EP Review: Warren Teagarden
Wow. Where to start with the seven track self-titled EP by Warren Teagarden? The influences heard on this EP are many and varied and totally fascinating. Throughout the first track, “Jennifer’s Dead”, I keep being reminded of The Crash Test Dummies. Something about the almost-spoken vocals and the way the instrumentals supplemented them was reminiscent of them. On other tracks, there’s this weird hint of a memory of some deep-voiced seventies singer that I heard on a cassette in someone’s car once … the kind of voice that conjures up the images of swirling colors and parties with people you’ve never met … the kind of voice that Patti Smith might’ve had if she had been born a man.
If I was going to pick a favorite song on the CD, I’d say Track 6, “The Calaveras Line”. It’s the song that doesn’t remind me so much of anyone else which allows me to concern myself less with the influences and just listen to the music. And it’s the song that seems to achieve the best balance between folk and punk, reaching a basic level of rock that … well, that just rocks out. The repetitive chorus makes it dance-able and the fun lyrics make it a sing-along song.
It makes sense that Warren is playing at Bottom of the Hill. His punk-rock-influenced brand of folk music goes well with the venue’s odd but good style. That show is going to be Wednesday, September 19th at 8:30; he’s playing with Palace Family Steakhouse and The Slow Poisoner. It costs $8.
Learn more about Warren and his music from his website and MySpace pages. And keep your eye out for an upcoming interview with Warren here on San Fran Voice.
Comments Off