This week’s playlist comes courtesy of Go On Gunslinger, one of Cleveland’s up-and-coming rock ‘n roll outfits. The raucous five-piece is Jacob Gunn (vocals/guitar), Will Krause (bass), Kevin Hobson (lead guitar), Justin Howell (keyboards) and Kyle Leuszler (drums). We like their sound and their wild antics. I met them at Heights Music Hop, where their drummer thought he’d pull a fast one and snap my pic while I was trying to capture an artsy shot of the band. Don’t worry–I got him back.
If you’re in Cleveland, check them out at Happy Dog tonight with Good English, Cadaver Dogs and Joe Joyce. You’d better believe this show is gonna be a lot of fun. Hell, you might forget how cold it will be outside…or maybe you’ll just drink enough whiskey to warm you up. See you there! 9pm, $5 admission.
PRESS PLAY: GO ON GUNSLINGER – THE TRACKLIST & WHY THEY PICKED ‘EM:
1. “Numb” by Gary Clark Jr.
Kevin says: “This song grabs my soul every time I listen to it. Everything from the lyrics to blistering guitar tone knocks me off my feet. Gary is a major influence in my guitar playing. Seeing him live last year was a life changer for me. When he closed out with “Numb,” I left the venue speechless. The sound of the bass and drums going right with that main guitar riff was incredible.”
2. “Black Dog” by Led Zeppelin
Will says: “When one begins one’s journey into musical exploration, there is no better place to start than with one of the gods of the rock pantheon. As a young adolescent, Zeppelin’s music established a standard on which I would base my musical taste for the rest of my life. The sheer power, swagger, and technical ability of Plant, Page, JB, and JPJ inspired me to learn guitar and spend countless hours attempting to play along with their albums. Truly the epitome of inspirational.”
3. “Get Out! (Before You’re Empty Inside)” by Cadaver Dogs
Go On Gunslinger collectively says: “Have you ever wondered what would happen if you lit some candles and left the records Led Zeppelin 1 and Black Sabbath out on a rose petal covered bear skin rug with a bottle of cheap whiskey?! You get a R’N’F’N’R mutt called Too Much! (To actually get a copy of Too Much you need to buy it from Cadaver Dogs or Mind Over Matter Records…) It is hard to pick a song from Cadaver Dogs to put on this list so we suggest you listen to all of them at full volume while drinking a handle of your favorite whiskey…It’s rumored that if you play this record loud enough Elvis shows up to party.”
4. “Introducing Foxy” by Foxy Shazam
Kyle says: “Foxy is going to be one of the things I miss the most in 2015. Because of Foxy Shazam, I have so many great friends and memories spread across a dozen cities and 30+ shows. Their record Introducing will always hold a special place in my heart. If it wasn’t for Foxy Shazam, I may never have met Mat Franklin, who would never get a chance to introduce me to his band Cadaver Dogs. If I was never introduced to Cadaver Dogs, I never would have been introduced to Lex Vegas. If I had bought a copy of Introducing from Mat when he was slinging merch at one of those many shows, I wouldn’t have gotten the crazy idea to trade Lex a custom snare for one of his copies. If I never traded Lex the snare, I might not have built any drums in 2014.”
5. “The Bold Arrow of Time” by Tame Impala
Will says: “These guys combine Pink Floyd-esque psychedelic rock with a more modern balls-out rock that brings a fresh sound. This song embodies all that I love about this band. It inspires me that I can look at a relatively new band and still be reminded of the classic rock’n’roll of past generations. It tells me that there are still countless ways to explore the rock genre.”
6. “Lenny” by Stevie Ray Vaughan
Kevin says: “Lenny is simply my favorite guitar composition. Ever. Stevie wrote this song for his wife. You can feel every single note that he plays. Stevie’s guitar tone in this song has inspired the way I like my guitar to sound.”
7. “Spirit in the Night” by Bruce Springsteen
Jake says: “This is another story-telling masterpiece that takes you into a different time and place. Springsteen’s early years of trying to be the love child of Van Morrison and Bob Dylan are some of my favorite from his catalog. The line “I said ‘I’m hurt,’ she said ‘Honey let me heal it'” cuts into me every time. Isn’t that what we all deep down really want from love, a little healing?”
8. “Song For The Dumped” by Ben Folds Five
Justin says: “I first heard this song when I was 16. It was right after I had gotten my license, and I was taking my cousin home. She put Whatever & Ever Amen in my mom’s van’s CD player, and skipped ahead to track 5. My life changed forever that day. Ever since then, I have strived to be a great songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, just like Ben. His music has always greatly impacted me and I know it will only continue to do so.”
9. “Everything Is Alright” by Motion City Soundtrack
Kyle says: “Tony’s drums are so creative and a perfect balance to Matt’s bass lines. If Tony is the reason I got into Motion City Soundtrack, then Justin’s lyrics are the reason I’ve stayed. Tony Thaxton is the reason I just HAD to have a Pacific drum set, why I grew out those terrible sideburns, cut all my Dickies into shorts and wore stupid, striped, high tube socks. Kevin and I played this song in a band we were in years ago. Recently on a trip to Columbus, to see Good English, we relived every moment of the 2005 Nintendo Fusion Tour with a super loud, super tone deaf (that’s my bad) sing-a-long.”
10. “Heartbreaker” by Good English
Go On Gunslinger collectively says: “These ladies are surely going to break some hearts at the Happy Dog! Liz’s voice is hypnotic in this song. She’ll have you singing the super catchy chorus for hours. The guitar solo comes out of nowhere and really backs you in to a corner…Liz we’re still trying to figure out what we’re going to say to “her”…but we promise we’ll make it right.”
11. “Thin Blue Flame” by Josh Ritter
Justin says: “Thin Blue Flame is one of those songs that you need to keep up with. Josh is one of the greatest lyricists of our time and this song is proof of that. You won’t fully understand it on the first listen. In fact, I’ve been listening to it for years, and there’s still plenty left to interpret. But it’s a powerful, thought-provoking song that’s worth everyone’s time.”
12. “Christmas Card from A Hooker in Minneapolis” by Tom Waits
Jake says: “Every once in a while you come across a song that makes you want to stop trying because it’s so good – this is one of those songs for me. I feel extremely happy every time it comes on, but also feel extremely hopeless. “Where is the devil, I’d like to sell my soul to be able to write songs this good?” The richness of the characters paints a stylish noir in this alternative universe that you’re transported to. If you’re not smoking a cigarette while listening to this song than I doubt you’re getting the full affect.”
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