CD Review: Left Hand Smoke
Grammy winner Dave AlvinLocal band releases rockin’ crazy ‘Nonsense’
For those who hadn’t heard of Left Hand Smoke, some may wonder where you have been these past couple of years. They’ve headlined countless sold-out shows throughout the Pacific Northwest and the average customer ratings on the band’s first two albums were both five out of five stars at amazon.com. People just can’t get enough of their music.
Now, Seattle’s diamond-in-the-rough band is back with its third CD. “Nonsense Parade,” the album following 2001’s “So Many Faces” and 1999’s “Left hand Smoke,” seems to be heading in the same path of success as the first two albums.
The best way to describe Left Hand Smoke is to say it sounds like Van Morrison met with B.B. King and collided with Train on the way up. The band’s newest CD is a mixture of soulful old school rock, R&B and alternative, a unique sound set with the first album’s release over four years ago.
Lead singer Ben Mish said the title “Nonsense Parade” is based on the idea that once you understand things, they lose their beauty, a profoundly deep outlook in this real world of materialism. The CD features an array of talented artists, such as acclaimed keyboardist Wayne Horritz on the organ in track 2, “Beautiful Soon.” The third song on the CD, “Get What You Deserve,” features Kathi McDonald, a former Ikette with the Ike and Tina Turner Revenue and a backup singer on the Rolling Stones’ 1972 album, “Exile on Main Street.”
The CD deserves a full score on any rating, with music that creatively fits to the human ear. And soon would-be fans can hear the group for themselves.
Friday, Oct. 3, the Shoebox will host Left hand Smoke’s “Nonsense Parade” release party. Doors open at 8 p.m., and opening act The Bradbury Press starts its set at 9:30. The headliners will appear at 11:30. Tickets are $12 and are available through www.ticketswest.com, 1 (800) 325-SEAT, the Showbox box office (cash only) or select grocery stores. Call (206) 628-3151 for more information.