Slo Burn Live at The Troubadour '97
There once was a band called Kyuss, who were one of the most underrated heavy stoner groove bands in history. They put out three phenomenal albums in their brief career: Blues For The Red Sun, Sky Valley, and And The Circus Leaves Town. Two members of the group truly stood out. First there was guitarist Josh Homme who could play a wicked lick that would circle your brain with more intensity than a catscan. Then there was lead singer John Garcia, whose vocal style would mesmerize and scowl at the same time.
The former has gone on tour with the Screaming Trees and also lend a hand to fellow stoner rockers Fu Manchu on their current cover of the Blue Oyster Cult classic "Godzilla."
The latter, John Garcia, has wasted no time in starting a new band that goes by the name SLO*BURN. So what do Slo-Burn sound like? Well, for those chosen few who were intelligent enough to know who Kyuss were, Slo-Burn are Kyuss in 1997. You see, Garcia knew he had a good thing going with Kyuss. It's the music that's in his blood.
So he probably figured, "why ruin a good thing?" Instead of trying to fit in with what's currently hip, Slo-Burn extend the Mary Jane sound to mind-numbing heights.
Opening up with "Hate Rhymes," Garcia is instantly transfixed and hypnotized by the thick wall of sound that surrounds him. He feels the music and was born to be on-stage singing from his gut with integrity. My personal favorite of the night was "Sick Fuck," with Garcia spewing out his hatred for whichever low-life fucked him over. Maybe it was aimed at the devils at Elektra that dropped his old band. Who knows?
But one thing's for sure, SLO*BURN will be performing at The Roxy on January 28th. It's free. So go see some music with passion and soul. Or stay home and listen to KLOS.
Words by Scott Montiel
30/1/97