TK Webb & The Visions Ancestor Kemado 2008

TK Webb & The Visions Ancestor Kemado 2008 CAT# KEM 079

Years ago, I saw a young TK Webb play a show with Proudentall...and someone else at the Bottleneck.  The performances were taped and simultaneously a CD-R was created to pass out to show goers.  Kind of a cool idea, pretty sure it was Matt Dunehoo's of Proudentall.  Wish I still had that CD somewhere so I could compare it to the more modern-day TK Webb.

Honestly, I don't remember the stuff on the CD being that great, just a bunch of blues riffs with some grumbling on vocals.  The Kansas City guitarist has done a TON of stuff since that show.  Played in the Only Ones, moved to New York, did some proper solo-releases and this project with a band dubbed the Visions.  This a bit more polished and slick.  Still blues-based riffs, but far more entertaining.

My only problem with his work is everybody that reviews it is so quick to call out all old blues legends, like Muddy Waters and Blind Willie Johnson.  Uhm, probably shouldn't being going that far back, the furthest anyone should go back is Eric Clapton, but yeah, that's dumb as well.  And, it's besides the point, because outside of blues based riffs, there's a lot of indie rock in Webb's tunes.  You could argue that the tunes found here are closer to Dinosaur Jr. than they are Muddy Waters.  Wait, there's really no argument, this has nothing to do with Muddy Waters outside of the electric guitar.

You see, when you start comparing dudes to blues legends and that guy is white, people just start thinking Jack White and the White Stripes.  While it'd be cool if all the White Stripes fans bought TK Webb albums, that it isn't going to happen.  Bigger point being, Jack White is lame hack.  Sure, he's a great guitarist and all, but c'mon, it's regurgitated songs, it's regurgitated albums...It's all getting boring and lame.  If you want to listen to an artist or band do the same album over and over, listen to AC/DC, they're better than the White Stripes.  If you want a challenge, then dig deep and discover stuff like TK Webb.

TK WEBB & THE VISIONS - ANGELS

Mystic Number National Bank Self Titled Command/ABC/Probe 1969

Mystic Number National Bank Self Titled Command/ABC/Probe 1969 CAT# CPLPS 4501

Oddly obscure Kansas City heavy psych band.  Very blues based, riding in on the style of Cream, with tons of pedals and effects to make up for the fact that they didn't feature the same level of talent.  Apparently, outside of some super obscure local 7"s, this is the entire output of the band.

Kind of head stractcher.  The whole package is strange.  It was put out by ABC's Command label which was mainly an output label for Enoch Light and released tons of easy listening and lounge albums throughout the 60's.  The label was heavily focused on recording techniques which might explain a the absurd amount of studio effects used on this album.  They weren't really known to release rock records.  They were also thrown on ABC's Probe label, which was focused on International success and progressive groups.  The gatefold LP also has a die-cut feature in which you can open up the vault to see the band.  Overall, it just seems like a lot of money to dump into a debut LP.

The inner gatefold does have some liner notes written by John Arnoldy of the band.  He says what everyone knows about the Kansas City area growing up, "Childhood was boring."  But, there's a brief KC history of the band, some members joined the army and others attended the Kansas City Art Institute until the band was signed and tried out San Francisco.  But, outside of that, there's not a lot of info out there on this band.

The album isn't bad.  It isn't great either.  Between 1969 and say, 1971, there was a ton of bands doing this sound.  The LP hasn't gone unnoticed, there was a German reissue done and people champion some of the tunes that are into obscure heavy blues rock from this era.  However, the production isn't as raw and threw in some horn arrangements as likely bid for radio play.  It doesn't blow you away with heavy psych sounds.  There is a few tunes though that are worth checking out, namely "Beautician Blues."  Apparently the lead singer, Glenn Walters stuck around in San Fran, gigged in some other bands and made a career singing for commercials and movie soundtracks.

Blues So Bad & Beautician Blues