I can see a strong Beatles influence (because of course), but also a little of that folk you spoke about, along with maybe early prog influences, maybe? It's a pretty wide range, like so many of these bands during the late 70s that defied easy categorization.
Thanks for this, Andrew....cool to hear your reactions on a long-time, genre-defying favorite! Thanks for the YT link, too. Feel free to look up Joe and/or Mike Nolte on FB....I bet they'd be open to questions, if ya got 'em!
Just continuing my real-time observations: there aren't many bands that seem to blend the Ramones with ska with the Partidge Family, but these guys seem to do it. I might hate one song and then really llike another song! You weren't kidding about the diversity of styles.
I'm listening again (that YT album link), and can't stop! I'm (as I've always been with them) stunned by their harmonies....being brothers, I'm sure, helps! Chord structures and unabashed use of elements other SoCal "punk" bands couldn't pull off and/or wouldn't be caught dead doing (winking at bubblegum/PF, as you cited), for fear of being deemed "wusses".......the power pop elements (among other talents) that got the attention of Greg Shaw!
I'm shocked and honored that I moved to L.A. (from Houston) in January '80 specifically to implant myself, in some way, into "the scene" (and meet Greg, see his store, etc etc)!! I'm stoked to be sharing them with you, 'cause I now know you'd appreciate them!
Oddly enough (and maybe because I just finished Greg Graffin's autobiography), this story makes me think a lot about Bad Religion. They were a socal punk band formed around 1980 (Graffin was 15 at the time), and it took some time, but they really pulled off the type of polished punk you're talking about here. It wouldn't surprise me ONE IOTA if The Last are cited as a major influence by some members of the band.
Kevin Alexander just did a piece on Suffer, Bad Religion's 1988 breakthrough album, the first record ever made that really encapsulates this style well. Worth checking out if you're curious!
I'd be willing to bet, too, that many of those bands are more than aware of The Last, and possibly influenced by.......ones that frequently played the Whisky and Madame Wong's, that is--I think, "L.A. Explosion" was their "Meet the Beatles."
I think I've heard enough BR (back then) to know they're, likely, less of what I'm "into" (or was!) than a unique band like The Last, who had the ability to do so much more (so, they did) than just bam-bam punk.
Oh, BR is unique too, to be sure. Nobody sounded like them, especially when they introduced the pop elements in a more polished manner. That said, tastes are going to vary a lot, and I think that's what this is. Both bands have been notable in their own right, although The Last has certainly continued to fly under the radar for much longer.
I'd argue Bad Relgion was in a similar spot before their major-label debut in 1993 (right around the time when I started hating what they represented, being 18 or so), being essentially underappreciated by mainstream acts, and far more successful in Germany than in the US. But all that changed, and quickly.
Jul 27, 2022·edited Jul 27, 2022Liked by Brad Kyle
Dave Nazworthy (aka “Dave Naz”) also played with Chemical People and in Down By Law with Dave Smalley. Smalley was in All with Karl Alvarez and Bill Stephenson, who as mentioned, were also in seminal band The Descendents.
(Whew!)
I got to meet Stephenson after an All show in the early 90s. He was unfailingly polite and patient both.
Thanks for the info, Kevin! I've been reminded by many online, in the past week, about the Descendants, whom I was aware of back in the day, but never listened to. I had to look up "your" Dave Smalley, 'cause there was a Dave Smalley in The Raspberries, and I didn't think "my" Dave Smalley was the same one that traveled in a pack of punk bands. He wasn't. It's always great to hear about artists who are polite and patient with their fans! Thanks again!🎵🎸😀🤘
I didn't know that...thanks, JFL! It's amazing how fluid the scene was back in the day...lots of sharing, guesting, and giving! Mike sent me an online "thank you" for the article, so that was cool! Thanks for reading and commenting!🎶🎸🎵🤘😀👍
Definitely elements of proto-punk here, Brad, and plenty of other influences. I'm currently going through the full album, which I found here:
https://youtu.be/vRfyYUdUYDM
I can see a strong Beatles influence (because of course), but also a little of that folk you spoke about, along with maybe early prog influences, maybe? It's a pretty wide range, like so many of these bands during the late 70s that defied easy categorization.
Thanks for this, Andrew....cool to hear your reactions on a long-time, genre-defying favorite! Thanks for the YT link, too. Feel free to look up Joe and/or Mike Nolte on FB....I bet they'd be open to questions, if ya got 'em!
Just continuing my real-time observations: there aren't many bands that seem to blend the Ramones with ska with the Partidge Family, but these guys seem to do it. I might hate one song and then really llike another song! You weren't kidding about the diversity of styles.
I'm listening again (that YT album link), and can't stop! I'm (as I've always been with them) stunned by their harmonies....being brothers, I'm sure, helps! Chord structures and unabashed use of elements other SoCal "punk" bands couldn't pull off and/or wouldn't be caught dead doing (winking at bubblegum/PF, as you cited), for fear of being deemed "wusses".......the power pop elements (among other talents) that got the attention of Greg Shaw!
I'm shocked and honored that I moved to L.A. (from Houston) in January '80 specifically to implant myself, in some way, into "the scene" (and meet Greg, see his store, etc etc)!! I'm stoked to be sharing them with you, 'cause I now know you'd appreciate them!
Oddly enough (and maybe because I just finished Greg Graffin's autobiography), this story makes me think a lot about Bad Religion. They were a socal punk band formed around 1980 (Graffin was 15 at the time), and it took some time, but they really pulled off the type of polished punk you're talking about here. It wouldn't surprise me ONE IOTA if The Last are cited as a major influence by some members of the band.
Kevin Alexander just did a piece on Suffer, Bad Religion's 1988 breakthrough album, the first record ever made that really encapsulates this style well. Worth checking out if you're curious!
I'd be willing to bet, too, that many of those bands are more than aware of The Last, and possibly influenced by.......ones that frequently played the Whisky and Madame Wong's, that is--I think, "L.A. Explosion" was their "Meet the Beatles."
I think I've heard enough BR (back then) to know they're, likely, less of what I'm "into" (or was!) than a unique band like The Last, who had the ability to do so much more (so, they did) than just bam-bam punk.
Oh, BR is unique too, to be sure. Nobody sounded like them, especially when they introduced the pop elements in a more polished manner. That said, tastes are going to vary a lot, and I think that's what this is. Both bands have been notable in their own right, although The Last has certainly continued to fly under the radar for much longer.
I'd argue Bad Relgion was in a similar spot before their major-label debut in 1993 (right around the time when I started hating what they represented, being 18 or so), being essentially underappreciated by mainstream acts, and far more successful in Germany than in the US. But all that changed, and quickly.
Dave Nazworthy (aka “Dave Naz”) also played with Chemical People and in Down By Law with Dave Smalley. Smalley was in All with Karl Alvarez and Bill Stephenson, who as mentioned, were also in seminal band The Descendents.
(Whew!)
I got to meet Stephenson after an All show in the early 90s. He was unfailingly polite and patient both.
Thanks for the info, Kevin! I've been reminded by many online, in the past week, about the Descendants, whom I was aware of back in the day, but never listened to. I had to look up "your" Dave Smalley, 'cause there was a Dave Smalley in The Raspberries, and I didn't think "my" Dave Smalley was the same one that traveled in a pack of punk bands. He wasn't. It's always great to hear about artists who are polite and patient with their fans! Thanks again!🎵🎸😀🤘
Little know tidbit...Joe was a singer for Black Flag for a couple of weeks in the Church days.
I didn't know that...thanks, JFL! It's amazing how fluid the scene was back in the day...lots of sharing, guesting, and giving! Mike sent me an online "thank you" for the article, so that was cool! Thanks for reading and commenting!🎶🎸🎵🤘😀👍
Another gem of a band you’ve rescued from some obscurity, Brad!! Backstories like this are just the best!!
Thank you, Michael....hearing such praise from you is an honor! Thanks again for your loyalty and kind words!😉🎵🎸🎶😁👍