REVIEW: The Smokey Lonesome – “Desert Run” EP

The Smokey Lonesome – Desert Run EP

This is the Los Angeles band’s debut extended play & it’s built around the vocal twang of country with a pinch of rock n’ roll in a spare sound by musicians who have played together for 16 years.

Recorded in Venice, CA & produced by David Porter (vocals/guitar/percussion) & Natalie Fratino (vocals/electric & standup bass/percussion/Wurlitzer/accordion) the songs are allegedly inspired by the Southern California desert. Musically they try to capture the desolation, lonely immensity, magic & beauty of the desert.

They’re not without some grunge in their showcase, poetic road readings, an overnight to Tijuana, a ballad of misadventures, a suicide & staying out in the Mojave (Captain Beefheart’s favorite place…but it’s hot, as he said).

All the music developed is what Natalie calls “garage country.” There are only 5 pieces that take shape on Desert Run (Drops June 28/Independent/15:36). On first listen the vocals seem to be in a countrified B-52s type brew. That’s not bad, it’s clever since no one thinks of the B-52s with Fred Schneider as anything but a country-oriented unit. When Natalie adds her vocal it’s almost as quirky as Kate Pierson & Cindy Wilson.

“Frontera,” is a short simple narrative & it’s primarily the presentation that holds interest. No one in this band has vocal pipes. But this kind of music doesn’t always require pipes. It needs style & these musicians have enough to fortify a degree of interest. The band has percussion & a kit drum but none of the songs have a full set of drums or drummer. That could be a fault. But, I think, to a safe degree that may have worked in their favor since the minimum percussion has a Velvet Underground-type sweep percussively.

Not every song is sweet, some are like sweet tarts. But it’s all candy. Is it not? Track 3 “Desert Run,” is a shouted piece drenched in the kind of quirkiness that ‘70s new wave bands were enamored with. Think Talking Heads, B-52s & Flying Lizards & as far as country throw in Aztec Two-Step & Rank & File. This tune is the best of the lot.

The melodies are a little erratic but that shouldn’t deter listeners who like to discover new approaches to old genres. The band squeezes out moods & dirty tones. They’re fashioning something that hasn’t been fully developed (like the early Velvet Underground & MC5) but has its primitive ambition unfiltered in arresting blends. If they plan a full album they’ll need a real full-time experienced producer to flesh out the assets & cut away the gristle.

It’s not for everybody but what is? The Smokey Lonesome at least follow their muse & they’re shaking their fists at the slick corporate mainstream industrial complex of Nashville Country.

Highlights – “Frontera” & “Desert Run.”
Musicians – Dennis Fetchet (fiddle) & Kevin Jarvis (kit drums/additional percussion).
CD cover & tinted image courtesy of Dave Porter & their Facebook. CD @ https://thesmokeylonesome.com/
Song premiere: https://americanahighways.org/2024/05/28/song-premiere-the-smokey-lonesome-desert-run/