Heavy Glow

I had forgotten about these guys, I rediscovered them on one of my "blind searches" (often before getting in the truck I go back to the CD room and with eyes closed grab a disc which I am required (MY rules!) to listen to in its entirety.....sometimes the results are not great, and when I grabbed Heavy Glow's "The Filth and the Fury" EP, I couldn't remember shit about them to be honest, and my initial reaction (before popping it in) was "well at least it's just an EP"........

Quite pleasantly surprised, I dug out their other EP (self titled) and their full length "Midnight Moan", and certainly these boyos have nothing to be ashamed of.....they really don't fit into much of any niche rather than good old hard rock, maybe a bit to the psych leaning edge of things although not quite of the "stoner" ilk, if you get what I mean.

So, I had to do a little research, their story is not especially interesting.....from San Diego, Heavy Glow are guitarist/vocalist Jared Mullins, bassist Joe Brooks, and drummer Dave Rollans.Their very first release was the self titled EP (2009), decent hard rock tunes all, standout being "Grinnin' In the ", but entirely listenable.  In 2010 they released the independently produced "The Filth and the Fury" EP, copping the name from that legendary Pistols boot, although this has nada to do with the Pistols, punk, or any of the like.....gotta dock them a point for swiping the title, really, did they think noone would remember the original?

Anyway it's a damn good hard rocking EP, five tunes of medium (4-5 minute length), really, all 5 are pretty good if nothing spectacular....."I Almost Prayed", "Bourgois Baby" and the somewhat hypnotic "Love Ghost", while far from lyrical masterpieces sound perfectly, somewhat bluesy, somewhat psych, maybe even a bit garagish.......say a band attempted to "be" Cream......then another band attempted to "be" THAT band.....carry this on for five or six generations and the result might be Heavy Glow....I guess I'm going to leave that description because it's accurate but it sounds like I'm putting them down. I'm not, really.

In 2011 they punched out their first full length, "Midnight Moan" a similar collection of songs highlighted by "Slave Dance"......again, a perfectly listenable album, not one that haunts you or calls you back to it over and over, but you want a decent piece of hard rock that won't strain your brain or anything, this could be for you (it seems so odd that I picked them by random selection, and they are SO competent and generically enjoyable, somehow it seems ironic. Why? I dunno.

So, what the hell why NOT Heavy Glow? These are by no means future "classics", but at least they don't suck, and they rock out, and so what the fuck? EVERYTHING can't be of heavy significance.....sometimes loud riffs and wah wah solos are enough.

Have no clue as to whether they are still kicking it, I saw rumors of a planned 2014 release but can't confirm whether it's out or not......be interested should anyone know or have heard it or have it (share, perhaps?)

HEAVY GLOW (EP)-01 It's Too Late/02 Grinnin In the Dark/03 Better Line/04 Smitten/05 Trailin St Judas Blues/06 Heavy Glow

THE FILTH AND THE FURY EP-01 I Almost Prayed/02 Love Ghost/03 Hot Mess/04 Bourgeois Baby/05 Red July

MIDNIGHT MOAN-01 Lose My Mind/02 Slave Dance/03 Today Is Technicolor/04 All My Money/05 Collide/06 Purgatory Blues/07 Smithereen/08 Midwestern Lullabye/09 Diggin a Ditch

Comments, please? I know I've been a bit irregular/sporadic of late, busy with the "life" thing, and, again, sorry about the links for These Arms Are Snakes (yes I'm reupping them NOW).......so many BIIIIIG posts I still wanna commit to, Yo La Tengo, Motorhead, the Stranglers and others have sat here halfway compiled for a while, the mega posts are just a LOT of work and while I LOVE doing them, I have to have the time........so I hope some of these shorter posts do the trick for ya......the Junior Varsity link is up, These Arms are Snakes will be up shortly AND I hope to still get Heavy Glow up tonight (Sunday)......hope you and your families had an enjoyable and happy Easter holiday weekend.