Laugh in the Dark by Tommy Keene catches you by surprise and reminds you of fun as would a county fair stop on your way to a funeral. On “All Gone Away” Keene delves into the brief, transitory nature of our existence and asks “27 minutes left for you, how do you want it to play”? An intriguing question to ponder as this over 6 minute tune ends with a guitar/percussion session that combines the bouncy sound of drums pounding like a crazy marble trapped in a percussion bubble during an earthquake with sliding, slithering, gliding guitar that scoots about like a worm trying to escape the rain.
“Last of the Twilight Girls” is a pop taco vended with flair, with meaningless lyrics for folks that don’t care. It’s a delicious taco, I love tacos, taco, taco, taco. Yum taco. Hmmm pop taco.
Your fingers will get sticky pop sugar all over them when you get your hands on “Dear Heloise” which formulates upon the classic verse, bridge to verse/chorus lines that have pleased, teased and satisfied the needs of rock/pop appetites for decades. Give it a listen at work and you may find your fingers covered in stick up notes that while brightly colored have nothing written on them. They just look and feel good in contrast to the beige cubicle that provides a neutral backdrop for your family pictures.
It would seem that is what Laugh in the Dark is all about. A happy wink in a room of sullen faces. A classic pun that’s so familiar, yet brings a fresh grin.
Previously in East Portland Blog:
Never Mind The Mainstream – An interview with Tommy Keene, By Steve Stav
Tommy Keene – The Parson Red Heads – The Riffbrokers – At The Sunset, Seattle, By Steve Stav
