More Thingz to Talk About ...

Garage Punk is defined by its rawness and deliberate lack of refinement. It prides itself in being, if you can believe it, the primal branch of Garage Rock. It’s only gleefully to proud to sound like Little Richard or Chuck Berry after about 20 tequila shots.

It’s tempting, especially amongst musicians and writers of more hoity-toity genres, that the music is so primordial that a trained monkey can play this kind of music.

Wrong. While Garage Punk might not have the complex chord progressions or intricate changes of, say, Be Bop, but it takes a skill all its own. With music like Garage Punk, or Blues, or many different kinds of Folk, the actual technique of playing is very simple.

A few guitar lessons and you’re there, as far as playing it. But making it sound good is a whole other challenge that many have failed.

And, as time goes on, Garage Rock/Punk bands do improve. One of the great pleasures we’ve had here at Garagerocktopia is watching how some of these bands have progressed. We started 2017 with a review of the Dogs’ fine new album, Death by Drowning.

We’re pleased to write about another new release from a band that has previously graced this blog, the Thingz. And they, too, have uncorked a dandy new work, Vault of Tomorrow.

The Long-Beach based garage-Punk combo, consisting of husband and wife team Mike and Kim Morris on guitar and bass, plus percussionist Jason Cordero, has made a giant leap forward both musically and stylistically for this album. While we liked all their stuff before, the band has achieved that very tricky feat that often causes other groups to come undone : to blaze new directions on one hand while keeping what it was that drew fans to their sound in the first place on the other

Vault of Tomorrow boasts and much more assertive and confident sound – an absolute must for Garage Punk.

“Hopefully we are progressing with each recording,” commented Mike Morris, chatting briefly via email.  “I would like each release to be better than the one before it.”

Garage Punk is one of those genres which, by its nature, should rely very little on technology and gimmickry. One of the keys to the improved sound of the Thingz’ new album is that the recording was about as straightforward as could be.

“Production was actually much simpler this time around,” Morris revealed. “The music was recorded live to 8-track analog tape with no overdubs.  Vocals were done on one track, lead and backing vocals sharing a mike.”

The Thingz
(L to R) Jason Cordero, Kim Morris, Mike Morris

The other thing that should leap out, especially to those already familiar with the band, is a much broader variety of sound, powered by an increased guitar presence.

There’s plenty of blazing punk-leaning rock on the new album. “Black Dust,” which has been out a

while, features one of the alum’s best hooks, as does the title song. Punchy cuts like “Almost Real,” “White Pants” and “Soul Mates” have the feel of good, second-wave punk.

But even more noticeable is a more pronounced lean towards blues and early R&B. We’ve often said here that with Garage Rock/Punk, you’re never more than a step away from the blues, and the Thingz offer the latest testament to that.

Bo Diddley has been an influence over seven decades to garage rock and punk, and Morris isn’t coy about citing that influence.

“All of those influences have been there from the beginning, we may simply be getting better at doing what we have always intended to do,” said Morris.  

“Good Trash, Bad Trash” is practically an homage to Bo Diddley. “Mercy Brown” also has a faintly Diddley-esque riff but really channels much more the sound of Johnny Otis. “Gospel Swamp,” meanwhile, with its slow, slinky beat, has Slim Harpo written all over it. And if that’s not rootsy enough for you, “Life and Fate” channels the rueful, early days of country music, pre-commercialization.

The album ends with a well-chosen cover of the Cramps “Human Fly.”

In short, this album is not just a big step forward for the Thingz, but just a good album period. Do check out their Bandcamp page. Remember, if we buy albums from the fine musicians who make the music, it enables and empowers them make more music. And in case you haven’t noticed,  the world really needs all the cool songs it can get right now.

We at Garagerocktopia are setting up some good interviews and hope to have more features very soon. Please feel free to leave comments at the end of our features – good, bad or indifferent.

We have had some of the very biggest names in this particular genre featured on our blog, but we’re more interested in cool music than in well-known music. if you’re in a band and think we should pay some attention to you, our email address is included in our profile but we’ll save you the trouble with this link here.

Thanks, and check back soon – more cool stuff coming up.