The weird electronic rockabilly vibe of Capital Punishment's Dale Stewart
Plus, Big Elk's 'Mother' and an upcoming concert breakdown
Dale Stewart stopped doing live gigs a few years ago.
But he never stopped making music.
“I work on just one song at a time, writing and recording parts as I refine it into a finished product,” he says.
“That’s my gig.”
Stewart films himself performing the various instruments in his home studio, then cuts the footage together with some b-roll to create what he calls “video songs.”
The videos go up on Youtube. The audio versions are posted to Bandcamp and Soundcloud. All of it is available at www.stagedive-records.com.
Stewart is best known as a punk guitarist, having played in Fresno’s first (the Subtractions) and arguably most famous (Capitol Punishment) punk bands. He created a punk-through-the-ages cover band called Backstory, before delving into more acoustic work with the Dustups and his politically pointed solo work.
See: “Water Wars,” “I Threw a Shoe.”
Stewart’s most recent work is an amalgamation of sources.
“It’s Link Wray meets Vangelis,” he says.
“A mixture of electronica with rockabilly style guitar. Korg R3 synthesizer, telecaster through Mesa recto-verb, drums from band-in-a-box and my vocals.”
Last week, Stewart released a new single “The Way I Walk.” The song is a reworking of the 1958 rockabilly tune by Canadian singer Jack Scott.
“It is a kind of a mashup of my original music with established lyrics,” Stewart says.
Big Elk does Danzig
Thanks to Big Elk, aka Chris Elkins, I spend a decent amount of time searching through various covers version of Danzig’s 1988 song “Mother” (later redone as “Mother 93”).
It’s a song that’s been covered a lot.
Brass Against did a version. As did Ryan Adams and Lissie and even Cee Loo Green. The Intendents did a ska version. Wye Oak did maybe by favorite version for AV Club’s AV Undercover series.
And then, there’s Elkins who released an acoustic reinterpretation of the song early this month. You can check the video below.
Given Elkins voice, he could have delivered a fairly straight version of the song. Instead, he did an acoustic reinterpretation, reworking the melody almost completely.
Big Elk’s version is misses some of the visceral power or the original (and many of the covers), especially on the choruses. But it gains a kind of Green-Day “Good Riddance” pop sensibility that probably shouldn’t work, but totally does.
Bottom line: Your enjoyment here may depend on your attachment to the source material
Upcoming: Central Valley concerts breakdown
In case you missed any of these:
Pearl Jam is coming to Fresno, for what (and someone can correct me) is the first time. The band plays May 16 at the Save Mart Center.
The ticketing for this show is a bit odd. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster Verified Fan Registration, which is open through 10 p.m. tonight. You’re get an email tomorrow.
Sales begin 10 a.m. Tuesday.
All tickets are $136 (plus fees) and mobile only (sad news for those who still collect ticket stubs).
Also in May, the Mount Westmore Tour is coming to Selland Arena. That one features Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube and Too Short and E-40. Tickets are one sale now, but there’s few left unless you’re willing for settle of obstructed views on the side of the stage.
Vina Robles continues to add to its season. ZZ Top, Phoebe Bridgers and Flogging Molly with the Interrupters have all been added since I last checked, along with comedians Jim Gaffigan and Anjelah Johnson.
Fulton 55 announced it is bringing metal icons Anvil back to Fresno. That show happens July 15. Tickets are on sale now.
That’s it for this week. Remember you can now hear me on the Homegrown Show Sundays at 8 p.m. on New Rock 104.1 FM. If you have anything you think I need to be looking at or listening to, feel free to let me know: jtehee@gmail.com