Eleganza
Water Valley High
I dont know the reason, or even if theres one," sings Brian Vanderwerf in the opening track. Despite Brians undoubted place amongst underground rocks singing MVPs, the past decade has given many in his position little reason to hustle. Love of the game? Fuck that! This is all theyve got! Water Valley High is the sound of a band punching its way out of a corner, once again finding ring center in a scene of royal outcasts. Vanderwerfs vocal tenures in The Midnight Evils (Estrus Records) and Chooglin (Big Legal Mess) have long established him as dirt-rock aristocracy. Bassist Tony Zaccarid is The Twin Cities Midnight Mayor. Tony not only doubles as bassist for St Pauls Romantica, but also owns popular night spot and venue Palmers Bar in Minneapolis. Chooglin grad Jeff Johnson has done more with what Chuck Berry taught Keith Richards than anyone since Chuck Berry. Think about it. Secret weapon Greg McAloon pins down the middle guitar with ruthless precision and the cold stare of 1,000 Minnesota winters. Tim Baumgart, as sweet as he is big, seems unaware that its actually really hard to play drums as well as he does. Ever wonder what Scott Asheton playing jazz grip would sound like? Buy the record. Latecomer (but gaining fast) Charlie Smith thinks a lot of Nicky Hopkins and puts that honky tonkin, boogaloo shit on everything.