Zero: “Naught Again” (2022) Vinyl Review

Through my passion for the Grateful Dead, I have been turned on to a lot of great music over the years. A radio program back in Massachusetts in the late 1980s called “Dead Ahead” played not only Grateful Dead concert tapes, but related artists and tracks. For example, it was that radio program that turned me onto Ornette Coleman, when Jerry Garcia played on Coleman’s Virgin Beauty album. That radio program also turned me onto the band Zero, which was formed in the early 1980s by Steve Kimock and Greg Anton, soon joined by John Cipollina. The band was originally largely an instrumental group. Its lineup changed quite a bit, and by the early 1990s, there were several more connections to the Dead, namely John Kahn, Vince Welnick and Robert Hunter. Naught Again is a live double album, featuring music recorded at The Great American Music Hall in San Francisco in October of 1992. These tracks are pulled from three concerts, October 14th, 15th and 16th of that year, and feature Steve Kimock on guitar, Greg Anton on drums, Martin Fierro on tenor saxophone, Judge Murphy on vocals, Pete Sears on organ and piano, Nicky Hopkins on piano, Vince Welnick on piano and vocals, John Kahn on bass, Bobby Vega on bass, and Liam Hanrahan on bass. Robert Hunter provides introductions, and co-wrote a couple of the songs.

Side A

Robert Hunter kicks off the album with a spoken word introduction that includes a Star Wars reference. “Long ago in a galaxy far away,” he begins. “Ladies and gentlemen, adjust your head sets and clear the channels for the first contact between intergalactic cultures. Five, four, three, two, one… Zero.” Then the band begins with “Cole’s Law,” a pretty instrumental tune, a sweet jam that has some country elements in the guitar work at times. Then Martin Fierro’s lead on saxophone is at first like a call out to the cosmos, a friendly greeting, and soon develops warmth as well as excitement. The piece has an overall welcoming and gentle vibe, something to put you in a good frame of mind. It was composed by Steve Kimock.

The leads straight into “Interlude,” a short jam connecting the two main pieces on this side of the record. “Interlude” goes straight into “Tangled Hangers,” and as this one begins, you can understand the comparisons between Steve Kimock’s playing and Jerry Garcia’s guitar work. If you love Garcia the way I do, then you’re likely already a fan of Steve Kimock’s work as well. This is a good jazzy piece featuring some wonderful stuff on saxophone. And the lead on piano has such a delicious, bright feel, as if designed to help push us right past any troubles or obstacles. This piece also has a cheerful groove, sort of in the same realm as “Eyes Of The World.” This is one of my personal favorites. It just has such a good vibe about it, seeming to grow and bloom.

Side B

The second side opens with “End Of The World Blues,” and indeed, things are getting bluesy now. Right away we get some seriously cool work on piano. This is one of the songs to feature lyrics by Robert Hunter. Here are the opening lines: “The wind is on fire/Nowhere to go/Just the deep blue sea/And the devil below.” Yeah, a song for our times, no question. And I love that stuff on organ. There is also a fantastic lead on saxophone. Could the end of the world sound this sexy? And check out these lines: “The birds don’t sing/Just stutter and curse/And it ain’t so bad/It couldn’t get worse.” The guitar lead seems to escort us through the fire, through a landscape that is dangerous and grim, the ground bursting into flames around us, but it feels like we are mostly intact as we reach the other side. Ah, the power of music to see us through!

“Golden Road” is an instrumental track that has kind of a funky vibe, and something of a New Orleans flavor as it starts, particularly in that rhythm. Yeah, it’s a fun track. The saxophone breaks up that rhythm at one point early on, as the guitar does later, but this is a tune to dance to. And the jam then builds toward the end. This one was composed by Greg Anton.

Side C

The third side opens with “Gregg’s Egg’s,” and, no, I have no idea why there is an apostrophe in the word “Eggs.” It was there on the track list for the 1990 studio album Nothin’ Goes Here too. This is an interesting tune, with both jazz and prog rock elements, and features a lot of strong work on saxophone driving things forward. The track’s pulse begins to race, and things really move. At the end it sounds like it is going to take off, to launch, and is suddenly over. Then we are in “Baba O’Riley,” the first of two covers on this double LP. The excitement of the crowd is audible as this one begins. Vince Welnick also sang this song with the Grateful Dead, where it was paired with The Beatles’ “Tomorrow Never Knows.” There is some great energy here, especially in the vocals. That’s followed by this release’s other cover, Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing,” which comes in gently with some beautiful work on saxophone. This is a contemplative rendition, the guitar looking up to the heavens, with questions and needs and observations, the vocals not coming in for more than three minutes. It is a really good version that slowly builds in power, until the guitar is firmly in charge.

Side D

Robert Hunter opened this double album’s first side, and he likewise opens its final side. “Now we come to the last song of the last set of the last night of the last day of the last week,” he begins this time. Robert Hunter displays his sense of humor as he continues: “It all led up to this, folks, and you’ve got to admit it’s a chance in a million any of us got here at all. But since you did, and even found a place to park in San Francisco on Friday night, congratulate yourselves.” And for good measure, he adds a reference to “Turn On Your Lovelight”: “Get your hands out of your pockets, turn on your lovelight and leave it on forever.” And the drums then lead the band into “Tear Tags Off Mattresses,” a tune composed by Greg Anton. This one has a sense of fun about it, and features some really good stuff on guitar. It does feel like a piece that reminds us to be glad we exist at all. And while we are alive, it’s important to listen to some good, joyful music.

Then we get this release’s second song to feature lyrics by Robert Hunter, “Roll Me Over.” It begins with some excellent work on saxophone, setting the tone, making us think of a city street after a good rain. This is a mellower song, featuring some lovely work on organ. Here is a taste of the lyrics: “Flashing thunder, blinding rain/You weren’t aware you were causing pain/Things of the world laid at your door/You fed the hungry, you clothed the poor/A sense of time was all you needed/Your garden grew, but never got weeded.” That leads into the album’s final track, “Roll Me After,” a sweet instrumental track that begins with some beautiful work on saxophone. This is a tune you just want to let carry you away. It was composed by Steve Kimock, Martin Fierro and Greg Anton.

Record Track List

Side A

1. Prologue by Robert Hunter
2. Cole’s Law
3. Interlude
4. Tangled Hangers

Side B

1. End Of The World Blues
2. Golden Road

Side C

1. Gregg’s Egg’s
2. Baba O’Riley
3. Little Wing

Side D

1. Epilogue by Robert Hunter
2. Tear Tags Off Mattresses
3. Roll Me Over
4. Roll Me After

Naught Again is scheduled to be released on vinyl on September 2, 2022 through Omnivore Recordings. It is available already on CD.