Fuck this shit.
A really awesome, hard rocking classicist heads down piece of ultra catchy rock and rock glammy rocking whomp, and a benefit for a rock nyc friend and good guy, and the Pagans only do it for two and a half minutes? The solo alone shoulda been two and a half minutes, or five minutes, the singing has that edge of sarcasm and raspiness underneath, the band are on the one, the lyric is a great little put down, down Sunset, and moment for moment it is a terrific, flawless piece of rock and roll heaven. Plus, in act of foreshadowing almost spooky, cars and driving are one of the top metaphors on the song.
You see, The Pagans lead singer Mike Hudson was in a full on car crash and ended up in hospital and I was particularly bumming because I’d just become friends with the sort of guy you’d think I’d have known for decades. Fame Whore was one of the best albums of 2014, Alyson raved about em on stage in L.A.and there was a full tilt Pagan boogie resurrection going on when the disaster occurred.
I called Mike on his birthday and hardly surprisingly, the silence was deafening. But slowly word began to creep out, he was on the road to recovery. The other day Hudson asked me if I’d heard the Pagans new song “Nowhere Girl”, of course I hadn’t without Mike to clue me in.
Hudson wrote me: “You hear the Pagans benefit single, “NoWhere Girl” …. Came out in Feb to raise $$$$ to feed my dogs & pay the rent till I get outta the hospital. I’m guessing not, since I don’t see it here on your “Best Of” list (LOL!!!!!!)
“It’s coming out as a vinyl 45 on the German New Amerika label in a month or so, but after the accident the label rushed it out as a download here to raise $$$. Some people have said it’s the best track the LA Pagans have done. Trivia factor; Richard Duguay, who played most of the guitars on Guns & Roses’ “The Spaghetti Incident,” sings backup. Hopefully, I’ll be back in action by October. They’ve booked us a festival in Spain and some other Euro things and I’d really hate to miss them…”
That would seem to suggest the Pagans must be passing through the city on their way, right? So let’s hope they add a coupla dates in town. Bowery Electric would sell out in a heartbeat.
In the mean time, make the most of your two and a half minutes of “Nowhere Girl”… put it on repeat! Listen to it over and over again and for the best reason, because it’s great and for the second best reason, to help out the great punk rocker and all round good guy, Mike Hudson.
Buy it here.
Grade: A
