I have to confess that even though I listen to a LOT of music, all the time, and experiment with lots of different genres, I STILL get psyched when I “discover” a new band.
There is that thing that goes sproing in your brain when you hear a track that literally makes you stop what you’re doing and listen… intently.
When a song hits like that I have to investigate. This happened recently when I heard a random track in a YouTube playlist that was pimping Goth and Post Punk and Shoegaze. The track turned out to be from a band called “Lightning Bolt”. It was incredible and different and immediately I went to my first stop Bandcamp. I wondered if there was a presence there. There was of course and I read about the band and noted that there were several releases. I listened to a few tracks to see if what I had heard was a one off. It wasn’t. The song that I heard was a good representation of their sound.
Next, I go back to YouTube and search for Live performances. The first one I came across showed me everything I need to see to fall in love with this band.
“Lighning Bolt” is a 2 man band. Just bass and drums. Sounds simple, but the way that they play is the thing. Brian Gibson who plays bass has run his bass through all manner of pedals and much like the band Royal Blood, has turned his bass into much more. It is like a whole other instrument, being a bass one second and then a grungy chord romp the next. It’s amazing.
Then, the drummer, Brian Chippendale is a complete madman. I liken it to that point in a drum solo when the drummer just completely lets loose and goes off the rails and just pounds for all they are worth for a minute. Only Brian does this straight through the whole song. He also “sings”. I put that in quotes since what he does is more of vocal treatments, with an equal array of pedals to put echo and wha-wah and phasing on his vocals. It’s not so much vocals as another instrument. He wears a mask that houses the mic in it. There is no way a mic on a stand would survive what he is doing.
To get a taste of Lightning Bolt in action I recommend the video Live at Andy’s Bar, Denton TX 4/13/2023:
For the record, if you are into what Brian Chippendale is laying down you can find his solo stuff under the moniker “Black Pus”.
I was gifted 2 Lightning Bolt albums for my recent birthday. Thanks Cindy!
“Lightning Bolt – Wonderful Rainbow”
The song titles are funny in a way since there are not really vocals that you can related to, you just have to know it by the vibe. Insides have that wonderful art too.
and “Lightning Bolt – Earthly Delight”
This is a 2 record release, but in keeping with the weirdness of the band, the 4th side is just etched. Hard to get a really good shot, but this will give you the idea.
I have of course absorbed everything available on Bandcamp and watched most of the live full shows. The crowds go nuts at these shows, the energy is off the charts.
Brian Chippendale does the art for the albums and you can find a few YouTube interviews with him where he shows some of his collage artwork and other work. He is a very interesting guy and also has a comic out there called “Puke Force” which has great ratings. He is a creative force and I’m glad I stumbled onto this band and his work.
I recommend you check it out if you are at all in a place to experience some noise rock mayhem with a heart.
The Aural Retentive 