Dude Cervantes & the Panchos – Self-Titled
This band has moments of Strawberry Alarm Clock (“Me & the Township”) psychedelic fauna but never get their music into a psychedelic pop configuration for long. What surfaces like algae & is far better in their psycho-rootsy bravura is evident on each tune (“Billion Dollar Art”). The melodies are roots-oriented, but the guitar solos go off into a fiery gust of fire-eater gasoline spewing flames of notes. Wow, that’s a mouthful.
What’s surprising is that the lengthy tunes never emerge with any pop-silliness or cleverness like much of early psychedelic music. They’re not like Pink Floyd’s “Piper at the Gates of Dawn.” Closer to early LPs of the Grateful Dead. So, Nashville-based Dude Cervantes skillfully unwraps 6 garage-rock inflected anvil sparking tunes that start with “It’s a Beautiful Day” a well-performed piece that’s half-Doug Sahm & half Scott Kempner & the Del Lords. It’s still a good introduction to the fluid, tightly performed tunes on Dude Cervantes & the Panchos – Self-Titled (Dropped Oct 2/Blind Owl Records/43:02).
I don’t hear much true psychedelic goings on because the production is more rooted in a Beat Farmers, Del Lords & Sir Douglas Quintet soil. No synth coiling & aggressive Jimi Hendrix improvisations. Yes, there’s guitar wah-wah splashes, & whammy bar pulls but psychedelic was far more spacey than this (The Count 5, Electric Prunes, Status Quo & even Germany’s Amon Duul II). This band is more like the Music Machine (“Talk, Talk”). But aficionados of psychedelic rock won’t be disappointed. I admit there’s a good Syd Barrett attempt with titles like “Thank You (For the Sofa”) that suggests that first Pink Floyd LP.
A chugging opening comes with the wall of guitars on “Saturday Night,” & spills vocally more into a J. Geils Band groove dipped briefly in a Status Quo guitar-bath. The Dude’s put together an exciting repertoire. True to the genre with its rootsy blend with the incendiary guitars.
A wise inclusion is the warmer “Get In Line” you can sense the coals in this fire are still smoldering. It’s a rock arrangement stoked by rap exuberance. Good move, smart move & enticing. Cervantes sings with authority & appealing aggressiveness. The children will be spilling their Cokes on the dance floor. “Lesson Learned” is pure Del Lords & done to a ripening sweetness. The hook is a Captain Beefheart-type deep vocal growl applied with animalistic fancy. Dude sings this with rock authority. A good bonus is “California” — pure garage rock made with whisky, not beer.
Highlights – “It’s a Beautiful Day,” Thank You (For the Sofa),” “Billion Dollar Art,” “Saturday Night,” “Get In Line,” “Lesson Learned” & “California.”
Musicians – Dude Cervantes (guitar/piano/electric piano/organ/vocals), Dylan Donovan (guitar), Ryan Grenda (bass), Justin De La Vega (drums/percussion) with Jody Bagley (electric piano/organ).
Color image courtesy of Anna Norwood. CD @ https://dudecervantes.com/
Enjoy some of our previous coverage here: Interview: Dude Cervantes on Music, Guitar Solos and Vibes