Listening Notes: Walk on Gilded Splinters
Robby on Dec 17 2006 at 5:16 am | Filed under: Culture, Lance's Page, Music, Robby's Page
Dr. John’s “Walk on Gilded Splinters” has been covered by a slew of artists from Humble Pie to Paul Weller, but the Dirty Dozen Brass Band’s version is the spiciest. The tight horn arrangement, underpinned by a rumbling tuba, is as dense and visceral as a thrash metal chord progression, and John Bell’s growling vocal is charged with voodoo charisma. While Dr. John’s original recording is creepy and menacing, foreshadowing trouble on the way, the Dirty Dozen’s take is the soundtrack to a post-apocalyptic Mardi Gras, where trouble has already moved in and changed the rules. They’re both great, so please, blues/roots purists, don’t shoot me if I prefer the cover.
Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Dr. John
EDITORIAL NOTE: I don’t mean to perpetuate tired and stupid New Orleans stereotypes with the voodoo and Mardi Gras references, but damn it, that’s what it reminds me of, and if that bothers you, disregard my previous request not to shoot. Metaphorically, of course.
Lance-I won’t shoot you because I can’t escape the stereotypes either. Listening to these pieces reminds me of watching young girls dancing on the pool table in uptown at F&M Patio bar the Saturday night before Fat Tuesday before wandering off to Miss Mae’s (the original) because we know we can still be there at when the sun comes up. Or, maybe it takes me to that Sunday morning after the previous nights revelry which stretches into the late afternoon at the Erin Rose just off Bourbon Street (and by the way Pogue, if you come visit we are going to spend some time there, I promise.) Irish music, Johnny Cash, The Ramones, Dr. John and all manner of other things on the Juke box. Of course there is always the King of the Fog, but that is a whole ‘nuther story, and probably should be a drunken lullaby at Pogue’s place. Besides, you should write that one, not me. So I am keeping my gun in my holster.
Technorati Tags: Dr. John, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Walk on Gilded Splinters, F&M Patio Bar, Erin Rose, Miss May’s
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I prefer the cover too. I’ve always been rather lukewarm on Dr. John, myself. This is the first time I’ve heard the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and I’m impressed.
I am a big Dr. John fan, though he is uneven. Still, I prefer the Dirty Dozen Brass Band’s cover as well.
I don’t value pure musicianship as much as many (especially musicians)but listening to it again it is hard not to be impressed with that aspect as well. James Mclean is absolutely wailing on guitar. Yeah, they are unappreciated. Last night some friends of Robyn and I were talking about an impromptu road trip to New Orleans. We didn’t do it, but right now I want to find out where they are playing and go.