Jennie Arnau: "A Rising Tide" (2025) CD Review

Jennie Arnau is a singer and songwriter originally from South Carolina and now based in New York, She released several albums between 2000 and 2010, and then took a break, at least from recording. Now she has returned with a new album, featuring all original material. Titled A Rising Tide, this album feels personal, these songs resulting from experiences and a life lived in the fifteen years since her last release. But the emotions, the needs expressed in these songs are known to all of us, regardless of how our own experiences may or may not differ. Joining her on this album are Alan Lerner (of The Zen Tricksters) on drums, Pete Levin on keyboards, Binky Griptite on electric guitar, Brett Bass on bass, Skip Ward on bass, Greg McMullen on pedal steel, Jacob Joliff (who was a member of Yonder Mountain String Band for a while) on mandolin, Mike Savino on banjo and tenor guitar, and Kendall Sherman on backing vocals. The album was produced by Phil Palazzolo and Jennie Arnau.

The album begins with "Oceans Rise."A kind of soulful vibe is created in the song's opening moment, with that cool work on keys. And then Jennie Arnau comes in on vocals: "You say you got scars/I can't see/They hold you at night/Whisper lies about me." This track contains some interesting and prominent work on electric guitar, acting almost like a response to what she is telling us. "I'm a better man in my head/Than in my heart/And every time I try/To turn this wreck around/The oceans rise up/And drag me back down." Those lines stand out, grabbing us, in part, undoubtedly, because of our own struggles, and in part because of her passionate delivery. "Oceans Rise" is followed by "Countryman." Some nice work on mandolin helps give this song a pleasant, cheerful sound at the beginning. "Scared of the sunset, scared of the dawn/But my heart needs a break/A weekend or a holiday." Oh, yes, we could all use a vacation. The song speaks of traveling this great land, something that is almost always appealing, though these days there are many places I have no interest in going because of the people who are there. And that makes me sad. This music urges joy.

Jennie Arnau changes gears with "Sail Away," which has a sadder, more contemplative sound from its start, particularly in that work on keys. This track features a good bass line and a pretty vocal performance. Interestingly this one begins with the lines "Sunset says/You're gonna be all right," when just the previous song mentioned being afraid of the sunset. But, as she then tells us, "You've got to sail away/Sail away from the past." There is a 1970s influence heard on this track. And check out these lines: "You've got to learn, you've got to learn/How to leave trouble behind/Don't you know tomorrows/Never last." That's followed by "Mabel." I'm not sure exactly why, but the first couple of lines make me smile every time I hear them: "Oh, everyone loves Mabel/Nobody loves me." This one has a sweet and soulful vibe, and features some good work on guitar. "There are storms in the desert/There are monsters in the sea/But they all fade away when I look in her eyes." I hope everyone knows exactly what she's talking about. And I love the way this song builds in joyous power toward the end.

There is a soft, pretty, innocent vibe to Jennie's vocal delivery as "Young & Alone" starts. "I move to the left/You move to the right/We think we're dancing/But there is no dancing tonight." And the softness, the innocence is in contrast to the world being described, the reality being lived. "The news on the TV is so devastating/I think I might vomit/The newscaster's fainting." And the innocence of childhood is gone from the world. The softness is from despair. This song is striking, one of the album's best. "That child is so young and alone." There is more joy then to "The King," a song with a gentle, welcoming and uplifting feel.  "Softly I cry/Please show a little kindness/Just a glimmer of light." That's followed by "Hold On." "You thought you could hold on/One more day," Jennie sings at the beginning of this one, and immediately I find myself in tears. There is a heartrending intimacy to this song. And when she repeats, "Your heart will break," we can feel it, in her voice and in ourselves. Interestingly, the song then kicks in and she repeats those opening lines. The feel of those lines is a little different, with the drums and keyboards and so on, and maybe that helps us lift ourselves from the pain and sorrow and despair. "Desperate as she slowly drifts away/And there's nothing you can do to save her." That's what is so infuriating, watching someone we love leaving and not being able to do a damn thing about it. This is one of my personal favorite songs on this album.

Then "Simple Man" seems to offer some encouragement. "I never look back," Jennie sings here. "I'd rather see the light/From the sun in the morning 'til the moon at night." There is so much beauty in this world, and so much beauty in this song. If only more people would focus on that, find the beauty without and within. This track also features some nice work on mandolin. As I get older, I find that lyrics about time passing hit me harder. Check out these lines: "In the blink of an eye/Our children will grow/Just when I get used to holding her hand/She lets go." Wow. That song ends with the line, "You will see the most wonderful things," and then "One If By Land" begins with the line, "I see you," and I can't help but connect them, and feel a sudden rush of love. "I see you/In everything/I do." Beautiful. This one also kicks in, with a glorious power to the vocals. Here she begs the universe, "Please let me be the one/To save you," and I can't help but think back to "Hold On," when she sang "And there's nothing you can do to save her." Even when we know, we still try, we still crave, we still need to have that ability. This is a powerful and moving song.

There is always something appealing about going home in song, isn't there? In "Back To Carolina," Jennie sings, "Going back to Carolina/I've been gone too long/Tried my best to love this place/But it just ain't my home." Sometimes our hearts are in two places at once, and wherever we are, something is missing. This song features an excellent bass line, and also some really good stuff on drums, in addition to another strong vocal performance. Then "Heaven In Her Eyes" is a song of finding love, but not just that; it's a song of wanting our loved ones to know that we've found love, that we are all right. "I don't need to climb another mountain/Searching for some stairway to the sky." I love the way the backing vocals build there. "Better Luck Next Time" also features some excellent vocal work, plus great stuff on pedal steel.

The beauty of "Every Raindrop" grabs us immediately, first that work on keys, and then the vocals, when they come in, repeating "Every raindrop" like a mantra. "We're all lost in the dark, yeah/We're all scared of goodbye/We all run for cover in a storm/We all need a little warmth." We have so much in common, yet there are people who dedicate their short time of existence to making other people miserable. I will never understand that. "Catch a little light in your hands." The album concludes with "Sunshine," another pretty song featuring some wonderful guitar work. "It's been a long winter/And I'm weary to the bone." In the second half of the track, there is a shift, as the drums come in, moving things in a new direction. "Gonna take my little ships/Sail far, far away."

CD Track List

1. Oceans Rise
2. Countryman
3. Sail Away
4. Mabel
5. Young & Alone
6. The King
7. Hold On
8. Simple Man
9. One If By Land
10. Back To Carolina
11. Heaven In Her Eyes
12. Better Luck Next Time
13. Every Raindrop
14. Sunshine

A Rising Tide was released on November 7, 2025.

Legendary Swagger, Roman's Weirdos, Drool Brothers at Maui Sugar Mill Saloon, 1-17-26: Photos

It was another fantastic show last night at Maui Sugar Mill Saloon. I had been listening to Drool Brothers music most of the day, and was excited to see them again. That band alone would have made it a great night. But in addition, we got a special acoustic duo version of Legendary Swagger, something that hadn't happened before, and, according to the musicians themselves, won't happen again. And on top of that, we were treated to a set by The Weirdos, or Roman's Weirdos, a band that wasn't originally on the bill. It was supposed to be The Furys, but that band's bass player had a medical emergency, and The Weirdos filled in. That was three excellent performances, and with no cover charge. Have I mentioned how great this city is for music fans?

Legendary Swagger

The night kicked off just after 9 p.m. with the acoustic set by two members of Legendary Swagger, Dino Everett (whom you might also know for his work in Streetwalkin' Cheetahs) and Skot Pollock, referring to themselves as Leg Swag for the purposes of this particular show. "We're going to stumble through some acoustic songs before the real musicians get up here," Dino joked at the start of their set. They played a few songs written by Dino's friend John David Baldridge, a songwriter from Florida, including his "Cocaine, Marijuana And Alcohol," which had a great raw edge. They also covered The Ramones' "I Just Want To Have Something To Do" and The Dogmatics' "Thayer St." Perhaps the most surprising cover was Cat Stevens' "The First Cut Is The Deepest," delivered as sort of punk folk. "Okay, we've got one more, then we're gonna break up," Dino told the crowd before the final song, "Is It Ever Over." The set, and the duo's career, ended at 9:40 p.m.

Roman's Weirdos

The Weirdos (or, Roman's Weirdos) were up next. Before they started, Jeff Wolfe, who is also lead singer of The Furys, mentioned how that band's bass player was rushed to the hospital, and that's why the night's lineup was changed. The Weirdos focused on songs from early in the punk band's career, opening the set with "Happy People," which had a delicious energy, and following that with "Life Of Crime," which rocked. Cliff Roman mentioned in the introduction to "Destroy All Music" how the song was recorded the day that Elvis Presley died, and was the band's first single on Bomp. That was followed by "Solitary Confinement," a song that is slower at the start before kicking in with a wonderful punk force. They also did three of the four songs from the Action-Design EP, including the cover of The Doors' "Break On Through," which always felt like a punk song anyway. "Helium Bar" came on at a gloriously furious pace. They wrapped up the set with the great "We Got The Neutron Bomb" and "Fallout." Their set ended at 10:28 p.m.

Drool Brothers

Drool Brothers closed out the night, Tom Slik sporting a cool Slade T-shirt, and Chuck Mancillas wearing his "Fuck You Fame Whore" shirt, which, if I recall correctly, was for sale at Richard Duguay's merchandise table the first time I saw Drool Brothers perform. Anyway, the band was ready like fifteen minutes before they were scheduled to start, and didn't bother waiting around for those minutes to pass before kicking things into gear. They opened with a couple of songs from their new Psychology album, "Have Fuzz Will Travel" straight into "Kaleidoscope." "Enjoy the show," indeed. I especially loved that bass line to "Kaleidoscope." That was followed by "It's A Drag," which featured a cool lead on guitar. Chuck introduced "Psychology" as a disco song, adding, "Disco is the new punk." This was another song with a totally delicious bass line, and the guys threw in a bit of "Get Off Your Ass And Jam" in the middle. And why not? In introducing "Frat Boy," Chuck mentioned, "We have a Supreme Justice that is a frat boy." Indeed, a frat boy and rapist, but those seem like prerequisites for advancement in the country's Fascist Party these days. Drool Brothers then played one of my personal favorites, "Fullerton," a song from the band's debut full-length album. It has a delicious groove, and is a total delight. That was followed by "Alice," a song that is like a great carnival ride, a roller coaster through California darkness and light. "Go ask Alice, she knows everything," Chuck added at the end. The band was then cooking on "Fame Whore," which was a lot of fun. They wrapped up the set with "Get Drunk Talk Shit," from Mondo Electra. "All right, we want to hear you on this one," Chuck told the crowd, reminding them they only had to sing four words. The show ended at 11:25 p.m.

The Drool Brothers: "Mondo Electra" (2023) CD Review

In December, Drool Brothers released a great new album titled Psychology. That album followed the group's 2023 release, Mondo Electra, a six-song EP. As with the new album, this EP contains all original material, written by Chuck Mancillas. Unlike the new album, for this release the group was a trio. Natalie Mancillas hadn't yet joined the band (though she does sing on one track). At this point, the band was made up of Chuck Mancillas on lead vocals, synthesizers, guitar and drums; Tom Slik on bass and backing vocals; and Dan Marfisi on organ, bongos, percussion and backing vocals.

"All I want is a quiet vacation," Chuck Mancillas sings at the beginning of the disc's first track, "Quiet Vacation," speaking for all of us, I suppose. I think we all want to get away. From the news, from this country, from this reality. And he promises himself, "I'll bring some medication/Little high on the recreation." Yup, that's necessary, for sure. The "ba ba-ba ba" backing vocals have something of a 1960s thing happening, and there are some cool, psychedelic elements too. And the very end seems to contain a nod to "Gloria," a song the group's "Freak Out" (a track on the new album) also reminds me of at one point. "I will be in isolation/California is my destination." "Get Drunk Talk Shit" seems to pick up something of that "Gloria" rhythm too, as they repeat, "Get drunk, talk shit/Get drunk, talk shit." Then the verses have more of a pop appeal. "You don't hear a word I say/But you just keep on talking." And there is some really nice guitar work, particularly toward the end.

"We won't follow protocol," Chuck sings at the beginning of "Underground." A good first line, with a punk attitude, helping to establish the tone, the vibe. There is a harder edge to this song, except on its title line. That's when the song has more of a pop feel. There has always been something appealing about underground music, underground journals and the like. These days, with the internet, it might not be quite as clear what classifies as underground, but no matter. Check out your local scene, support your local artists. That's where most of the real action is. And who doesn't want to step away from the mainstream world these days anyway? That's followed by "Sophisticated Twist," a playful number, particularly in the vocal approach. If you dig Devo, you'll probably love this. It's a whole lot of fun, totally catchy, and suddenly over. This track is less than two minutes long.

"Maybe" is another unusual song. You might not think it at the beginning, that guitar seeming to promise a more conventional rock number. And, sure, there is a bit of that in this track, but there are other things at work here, including a varied vocal performance that keeps us engaged. "What did you mean when you said/I don't know, maybe." It's a song that asks for a little clarification. Is that too much to ask? There is certainly something playful too. "The echoes laugh and cry/Haunting endlessly/A third grade spelling word is testing me." There is a cool, fuzzy guitar lead toward the end of the track. The EP then concludes with its title track, "Mondo Electra," and it is this song that features Natalie Mancillas on vocals. It is another fun one, a dance song, with some cool stuff on drums. This song feels like a weird sort of party, one foot in the 1960s, one foot in some electronic realm. But that is what this group is so damned good at doing.

CD Track List

1. Quiet Vacation
2. Get Drunk Talk Shit
3. Underground
4. Sophisticated Twist
5. Maybe
6. Mondo Electra

Mondo Electra was released on September 20, 2023.

Drool Brothers: "Psychology" (2025) CD Review

In December, I went to see Pat Todd & The Rankoutsiders at Maui Sugar Mill Salloon, and at that show got turned on to another band that was on the bill, Drool Brothers. Their set focused on material from their new album Psychology, and when I got home I was kicking myself for not purchasing a copy of that disc. Well, I now have that CD in my collection, and it's even better than I'd imagined. It features all original material, written by Chuck Mancillas. The band is made up of Chuck Mancillas on lead vocals, guitar, mellotron, theremin, and drums; Tom Slik on bass and backing vocals; Dan Marfisi on lead guitar, congas, percussion and backing vocals; and Natalie Mancillas on keyboards, percussion and backing vocals.

The album opens with "Kaleidoscope," which is also the song the band chose to open that show I saw. It's a cool song that combines elements of punk, pop and funk, delivered with a great sense of the absurd and the strange. For certainly this whole world is a circus of sorts, which we witness, as well as take part in. "Lose your mind, let it flow/Kaleidoscope/Enjoy the show/Clear your head, feed your soul/Kaleidoscope." And the instruction is repeated: "Take it slow/Enjoy the show." And maybe that's the conclusion we have to come to these days, to enjoy the show, no matter how twisted it gets, as George Carlin urged us. There are some 1960s influences too, heard in some of the backing vocal work and in the song's psychedelic elements. Then "Have Fuzz Will Travel" has more of a rock vibe, right from the start. This one features Tim Mancillas joining the group on lead guitar. It's a song about music, about guitars, and has some catchy elements, including the backing vocal work and a bit of cowbell (it's still difficult to hear a cowbell without thinking of that Saturday Night Live sketch). "Have fuzz will travel/Distorted thoughts and nothing more/When I plug into you/There's nothing else I want to do." And, you know, I think music is the power supply for a lot of us. Could we keep going withou it?

"The Song That Nobody Heard" is a delightful pop number, with a pleasant beat and vibe that feels familiar, like something that might be at home in a Patridge Family song (which is apparent even before they actually refer to "I Think I Love You" in the second verse). But then these guys do something different with it, taking what is totally cheerful, and giving it an unexpected edge. "Will I be rich, will I be poor/Am I just another bore/Singing songs like everyone else has done before?" And even the song's title is a bit of a play, "The Song That Nobody Heard," as it will sound familiar to anyone with a passing interest in pop music of the 1960s and 1970s, and in later power pop numbers. The vibe gets darker and heavier then with "Green Jesus," like a slow metal number. "Right now, can you hear me/Green Jesus?" I love that moment with the added percussion, which works in interesting contrast to that heavy rock sound. This band is so good at offering surprising mixes of influences and sounds and feelings. And in the second half of this track, there is another change, the band seeming ready to go into a different direction, perhaps to a lighter place, and then returning to the song's main landscape.

There are some strong 1960s influences heard in "Snacks And Treats," a fun, playful track. "Too much sugar can make you ill/Not so fast, you're gonna get fat/Don't be a spoiled brat." I have to remember to play this track for my brother Tim, because of its main line, "Snacks for Melody and treats for Tim." This song is totally enjoyable. I'm digging that stuff on keys. There are even hand claps. The vocal approach at times reminds me of Trey Anastasio. That's followed by the album's title track, "Psychology," and here we get into some delicious disco territory, with that totally wonderful bass line and solid beat. "My mind is racing/And I find myself still wandering/To places I don't want to go/So tell me what to do." Ah, yes. I love Natalie's sweet echoing of certain words: "psychology," "lobotomy," "shock therapy." This is another of the songs that I saw the band perform, one of the songs that made me want to own this album. It's so damn good. 

A decade ago, Richard Duguay released a song titled "Fuck You Fame Whore," and that song inspired Drool Brothers to write their own "Fame Whore" (the night I saw Drool Brothers, Richard Duguay & The Beautiful Decline were also on the bill, so I got to hear both "Fame Whore" songs at that show). This song has quite a different vibe from the Richard Duguay song, and as it starts, something about it reminds me of "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone" (it's at least partly because of the tambourine). This song has a cool garage rock sound. "Everybody around here's doing the same old thing (same old thing)/I'm getting really tired of the same old scene (same old scene)/Same old hair, same old walk/The same old crowd, the same old talk/It's getting really boring, the name-dropping scene." That's followed by "Freak Out." The lyrics in the song's first section are delivered as sort of spoken word. The track soon kicks in, just after we're told, "Breathe in, breathe out." And those lines are repeated as we return from the "freak out" part. This is a wild number, reminding me a bit of "Gloria" on the "freak out" part. "This is what it's about/Close your eyes and freak out."

The album concludes with "Dumb." Here is a taste of the lyrics: "You believe what other people say/You have no problem wasting your day/It's fun being dumb." I know I'm not alone in noticing that people have gotten much dumber in the last decade. If people were this stupid in the past, they were better at hiding it. Of course, the internet has given the dumbest people a large voice. But even before that, electing Ronald Reagan was an early clue that this nation was getting stupid. And then there was George W. Bush (dear lord). But those two seem like geniuses compared to the twit currently occupying the White House and all the morons who continue to support him. Are they happier, those morons? I don't know. But either way, we have to face it, we are a nation of idiots. "Wave your clown flag to the sky/You win, you win."

CD Track List

1. Kaleidoscope
2. Have Fuzz Will Travel
3. The Song That Nobody Heard
4. Green Jesus
5. Snacks And Treats
6. Psychology
7. Fame Whore
8. Freak Out
9. Dumb

Psychology was released on December 5, 2025. 

Sandy Rogers Band at Unurban Coffee House, 1-15-26 Concert Review

Sandy Rogers Band

Sandy Rogers Band returned to Unurban Coffee House in Santa Monica last night. This time the band was a trio (Sandy Rogers, Paul Marshall, Victoria Jacobs), as guitarist Dan Janisch wasn't able to make it. And so the songs had a somewhat different vibe, perhaps a rawer edge, delivered on acoustic guitar, bass and snare drum. Interestingly, Sandy did some things vocally that I don't think I'd heard before. She always delivers a great vocal performance, but last night was something special, with her trying some different things. And everything she tried worked perfectly. Seriously, she gave a phenomenal performance. And Paul Marshall had a chance to do a lot more with the bass, filling in some of the holes created by Dan's absence. It was one hell of a good show. And apparently, Sandy Rogers Band is going to be playing somewhat regularly at this venue, once a month, which is great news for music fans, especially for those of us who love some blues in our country.

"One Of Those Kind"

The first set kicked off at 7:44 p.m. (just a little late, as the doors hadn't opened until just after 7), Sandy Rogers starting the night with "Tingling Blue," the title track from her excellent new album. And immediately the world seemed a better place. You know? Isn't it great how artists can do that, how the right song can do that? We certainly need it, especially these days. The band followed that with "One Of Those Kind," which also follows "Tingling Blue" on the album. And even this early in the show, Sandy was delivering some impressive vocal work. There were signals then that she was going to be pumping even more life into these songs. "Then he's gonna find some other fool/Like you."

"Fool For Love"

"This is the song that started all this off," Sandy said in introducing "Fool For Love," a song written for the movie Fool For Love, but actually used in the movie Reservoir Dogs. She started that one off solo. That was followed by "Suburban Boys," a fun number that featured a kind of adorable bass line that had me smiling almost immediately. After that song, Sandy mentioned that it was written about South Pasadena. She followed that with "Train Fare To Memphis," which featured another tremendous vocal performance. Hers is a voice that has so much going on behind it, or within it, and we feel it all as we listen. She can take us on a great emotional ride all within a single line, and sometimes within a single word. "I can still see him waving goodbye." Then in "Lonesome Man," she sang, "I waited so long/For you to really love me." I especially loved Sandy's delivery of that section toward the end where she sang, "Missing me, you're gonna be so crazy." That was one of those moments where she surprised us with all she was doing vocally. Fantastic and captivating work. Paul delivered some cool stuff on bass on that song too. It was certainly a highlight of the set. "That's my favorite off the record," Sandy said afterward. 

"In Her Auto-mobile"

"In Her Auto-mobile" is also from Tingling Blue, and was another fun number last night. It was followed by "Missouri Blue," a song that never fails to make me feel good. It's all about the journey, isn't it? "I keep on searching." The band then gave us "Wild Bill," a song written by Paul Lacques. "My days of fun are through," Sandy sang at the beginning of this one, with a great ache in her voice. That song comes from a play that Paul Lacques wrote, and after the song Sandy turned to Victoria and said they should put on that play, maybe do it at the Unurban. That would be great! The first set then wrapped up with "Trailer Up On A Hill," another fun one with a rhythm that makes you feel like moving, or at least tapping your toes. The first set ended at 8:34 p.m.

"Let's Ride"

Less than fifteen minutes later, the band was on stage again. "Okay, we're back," Sandy announced, and went into "Let's Ride," which featured some very cool touches on bass. The band then slowed things down a bit with a beautiful rendition of "Why Wyoming." This was another of the songs to feature an incredibly impressive vocal performance, making it a highlight of the evening. Seriously, she was giving the audience something new, something special on this one. Don't you love when you realize in the moment that you're witnessing something fantastic? You could feel it in the room, that everyone was cognizant of what was happening, and was appreciating it. "Turn Around" followed. That's a song that had me smiling from its first notes, its first chords. "Close your eyes and see the joy/Turn around/Turn around/Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy." And here again Paul got a chance to deliver some great work on bass. The second set was much shorter than the first, and Sandy Rogers Band wrapped it up with "No Antidote" and "Run Out Of West." "Run Out Of West" is an excellent song, written by Nick Gravenites, and last night's rendition included some great stuff on bass. The show ended at 9:12 p.m.

Set List

Set I

1. Tingling Blue
2. One Of Those Kind
3. Fool For Love
4. Suburban Boys
5. Train Fare To Memphis
6. Lonesome Man
7. In Her Auto-mobile
8. Missouri Blue
9. Wild Bill
10. Trailer Up On A Hill

Set II

1. Let's Ride
2. Why Wyoming
3. Turn Around
4. No Antidote
5. Run Out Of West

Here are a few more photos:

"One Of Those Kind"

"Train Fare To Memphis"

"In Her Auto-mobile"

"Let's Ride"

"Let's Ride"

Dogs Run Free Episode 9: Two Friends Talking About The Grateful Dead, Part 2

Following the death of Bob Weir, I got together with my friend Jon Rosenberg to talk about our experiences with the Grateful Dead and Dead & Company. I recorded the conversation for my "Dogs Run Free" podcast. We ended up talking for more than an hour, so I divided the conversation into two episodes. Here is the second part.

Dogs Run Free Episode 8: Two Friends Talking About The Grateful Dead, Part 1

Time got away from me, and somehow more than a year went by since the last episode of my podcast was recorded. I'm still not sure how that happened. But after the death of Bob Weir, it seemed like a good idea to work through the sadness by talking with my good friend Jon Rosenberg about our passion for the Grateful Dead. And to share our memories and thoughts with others who might also be hurting. And who knows? Maybe we can turn a few new people onto the music that we love so much. So this new episode is something of a departure from previous episodes of "Dogs Run Free." This one is Two Friends Talking About The Grateful Dead. Enjoy.