By: David de Young
 Firetrucs at the Uptown Bar - Photo by David de Young (click for larger version) |
Members: Tony Parks - Guitar/vocals Official website: http://www.firetrucs.com |
I'm the luckiest music fan in Minneapolis. I came home from work on Monday to find not one, but two new CD's stuffed in my mailbox. One was the new Friends Like These soon to be released CD "I Love You", and the other was Firetruc's 2002 "Hovercraft LP." Led by lanky singer and guitarist Tony Parks, I'd caught a smidgeon of Firetrucs live before. But because I'd previously only heard one or two songs so I was expecting a somewhat heavy, dark music; I didn't realize how memorable and catchy some of these songs would be when I first heard them on CD. My first reaction was quite positive and much to their credit since they do play a heavier brand of music than what I'm normally prone to listen to (for pleasure anyway.)
So now I'm faced with the predicament of making comparisons in musical territory that I'm not terribly familiar with. I was hard pressed while listening to the CD to come up with any clear influences. Clearly Weezer came to mind because of a direct reference in "Hats off (to Rivers Cuomo)", but they don't really sound like Weezer. Brian Gruidl's driving bass reminded me of the Cure at times, and maybe the deeper cuts on the 1980's one hit wonders the Vapours still more obscure two album catalog. But again, they don't really sound like either of those bands either. I did identify a specific Imperial Teen influence in the CD's fifth track "No Sound." So maybe you're starting to get the picture here. This is still guitar heavy pop-rock. But throughout the album there's musical dissonance that gives the album emotional depth. And a definite originality and commercial viability run throughout.
Things cleared up still more for me when I saw this band live for the first time Thursday night at the Uptown bar. After a respectable, heavy and punky set by openers set by Seconds Before, Firetrucs took the stage starting out with "Hovercraft." I was immediately impressed with the large live sound of this 3 piece. Shane Spelts drumkit featured striking (no pun intended) ultra-high cymbals. (See picture above.) And if you think that's cool, Shane says he's soon to be acquiring a 28 inch bass drum. Without being asked why, he told me, "Because nobody does stuff like that anymore."
Whenever I see a band that somehow seems larger than the venue they're playing, I'm always impressed. And that was the case with Firetrucs who were clearly pro enough they'd be just as comfortable on the stage at the Excel Center opening for a well-known national act. Their music is gripping, and the audience was attentive. Lead singer Tony Park's vocals and versatile guitar nail these songs directly to your forehead. Brian Gruidl's bass, often elaborate, always accurate, can only be described as a critical. On their fourth song "Telephone" Gruidl was bounding all over the stage in larger than life rock and roll showmanship.
Someone mentioned that Shane Speltz hit himself in the head with a drumstick during a drum twirl on "Downtown," but I only noticed that when he lost a stick during this song he'd grabbed a new one without any interruption as the slow hypnotic strains of the song continued. My eyes were drawn to the red crushed velvet guitar box housing Tony Parks' spare guitars.
At the end of the song Parks remarked "The kids always like the 9 minute slow ones, and broke into "Anthumb." It was then that I distinctly heard the Porno for Pyro's influence that in retrospect was all over the earlier part of the set as well. Perry Ferrel-like dissonant and interesting chord progressions and harmonies run throughout the poppy sound of many of their songs. Then a set highlight, "Hat's Off (to Rivers Cuomo)" featuring the downright brilliant line "If we're breaking up I'm taking back my Pinkerton" referencing the critically acclaimed album by Weezer featuring the song "The Good Life." After the song Parks joked that he and the guys from Casanatra who were to headline the night had noted that if they played together they might call themselves Casanatrucs. Ha ha.
"Two to Be Twisted" ended the band's set with a slow, ambient bass thing going on that even my notes say was cool as hell. As the band finished I turned to my companions (whom at this show happened to be Joe Warner and Matt Z., a couple members of bluesy popsters Mutt) and all I could say was "Wow."
Try to fit Firetrucs into your music going schedule and prepare to be surprised.
Location Info:
Uptown Bar and Café
Artist Info: Firetucs
Share this story:
Article comments powered by Disqus