The Red Coats singer finds his rap voice on solo outing as Killer Sunset
Also a name change for Slow Season. Plus, a weekly events calendar.
Killer Sunset is a stylistic departure for The Redcoats singer Gabriel Francisco that probably felt like a risk.
It need not have.
This is ostensibly a rap project, and on the first release “Tales From the Online Beat Circus,” Francisco ditches any of the Red Coats classic-rock leanings to channel Eminem, Beastie Boys, even a lil’ bit of Lil Dicky.
“Recording over a beat that wasn’t organically made by me and the band was a foreign concept to me,” Francisco says.
“I tried to approach it as such.”
The five songs here are diverse, from a lyrical perspective, at least.
“Pollywog,” serves as an introduction an mission statement for the project.
“The Sam Jam” is a Dr. Seuss-ian/Lewis Carroll “Alice in Wonderland” look at Francisco’s friendship with … someone named Sam.
“Teya” is a kind of love song, about a summer fling Francisco had with “a really great gal.”
“Killer Sunset” is about cereal. Sort of. It’s a metaphor, obviously.
“The idea of the killer cereal came to me one day when I was looking in my pantry and saw the Cap’n Crunch next to the Hawaiian Punch,” Francisco says.
“The fact that they rhymed made me laugh. From there, it evolved to the idea of my music being irresistible, like a drug, which turned into this whole metaphor for drug abuse, and the tale of the spiral from initial contact, through to an actual death as a result.”
The album is fun and certainly stands as a showcase of Francisco’s vast skill as a singer (he does the hooks and backing vocals) and his prowess for mimicry.
“The Sam Jam” is classic Slim Shady-era Eminem, down to the “hello, my name is …” The verses on “Killer Sunset” could be ’90s outtakes from Beastie Boys.
But for me, Killer Sunset works best when Francisco finds his voice, like on “Sometimes Girlfriend,” which he describes as “essentially just a poem,” the words of which he lets “dance around the rhythm of the vibe” of the song).
“Tales From the Online Beat Circus,” is on streaming platforms now.
Visalia’s Slow Season is now Westing
After a two-plus year hiatus (you can’t blame them, there was a pandemic on) Visalia’s Slow Season is back.
Or, the band formerly known as Slow Season is back, anyway.
Earlier this month, the band announced the addition of a new guitar player (Ben McLeod) along with a new album (slated for 2022) and a new name.
Slow Season will now be known as Westing.
One assumes the band will continue with its louder-than-all Zeppelin-loving heavy-blues roots.
The band has a trio of shows slate for November, including a hometown stop at the Cellar Door with Fresno throw-back metal band Haunt. That show is Nov. 7. Tickets are $10 and all ages.
Events list Oct. 24-Oct. 30
Royal Clown Party, with Matthew Embry, Jacinda Potikian, Ron ‘Doc’ Morse and Blake Jones, 2 p.m. Oct. 24, Storyland. $6, $4 for children.
Ron Thompson’s Celebration of Life, 3 p.m. Oct. 24, Fulton 55. Free.
Hinds, Hearty Har, Dying Suns, 7 p.m. Oct. 28, Strummer’s. $14-$15.
Chromeo, DJ set, 9 p.m. Oct. 28, Fulton 55. $15-$30.
Shep’s Haunted Hallows Costume party with Bill Clifton Chicken and Whiskey Band, 7 p.m. Oct. 29, Shep’s Club. Free all ages.
Suga Free, 6 p.m. Oct. 29 at Tioga Sequoia’s Beer Garden. $25.
Halloween Punk Show with 1335, MKC, It’ll Grow Back, the Sunnydales and Loveseats, 8 p.m. Oct. 29, Fulton 55. $5.
The Smiths vs. The Cure vs. Depeche Mode, 9 p.m. Oct. 29, Strummer’s. $5.
Hellgang Halloween Ft. Mozzy, Oh Geesy Noodles, 7 p.m. Oct. 30, Azteca Theatre. $50-$200.
Emo Night, 8 p.m. Oct. 30, Fulton 55. $15-$18.
90s Night, 9 p.m. Oct. 30, Strummer’s. $5.
Tempest, 7 p.m. Oct 30, Full Circle Brewery District. $12-$15.
El Fantasma, Los Dos Carnales y mas, 5 p.m. Oct. 30, Chukchansi Park. $100 +
That’s it for this week. If you have anything you think I need to be looking at or listening to, feel free to let me know: jtehee@gmail.com