专辑简介

The Gondoliers

By: Jeff Clark

When Michael Freed asked me to listen to The Gondoliers debut EP, "On and On," I was more than happy to oblige, as I had heard the songs in various sketch-like forms over the past couple of years. I felt that I had earned the right to listen to the final product. I've been an outsider on the inside of the Starkville, MS, scene for the better part of two decades. I've seen the tone change from hippy-influenced jam bands to power-pop to straight up rock and roll. But whatever the scene was and regardless of how it was changing or evolving or jumping from trend to trend, there was always one man who was a constant figure against the backdrop of trends and fads — Del Rendon. Del was not only the consummate performer and songwriter, he was also a genuinely kind human being. When Del passed away in 2005, there was and shall always remain a huge void in the music scene in Starkville, the home of Mississippi State University. His band, The Puerto Rican Rum Drunks, was on the cusp of success, becoming one of the most popular bands in the South. With albums and successful tours under its belt, one can't help but wonder what good things were to come for The Puerto Rican Rum Drunks. A few years later, former Rum Drunks members Bubba Cheese (Michael Freed) and Mark Goldbeck decided to pay tribute to their former band mate and friend by forming The Gondoliers. With the release of "On and On," The Gondoliers have not only created a touching and fitting tribute to Del Rendon, but they have also made peace with the demise of the Rum Drunks and carved their own piece of musical history into the proverbial wall of the Starkville music scene. But do not be fooled — The Gondoliers is not merely a vanity project for Freed and Goldbeck, for this is a cohesive band that sees Freed stepping out from behind the drum kit to play bass, acoustic guitars and sharing lead vocal duties with Goldbeck, whose Wurlitzer piano gives the band its own unique sound. Also on board is former Rum Drunk and guitar virtuoso Ferando Aloisi and the experienced and former Nashville session drummer Jason Fortenberry, a longtime friend and musical collaborator of Freed's. From the Wurlitzer riff on the EP's opening song, "Masquerade," The Gondoliers quickly establish themselves as more than Rendon's sidemen — this ain't The Puerto Rican Rum Drunks, y'all. Rendon's ghost is omnipresent on "Rock & Roll," a tribute to their lost friend in which the band contemplates moving on from the tragedy. The pain from the loss is still fresh to The Gondoliers, which is quite evident in the blistering, ear-shattering (enough cliches? Face melting, anyone?) Aloisi guitar solo. Also, Goldbeck does a nice job with subtle piano parts, very reminiscent of Rendon's favorite band, The Beatles. Coincidence? I think not. It's also a song about reliving glory days — the days before wives and kids and careers. It's as much a nod to the death of the Starkville music scene as it is to Rendon. Goldbeck's "On and On," the EP's centerpiece and namesake, is at a first listen an ode to the mundane tasks of everyday life. Further listening, however, reveals the song to be a very non-cynical look at the concept of never ending love, the kind of love that is needed to make any romantic relationship work. The album's closer, "Slow," is a song written by Rendon that was never professionally recorded. Instead, it was a sketch of a song the late singer recorded on a tape recorder. The primitive recording of Rendon starts and ends the song. With a sing-along chorus and a driving “pre-sell out” R.E.M. rhythm, you can't help but be happy that this lost song was found and properly recorded. It also features Rendon's longtime friend and band mate Lee Graham on acoustic guitar, which ends the album on a warm, happy vibe. Do not be fooled — "On and On" is no maudlin record — if anything, it is life affirming. All proceeds from sales of the EP will be donated to the Del Rendon Memorial Scholarship Fund.