A response to the recent killing of unarmed black men in Ferguson and Staten Island, Tomas Doncker tells of sitting with his Tomas Doncker Band before recording this cover of “What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love And Understand” , discussing race relationships in a more nuanced manner than I personally have managed, and then performing this impassioned plea for a better way.
Much like Shakespeare, Doncker knows that all are punished. He notes that intemperance and poverty has lead to a black underbelly and police discrimination has been oversized in its treatment of black men who sometimes deserve it.Doncker has called for dialogue, for hope, family and education. This is a powerful, felt take, with some of the spit and vinegar of the band’s Howlin’ Wolf covers, a take so strong it puts you on your guard. Lead by David Barnes harp, which is all over the track, it looks like this is a case of grand theft Costello till a blistering guitar solo brings it on. In one of his great vocal tour de forces Doncker uses his barrel chested tenor before jumping an octave and leading the band to its denouement and double the time with a shout of “1,2,3,4” to chase itself through the song.
When Brinsley Schwartz first released “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding” the band were in such bad standing with the rock and roll community it was essentially ignored by one and all but in 1979, Costello released a cover in the UK under Lowe’s name and stuck it as an added plus at the end of the US release of Armed Forces. A huge hit, the song went from a perceived slight of the hippies to a secular hymn.
In Doncker’s hands, it is a warning and a prayer. It says, we better stop shooting and stop looting,w e better raise our kids and teach the cops, or we will discover exactly what is so unfunny about peace, love and understanding.
Released today.
Grade: A-
