Un, deux, trois, quatre...
Right there under your nose is where you’ll find perhaps the greatest rock band that America has ever known. If you think about it, the competition is not very fierce. I mean, go ahead and give me the best band that our bastion of freedom has ever produced: __________. If you were being honest, and not overvaluing your own bias (like I am), you probably came up with either Pearl Jam or Aerosmith. Rock solid outfits, sure, but a far cry from the gods that have come from our lymie older brothers in the motherland. (Those lymie’s, by the way, are MAJOR supporters of the work of E-6, much more so than here in The Ranchlands.) So, the pool of American bands to choose from is a shallow one, and at the bottom of this diluted swimming pool of filth, barely breaking the surface of the still, murky brown fluid, alongside the rusted Huffy bicycle frame and the deflated basketball, you will find my beloved Electric 6.
I gained E-6 consciousness sometime in 2004 or 2005. Even then, I thought they were nothing more than the geniuses that brought the world the album FIRE and the two closest things to hits that the band has ever produced: “Gay Bar” and “Danger, Danger High Voltage”
“Gay Bar”
“Danger High Voltage”
Months went by.
FIRE was an album that we’d play in the background on poker nights. The rest of the guys got to know and love it, but it was still just one of many CD’s that were in a rotation. The amusing novelty album that made you play a little air guitar to and stop in the middle of whatever you’re doing when you heard “STOP”…………………………….”CONTINUE!!!!”….
Months went by.
Much like Skynet, I’m not sure exactly when I gained self-awareness. At some point I realized that I was enjoying this music for more than a laugh and a catchy loop. I started to think these guys were really bad-ass and they might be doing something a little deeper than just forcing me to spend all my money at a Gay Bar. Dig a bit, hear something more, dig some more, hear something next level. Every album I acquired had something on it that made me continue down the righteous path. Switzerland, I Shall Exterminate…, Flashy, KILL….every one of them as good as the last, and surely better than almost anything else available.
I’m no music reviewer, and I’m not going to get much into their genre-bending musical calisthenics, but I can tell you that nearly every one of their tunes are catchy, smart, and dripping with allegory and sexual innuendo. The songs are often camouflaged by absurdity, but I believe that assists in fending off the masses to create an exclusive refuge for those who get it. I think the great bands require some investment. I feel that way about Radiohead, who is the Silver Medalist in my musical Olympics. You don’t just pop in the disc and fall in love, especially with their later stuff like King of Limbs, but after a fair amount of investment, the clouds part and the enlightened glow of the sun shines over you. Fuck everyone who doesn’t get it. That’s how I started to feel about E-6. The exclusivity, while probably not ideal for the bank accounts of the band members themselves, certainly makes it easy to go to a show and get a good spot up front.
I’ve seen E-6 about a dozen times. Seen them in Dallas, Austin, Houston, San Antonio and Atlanta. I’m seeing them this weekend in Dallas and Austin, and planning a trip to Cascadia to see 3 shows in Victoria, Vancouver and Whistler, BC in March. Three shows that fit nicely alongside a weekend snowboard trip. The shows are always fun as hell, and I think even a non-fan would say they enjoyed themselves.
So, one must ask, why hasn’t one heard of Electric Six? I really think the answer is that they don’t slot into a particular genre. Now, Pandora often puts them with The White Stripes and Gorillaz, which are cool bands, but to say a band is “like Electric Six” is to say that golf is “like tennis”.
Alright, this post is taking way too long, and I’m getting sick of it. My thumbs are killing me and I have to get off this toilet. A handful of people have asked me what they should listen to to get the idea. Here’s links to songs that will win your heart. The videos are either live or fan made but the songs are all E6.
I Wish This Song Was Louder: (The open to our radio show)
Dirty Ball:
Lucifer Airlines
Jimmy Carter:
I Buy The Drugs:
When I get to the Green Building
Rip It:
Infected Girls:
Pink Flamingos:
Heartbeats & Brainwaves
Every year I wonder if this will be the year that they “break out” or the year that “America” notices the smart asses in the back of the class, who happen to be smarter than the straight A students, but it never happens. That works for me. I’ll keep doing my part by supporting one of the most witty, original, talented band in the history of The United States Of America. Electric Six. Right under your nose.
Electric Six will join the Cirque Du Sirois show in studio at The Ticket on Saturday shortly after 1pm. They play Club Dada in Deep Ellum on Saturday night. Die.
