From England To Texas

Tony Peyser
Mirror contributing writer

   Pleasingly unpretentious Pub Rock flourished at neighborhood watering holes in England in the early 1970s. Two newly-released prime examples of this often overlooked, good-time genre are Ian Gomm’s 24 Hour Service and Brinsley Schwarz’s What IS So Funny About Peace, Love & Understanding? (Gomm was in Brinsley Schwarz with my personal music hero, Nick Lowe, and they wrote some memorable songs together.)
   Gomm’s other recent album, Rock ‘N’ Roll Heart, absolutely won me over and so does 24 Hour Service which was recorded live in 1979 but is only being released now. “Airplane” is about a world overrun with loud jets overhead. Its ticked off lyrics and juiced up melody are more addictive than honey-roasted airline peanuts. Another corker is “Dirty Lies,” which sounds like The Doors’ “L.A. Woman” played as a New Wave rave-up. And the pulsing title track has such an early 1980s sound going on that it’ll send you searching into your closet for some skinny black ties. Gomm is a true keeper of the pub rock flame.
   Brinsley Schwarz’ What IS So Funny About Peace, Love & Understanding? also has previously unreleased recordings. These were made at the BBC between 1972 and 1975. There’s a rough but playful spark to the performances that shows why critics for years have gone wild over these lads who never made the splash they deserved to. Brinsley Schwarz was the first band to sing the Lowe-penned title track, which has become a rock standard and their version here is a true delight.   Most people know Elvis Costello’s snarling 1979 version from Armed Forces (which Lowe produced.) I actually prefer the Brinsley Schwarz recording, which has some really sweet vocals in the chorus. Better yet, their voices soar perfectly on the line, “Where is the harmony, sweet harmony?” It sounds like Queen ducked into the studio just to sing back-up on those six words. I’m such a hopeless junkie for these guys that I just bought four Brinsley Schwarz albums. Like this one, they’re all great.
   Let’s move from U.K. to the U.S. On Adam Carroll Live, one guitar, one harmonica and two songs are enough to convince you that he’s got it. “Red Bandana Blues” is a hyper-look at some aging hippies who are holding on to everything 1960s like classic rock radio stations cling to “Stairway To Heaven.” This song has been compared to early Bob Dylan and with good reason. “Sno Cone Man” is a talking blues number about how the title character helps a fellow meet the girl of his dreams.  It’s breezy, inventive, screwy, romantic, utterly original and reminded me of the famously loosey-goosey “Alice’s Restaurant.” If that weren’t enough —- and trust me, it is —- “Elvis” is about an imaginary run-in with Presley at a low-rent Carroll gig. The King, alas, is too drunk to leave the building. His behavior isn’t great but Carroll’s song sure is. Dylan, Guthrie and Presley are all good points of reference, but the truly talented and fabulously funny Carroll is best compared to Lone Star legend, Townes Van Zandt. And on top of that, he also possesses the antic humor of Lubbock legend, Terry Allen. Adding insult to injury, Carroll is just 27 years old.
   * The Goofy Band Name Of The Week is … Totem Pole Of Losers.