Big Light-Animals In Bloom Essay -- Music Review

Big Light-Animals In Bloom San Francisco’s Big Light recently swept into The Saint for a quick lesson in how to squeeze everything you’ve ever learned into your musical offering and make it sound like you’ve done it in your sleep. From the beginning, the band stood way out as something extraordinary. Of course I had expected some kind of jam band centered on peace, love and free love and what I got was a pleasant dose of analog warm 1970s rock and roll cut with a gram or two of slick and polished songwriting. These West coast warriors have spent every waking moment since 2007 getting things right and it’s paying off. I’m a fan of the smart arrangements and composition styles used here, noticing that they throw everything from Beatles tongue in cheek style of double entendres to the delicious guitar mà ªlà ©e of groups such as Cheap Trick and Mott The Hoople into their mix. Speaking of those great bands, singer/songwriter/guitarist Fred Torphy has a very cool Robin Zander/Ian Hunter delivery that works well among the musical action. Picture the eye of a tumultuous storm and that’s where you’ll find Torphy with this band. And Big Light is becoming the perfect storm. Fred Torphy launched Big Light primarily as a springboard for his own material and he enlisted drummer Bradly Bifulco as well as bay area fixture Steve Adams (who also has played with Jack Johnson) on bass. Around 2008 saw the addition of New Jersey guitarist Jeremy Korpas (Days Awake, Green Tag Sale) who came in and really just lifted this band into professional status. His aggressive style and melodic lead work cleared the way for Torphys visions. With the key players in place, Big Light set about the task of moving thru unchartered creative courses and getting mat... ...oring the mutational macabre and all the fears gnashing jaws can muster, The Shore will have you locking your doors and windows up tight. Dunbar has developed an original imprint that stays with you for a long, long time. I see all these flowery descriptions from journalists and critics like â€Å"Poetic† and â€Å"Classic’ But the truth is that Robert Dunbar has come up with a style that doesn’t tread lightly and he has changed our very thought process when it comes to entering these physical places that we’ve always taken for granted. He also told me that we should expect a part three in this ongoing trilogy that will be set in Camden. One thing is for sure; you will never catch me under the boardwalk or out in the New Jersey Pine Barrens alone or with friends†¦ ever again. For further information on places that you may never come back from, go to www.dunbarauthor.com