Kung Fu Hippies – North
This Minneapolis band is 25 years down the musical road. Their new LP was produced by Jon Herchert & recorded in Minnesota. The music is wonderfully charged & kicks off with “Days Gone By.” It’s a short 7-track set known as North (Drops March 28/Independent/33:25) that finally emerged after the band had some health detours that only made their determination stronger.
I’m not thrilled with the band’s name since I think their playing & their songs are better than that. Their talent has something the title doesn’t convey. They reek of good Americana-roots-rock dynamics & are purveyors of the aesthetic laid down by artists like The Bo Deans, Big Back Forty (“Blood”), C. Gibbs Group & Mighty Joe Plum (“Irish”).
Track 2 confirms this unit is a consistently good bunch of musicians with a signature sound that blooms brilliantly on “Brutus.” They provide a nice balanced showcase, generating guitar interplay & lots of depth to their vocal unison. Songs are well written, but good songs are one thing. When a band applies its signature sound (when they know they have one), their personality rises like cream to the top of the bottle. Their musical character is the magic potion – luck is the last ingredient. Unfortunately, luck isn’t something you can practice or learn.
This set is laid out like a good book. Each chapter flows. “It Seems To Me (That One Song),” if it had just a little more Americana-roots instrumentation, the song itself would be as good as anything The Band recorded. There’s a gentle, almost-Richard Manuel vocal — distinctive & warm. The musical element that was The Band is hard to capture, but that’s what this song comes close to. Other than that, this is another excellent Kung Fu Hippies tune. But the band’s name. It just doesn’t suggest they play this music with such affirmation.
I think garage band, saloon showcase. But they’re not. These guys can play & they have both hands on the wheel. I can’t blame the producer for anything — the sound is superb. The unison vocals by these men sweep a listener up. It’s like many of those aggressive Irish pub bands – Great Big Sea, Oyster Band, Spirit of the West, the Pogues & the Dropkick Murphys. It’s hard not to get swept up by these bands when they perform, & Kung Fu Hippies (at times) has that atmospheric thrust.
OK — maybe it’s too late to change the name. So, never judge a book by its cover. These guys have a sense of humor, but they can play. Oh, they can damn play.
Highlights – “Days Gone By,” “Brutus,” “It Seems To Me (That One Song),” “Northwoods Boy,” “Ely Town,” & “Cameo.”
Musicians – Frank Leonovich (vocals/lead guitar), Brad Ray (vocals/acoustic guitar), Chad Whittaker (vocals/bass guitar), Buzz Chopper (keys), Geofford Prettner & Mark Collins (drums).
Color image courtesy of Laura Halling. No formal website. CD at https://www.facebook.com/KungFuHippies/
