Classic Rock in the Mix: The Blue Van and Simple Kid

The Blue Van’s recent release, The Art of Rolling, links up with last year’s release from Simple Kid for how both raise up the Classic Rock in the mix.


Blues Rock: The Blue Van’s The Art of Rolling
The instrumental track, “The Bluverture,” isn’t typical of the Blue Van’s music, but it pulls back the curtain to reveal the Classic Rock wizardry in the band’s music. Beginning with organ/keyboard coming straight out of the Beatles’ “Strawberry Fields,” the organ sound goes from tentative to symphonic warbling like Cream’s “White Room,” brought to the current with the drum dance beat. Then, though, you slip back to the Classic Rock-era with a Spaghetti Western whistled melody line.

Those Classic Rock elements appear all over this Danish band’s Blues Rock album. All of the ways that the Rolling Stones, the Kinks, and the Who used the blues to fuel their electric rock are in the back of the Blue Van. Steffen Westmark’s lead vocals are smoky and muscly, full-powered blues. Soren Christensen’s keys/organs fill out that Classic Rock/funk/soul atmosphere. Rhythmically, Allan Villadsen on bass bounces the scales while Per Jorgensen turns in some incredibly inspired drumming.

The soul-funk shuffle of “Mob Rule” shows how the boys can hold it back (at least for a few verses) and then breaks down into handclaps, Westmark scatting on the lyric, proving that Jet isn’t the only newer band able to bridge blues, funk, swing, and rock. “What the Young People Want” talks about the Mods (recalling the Who and Quadrophenia) with a Keith Richards-like guitar solo and some blues vocal breaks. “Coeur de Lion” hits its stride after Westmark sings, “And I ramble’n’rockin’ and I go.” This is the blues that the Doors could feature, but it’s tighter. The party actually began back on track 2 wit the “yeah, yeahs” and gang vocals of “Product of DK.” The lyric may be a rather pointed statement (“modern age made him numb, made him blind”) but Jorgensen’s drums just rile the band to rock that party.

Thanks to The Blue Van and TVT Records for the review copy.


English Dance Rock: Simple Kid’s 1
The May 2005 Uncut magazine’s cover article/interview with Robert Plant included this factoid: “Until well after the release of Led Zeppelin II, the only record player Plant owned was a 1960 Dansette, which meant it was six months before he heard the stereo panning which [Jimmy] Page added to “Whole Lotta Love” (58).

That stereo panning is even more starkly apparent on “What Is and What Should Never Be,” as the guitar riff break shift from right to left, giving the song its energy, appeal, and dynamic flow. Simple Kid uses those stereophonics to great effect on “Stare at the Sun.” The song begins with a kind of settled-back groove with a half-falsetto vocal before that guitar line kicks in (right), kicks in (left), and slides into the chorus which is backed by popcorn machine keys. The song on the whole remains in that cool groove, but the stereophonics give this song its energy center.

Throughout his 2004 release, named 1, Simple Kid vamps on Classic Rock, although samples, beats, and multigenres rule the day. He doesn’t rap, but there’s a Hip Hop flavor. The guitars really light it up, but there’s a dance rock feeling. It sounds like he brought together a band of collaborators, but it was just the Kid, his instruments, his 8-track, and his laptop.

Simple Kid uses those Classic Rock elements as familiar touchpoints in this mix of rock and dance. “Drugs” begins as an acoustic guitar strumming in a little blues-infected line, but the chorus samples “Magnum Force Theme”—horns doing that funky “we’re here to make a bust” line.

“Supertramps & Superstars” definitely comes inspired by the Kinks’ 60’s coy acoustic, playful songs. “Truck On” has a bluesman’s attitude brought out to the Hip Hop strut, but it all comes out of the harmonica that begins the song. That stance sets you up to hear the man’s stories, the street corner reflections on his world.

Thanks to Simple Kid and Vector Recordings/2M Recordings for the review CD.