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Truth And Janey - Erupts (1976)

Track listing:
  1. No Rest For The Wicked
  2. Birth Of The Heart 9:05
  3. Universal Light 6:52
  4. A Child 3:03
  5. Building Walls 2:54
  6. Tunnel Of Tomorrow 8:12
  7. The Light 3:52
  8. One Down One To Go 4:53
  9. White Bread 5:21
  10. My Mind 7:22
  11. As I Am 5:07
  12. Ain´t No Tellin 4:22
  13. Hard Road 5:30

Notes


The Truth and Janey sound is probably captured best on this live record. It's a mix of classic rock, psychedelic guitar rock reminiscent of Hendrix, and the progressive structures of a band like Budgie. Lots of jammy parts, some of them heavier than others of course. Some of it reminds me of the same kind of deep blues rooted 'Cream' material. Nice and heavy, but soulful and tastefully done.

This Truth and Janey CD shows that some things never change … even in almost 30 years. This masterful live recording from April 8, 1976 at the Col. Ballroom in Davenport, Iowa showcases why bands today should be paying homage to Truth and Janey. They were laying down the heavy, slugging it out on the circuit, rolling off riff after riff, tasteful extended solo after solo… doing things their way, while thumbing their noses to the era of disco.

Sonically, this is the best kind of band sponsored live release. It sounds like a bootleg from an audience member, but a bootleg done off the soundboard after slipping the soundman a twenty. It’s clear, but it’s raw. Instruments are all at discernable levels, and vocals are spot on, but there’s a rough quality here that allows the listener to be taken back 28 years and dropped dead center in front of Bill Janey lighting up his stratocaster. I mean, if you like ‘live’ recordings that make you feel as if you were at the show, this one’s for you.

And it’s funny how things don’t change much. This is the first live recording I’ve ever heard where the turnout was piss poor. I’m talking maybe 20 people at the show?!?!?! Not too different from many of the fuzz rock shows I’ve been to over the last few years. But this just added to the whole mystique of the recording. I found myself entertaining the question, who are these cats? How have I never heard this band before? When I think of 70’s underground rock, man, this band and live recording embody the 70’s. They are the real deal.

Musically, they take all the influences of the day (Hendrix, Cream, Captain Beyond, etc.) and manage to create their own sound and unique songs. Bill Janey is a guitarist extraordinaire. Steve Bock’s bass playing would turn lesser players’ fingers into pretzel knots. Dennis Bunce keeps time like a Rolex without the pretentiousness. Furthermore, I catch Marc Bolan/T. Rex warble in Janey’s vocals which is a plus in my book.

All in all, an excellent live recording that engages the listener as close to the live experience as possible. If you like the obscure, enjoy digging into the past, checking out a band that paved the way for good rock bands like Fu Manchu and Nebula, you will enjoy this.


Truth and Janey are:
Bill Janey – Guitars, Vocals
Steve Bock – Bass, Vocals
Denis Bunce – Drums, Vocals