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| Operatic Acoustic Headbangers |
| band: Devil Dust |
| Album: Horseshoes & Handgrenades |
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THE DEVIL DOGS FROM WEST HOLLYWOOD
"No good opera plot can be sensible, for people do not sing when they are feeling sensible." ~ W. H. Auden
"It is just that heavy metal musicians write in minor keys, and when you do that, you frighten people." ~ Ronnie James Dio
"I'd say that what we hear is the quality of our listening." ~ Robert Fripp
Devil Dust has my respect. This acoustic band plays metal in spirit, with all the force and operatic scope without the distorted guitars while sitting in a neat row on barstools. Scooter's tenor voice could sing anything pitch perfect over a jackhammer and be heard, felt and understood. Krishna can play clean and all the way rock 'n' roll on a hollow body Gibson without effects boxes and deliver the power and spirit of metal, or pick a mandolin with authority. Chad Derick is a kick ass drummer with the dramatic and dynamic ability to bring out the drama in every song. Johnny Dean is the kind of creative bassist that can make a good song better, with a solo singing voice that could easily front another band.
I first saw Devil Dust in the worst and best of circumstances at Busby's on an oddly unsupported performance at the end of the night with no monitors working for the band to hear themselves and a room that echoes like a cavern. The band came to rock and wouldn't be denied. These guys took the stage with tons of attitude and not a hint of temper, waited for the soundman to show, and finally just played the hell out of their songs to the remaining crowd with enough rock 'n' roll spirit to whip the crowd into chaos. This kind of dramatic moment at a concert is why it pays to get out the house and see a band live. It doesn't happen often, but a screaming crowd of the faithful went rock 'n' roll, started standing on the coffee tables, flashing horns with both hands, and yelling crazy stuff to the band after every song. It was a great night.
The next performance coming was at The Gig, with fine sound support and acoustical tiling on the walls. The band was in Day of the Dead black and white pancake makeup and playing a clean and boozy gig to say goodbye to bassist Johnny Dean, who was leaving for Philadelphia to be with his son. I told the doorman about the Busby's gig, and got him to come in and listen. The true power of Devil Dust was in evidence at this more musical performance, and the drama and power of acoustic headbanging operatic rock was in full effect. This band has more than chops and the set that followed had built song after song to a powerful conclusion. The chaos of the Busby's performance was no fluke, it was the spirit of four guys with enough sex and anarchy in their bones to bring the metal with increasing undistorted power out of the hollow body or mandolin, standard drum kit and bass telling the rhythm of the story, and Scooter's ecstatic operatic tenor and commanding connection to the audience. That doorman thanked me for bringing him out of the cold and gave it up for Devil Dust. Most bands start loud and end loud and feel flat because of that. Devil Dust builds with every song, Krishna finally picking up the Les Paul for a little fire to burn down the house.
We will have to mourn the loss of Johnny Dean, who is not that dime a dozen bass player most bands get by with. This Devil Dust group is a band. They are smarter and nicer than the average working musicians, with enough warmth to literally get their neighbors to come out to the gig. Johnny brings a lot of heart to his bass and vocals, and this band has the heart to let him go with their good wishes since he is showing his love even in the leaving.
There is a little of Robert Fripp's League of Crafty Guitarists feeling about this band, sitting as they do on their bar stools. The songs tell the story and the music is grand opera, rock 'n' roll, high drama, and most of all undistorted metal played clean. Finally a band that understands that starting loud and staying loud isn't dramatic. And Scooter is… dare I say it… what the hell! Scooter is the Pavarotti of acoustic headbanging metal! I don't know what the Devil has to do with this band, but from the sound of it, he's a hell of a great guy.
THE SONGS:
SHE'LL BE GONE starts with cellos and an acoustic piano for a rich dramatic opening and Scooter singing, "Shut up! Sit down! Bang you head against the ground. Hang tough! Live long! By the morning she'll be gone." This song rails against the pain but the message is rock 'n' roll, and just plain right thinking good advice. "Move on." This symphonic rock power ballad is self-assured and says it just right. Go out and love again. For now, bang your head against the ground. Then move on. "You never know what life will bring."
WASTED WORLD begins with Krishna playing a fine acoustic road rhythm, with a Jew's Harp twanging out the irony of the hard rain that keeps following. "Is there more to my story or does it end right here?" Scooter belts a prayer! Devil be damned, I guess, hard times bring out the plea. "It just keeps raining down on me! Oh Lord, please help me. Where do I go from here?"
HIGHWAY KILLER swells under the storm with a mandolin playing over the ominous drama of a tuned timpani. "He doesn't really know what he's fight for. He's just a little boy in an old man's brain. He's just another killer with a gun in his hand." The darkness of a highway killer is undercut with an understanding of the futility of his actions. "He walks around at night. His feelings are locked up tight." We live with senseless violence, and this song describes it correctly. There is no enjoyment of the destruction. "He's just another killer with a gun in his hand."
"MAYBE HEAVEN's got a special place for people like me" sets Krishna loose on the Les Paul for a solo that is more dramatic than impressive. (Please understand that I think impressive is crap!) "They tried to pin me down to the crime but I was too legit." Scooter makes this song fly to the clouds. I understand this feeling. Accused, but not guilty. Maybe there's a place.
WALK WITH ME is sweet philosophy and a mandolin served up with a joy and more sense than Dr. Phil. "Take a chance in life. Walk with me tonight, okay." I think music consistently delivers this fine message. Take a chance, Cecil! Take a risk or you're half dead already. There is a hint at just how sensible this band is, and what a fine sense of humor they have. "I've never seen the inside of prison, but I've watched it on TV." Follow your heart, they seem to say. What the hell else you got?
DEVIL DUST:
Scooter - vocals
Krishna - guitars, mandolin, pianos
Johnny Dean - vocals, bass
Chad Derick - drums, percussion
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