
     Moon Veil is a young and promising Psychedelic Pop Rock band from Colorado that began their journey in January of 2022. Despite their short time together, the band has already started to make a name for themselves in the music scene with their unique sound, blending vintage guitar riffs and synthesizers with a grooving rhythm section, catchy pop melodies, and mind-bending yet relatable lyrics. Formed by friends and music veterans Korben Mitchell (lead vocals), Skye Lewis (drums), Julian Dillon (guitar), Jon Murphy (bass), and later adding James Phillips (lead guitar and synth), Moon Veil was born out of a shared love for the music of the 60s and 70s, as well as a desire to create something fresh and original.
     Their upcoming debut album promises to be a mesmerizing and dreamy journey through space and time, and they just released their first single “Radio” in September, 2023. With their talent and dedication, Moon Veil is poised to become a rising star in the world of Psychedelic Rock, and fans are eagerly waiting to see what they will come up with next.

“Ignorance Is Violence” by Sweet Imperfections – A Song Feature

 

     The song delivers a wealth of praiseworthy characteristics, but the multifaceted vocals most powerfully draw a listener into the force of “Ignorance Is Violence.” Perhaps most striking is the children’s choir that enters just beyond the two-minute mark of the single by Sweet Imperfections. The choir is appropriate, because younger and future generations are most likely to benefit from following the lyrical message of taking better care of our planet.
 
     Originally, the children’s choir is isolated, but later it harmoniously joins Bri Schillings, who performs under the moniker Sweet Imperfections. Schillings’ vocal style is also varied, ranging from a Miley Cyrus-like back-of-the-throat delivery at the start to moments of more pristine vocal purity. To top off the vocal richness of “Ignorance Is Violence, the conclusion includes a poignant snippet from a Greta Thunberg speech in the background.
 
     Still, it would be an error to refer to the single as a vocals-driven track. The lyrics are powerful. While Indie Obsessive tends to steer around politically controversial songs, the strength of a song sometimes takes control of the wheel. Bri Schillings explains that “Ignorance Is Violence” was written during a road trip in 2021, while in shock over the lingering smoke from the devastating wildfires that ravaged California. “She witnessed the effects of our ignorance around the pressing subject of climate change and the violence of our ignorance we were experiencing firsthand.”
 
     The lyrics begin “Smoke filled air covering the earth everywhere we go // It feels like the whole world is getting ready to explode,” setting the tone for the inspiring single, as the wailing guitar line cries for help. With a driving beat, the song ebbs and flows, injecting us with hope and determination to make a change. Hoping to raise awareness of climate change, Schillings releases “Ignorance Is Violence” to inspire individuals and groups to take action to counter the impacts of climate change.
 

     The website of Sweet Imperfections describes the band as “singer songwriter Bri Schillings and a collective of Southern California’s most talented musicians and writers.” They are based in San Diego. A press photo from an earlier release ("Be Brave") is embedded.

     “Ignorance Is Violence” by Sweet Imperfections

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