Early in the year I caught two old favourites The Rain Parade and The Dream Syndicate at a small, intimate gig at Cluny 2 in the Ouseburn Valley..
Or to tell the truth, I caught the tail end of Rain Parade's supporting set, turning into the venue as they were winding up their final song and heading backstage. I hate it when that happens. Seeing the support act is a key feature of the time honoured gig going ritual. Still, The Dream Syndicate set was magical and the Puicci Brothers returned for the Syndicate's encore, and the two bands came together for a wonderful version of Television's Glory in an almost 'ten guitar salute' for the recently departed Tom Verlaine. As I said to Steve Wynn as I shook his hand and made my way to the exit, 'It was moving'. He replied that that was a very good thing to be.
The new Rain Parade album Last Rays of a Dying Sun, released a couple of months back, is also a moving and excellent thing. David Roback, a cornerstone of the original incarnation of the band is gone now of course, but Matt Piucci and Roback's brother Steve still man the Parade's fort and tend the band's signature sound and guiding spirit here with some style.
Of course where RP go, there are certain bands and a set of influences that will instantly come up. The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Beatles, Dylan, Neil Young, Television and so forth come immediately to mind. There isn't a song, barely a moment on here where these reminders won't be drawn to mind. Not a problem, but certainly a factor.
I didn't quite make it to the end of the record, though it's a fine one which Rain Parade fans will enjoy. I was tempted to take it off and put Younger Than Yesterday on at a cerain point mind. We were all much younger then though after all. Still. Certainly a noble sally back into the fray.
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