Pearl Handled Revolver– Fantasy Reigns
Pearl Handled Revolver. The name is cool enough to warrant a curious listen. It is absolutely a cool choice of band name. Pearl Handled Revolver is also, not the usual name for a progressive rock band. But that is what makes them so great. They play a bluesy mix of progressive rock. And so, did progressive rock legends Jethro Tull, Procol Harum, Led Zeppelin, and Traffic…as well as many others. The blending of music genres always creates interesting concepts and music. I like to think of Pearl Handled Revolver as a great blending of The Tea Party, The Doors and the Cult.
I found out about the band from a recent pandemic Fusion 3 Lockdown Liberation Edition online concert, May 30th, 2020. Fantasy Reigns was released May 7, 2019.
The album’s first song was partly inspired by the poem ‘Thought Fox’ by Ted Hughes. Lee Vernon, the vocalist explains, “It struck a chord with me from the first read. On the surface, a description of the ‘writers block’ we all experience as poets. But dig deeper into the symbolism and dark undertones to find the glorious description of his very thoughts emerging from the wilderness. The dark, musty truth. “In My Blood” explores my own ‘need’ to find the darkest, primordial drive that lies behind our daily existence, in order to write anything at all”.
Fantasy Reigns, on the other hand has its conceptual roots in “Do we retreat into fantasy worlds of Social Media, Fake News and tribal nostalgia out of denial or are these things a convenient distraction to keep us abiding by a failing status quo? Don’t we all need the wilderness?”
Pearl Handled Revolver is made up of Andy Paris, on lead guitar; Simon Rinaldo, on Hammond B3, Vox Continental, Farfisa, Rhodes, clavinet, harpsichord, Mellotron, Moog, accordion, and bass; Chris Thatcher, on drums, percussion, and backing vocals; and Lee Vernon is the lead vocals.
“In My Blood”, opens with some fake news, radio excerpts, before thundering Hammond organ, bass, lead electric guitar and drums join in the mad dash. Lee Vernon sings, “See that tempest, bring me down to Earth. Regain control of nightmares. We see them in the day. We claim to rise above them. Although we know they’re there”. Lee Vernon sounds like a great mix between Ian Astbury and Jeff Martin, only with a raspier voice than both. A good powerful rocker to open the album. But hang in there…the best is yet to come…
“Machine Gun”, opens with cool grinding lead electric guitar, before Lee Vernon sings, “Taxi left that ragstone cold. I didn’t get no sleep last night. My eyes were two black holes”. Good bluesy song full of spirit and that wonderful Hammond. Great electric guitar, bass and drums. A powerful Cult-like, blues rocker, full of tortured spirit.
Warm-ups over!
“Belly of the Whale”, is the reason you will buy this album, or at least why you should. Jim Morrison and Ray Manzarak have long since passed. But Pearl Handled Revolver conjures their spirit, to bring to you one of the most-excellent, post-Doors songs, you may ever hear. This would have been a contender for my top ten list of songs, last year, had I heard it then. ‘Moby Dick’ on steroids, after that excellent walk through the pebbles on the beach; reminiscent of the Who’s Quadrophenia. But this is not about whales. It is about life.
Over ten minutes of Manzarek – like organ, combined with Billy Duffy – like, lead electric guitar. A dark and ominous song that conjures the memory of two of my favorite Doors songs, ‘The End” and ‘When the Music’s Over’. (Makes me wonder how they would interpret, ‘The Soft Parade’). Anyway, this song will make you glad you found this band and purchased this album. It is amazing, and original. The music actually sounds like a great marriage of the Doors and the Cult. One of the best songs I have heard this year. The keyboard work Simon Rinaldo provides here, will take you right back to Manzarek. Just close your eyes and pretend.
“Something Going on Up There”, keeps that Manzarek spirit alive on keys, with more bass and electric lead guitar. That opening beach guitar sound takes you back to some of those cool relaxing beach songs about riding along LA’s beaches from the Doors. Those belled keys from Rinaldo, and that soft organ music, is just what the doctor ordered. The album’s second-best track.
“Siren”, throws off all supposition. Those keys take me right back to Strange Days. Lee Vernon pulls out all the stops and goes for it, sounding almost exactly like Ian Astbury. A powerful rocker, full of some of the best lead electric guitar shredding on the album.
“Petrol Skin”, opens slow and quiet. Percussion and strings of guitar riffs before slow moody electric lead guitar. Lee Vernon almost whispers the lyrics as soft drums support. The moody guitar is wonderful.
“The Switch”, opens with cool repeated electric lead guitar plucks. The cool synthesizer and keyboard work returns. Another excellent rocker full of originality. Lee Vernon sings some great lyrics, “I think we’re all the same. No matter where your sun sets. It’s time we redesign, cause we ain’t got that much time left. When we were kids, remember summer, days were oh so long? And we never had to stray to hear that j-birds song”.
“Raise Your Hand”, opens with cool congas and then bass riffs. Lee Vernon sings, “Ignore desire. Exhume the rage. And maybe then we’ll quench the fires that burns our page. If no one cares. Make no mistake. That all our monsters in our nightmares, we create”. Then, that Hammond takes over. A great song to close the album and make you want more.
Fantasy Reigns is an excellent album. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes the Doors and the Cult. Pearl Handled Revolver, lives up to its cool name, playing original music with thought-provoking lyrics. Give this band a try and I’m sure you’ll add them to your watch list, like me.
Track List
- In My Blood – 3:14
- Machine Gun – 4:03
- Belly of the Whale – 10:22
- Something Going on Up There – 5:14
- Siren – 4:16
- Petrol Skin – 2:25
- The Switch – 3:35
- Raise Your Hand – 4:52
https://pearlhandledrevolver.bandcamp.com/album/fantasy-reigns