Band of Skulls Play 2009 Lollapalooza
British Import Draws White Stripes Comparisons, Massive Applause
Aug 16, 2009
Band of Skulls have been working their way from England (Southampton specifically) to the United States in support of their debut album, Baby Darling Doll Face Honey (Shangri-La). A recent stop in their tour had the band playing the now land-locked mega-three-day-festival, Lollapalooza where they drew many a comparison to The White Stripes for their classic groove-fuzz sound.
"People often refer to the White Stripes when talking about Band of Skulls," writes Spin Magazine's staff in their August 9th, 2009 online publication,"likely because the British three-piece has a similar guy-chick blues-rock thing going on with vocal-swapping guitar player Russell Marsden and bassist Emma Richardson."
Reason for the Name Change
The band, Russell Marsden (guitar, vocals), Emma Richardson (bass, vocals) and drummer Matt Hayward haven't called, Band of Skulls all that long. They began their lives as Fleeing New York and provided details on that fact to Laura McDonald of the Denver Music Examiner before their show on August 6th.
"We had this band a few years ago and we ran into some trouble with some people we were working with," Hayward explains. "We took some time off, regrouped, started writing some new songs, and it just felt like a different band. There were some band connotations with the last name, so we cut that off and started fresh." He smiles and finishes, " It worked out pretty good."
Inside Baby Darling Doll Face Honey
Band of Skulls debut disc bristles with an out-of-time fuzz whale that is at once melodic and ear razing. From the first notes of Marsden's vocal and guitar mimicking "Light of the Morning," the British rock trio grip the crown long held by bands like Cream, and seek to make it their own. The dueling vocals of Marsden and Richardson paces its way through the album's tracks and is highlighted by the groove-shuffling "I know What I am" which has the two trading lines as Hayward keeps rock solid time.
One of the more brooding, near Sabbath-Zep-amalgam tracks is, "Blood." I don't need your opinions/
What I got is alright/ I know you're bleeding baby, But you're not bleeding blood/ Blood," coos the velvet drenched vocals of Emma Ricardson before giving way to the wah-wah soaked guitar of Marsden.
The Continuing Tour
Band of Skulls will continue their tour of the United States through August and into September before heading up to Canada. One date of interest has them playing Brooklyn's Union Hall on August 20th, 2009.
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