The Gay Blades keep rolling along
By CHRIS JORDAN • STAFF WRITER • December 31, 2010
http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20101231/ENTERTAINMENT01/101228038/-1/ENT...Thinking about Mick Jagger lately?
Gay Blades frontman Clark Westfield is.
"To be truthfully honest, the Stones play a tribute show to themselves,'' said Westfield, otherwise known as James Wells. "They play a 30-year tribute to themselves, and that's what they should be doing.''
The Gay Blades present their irreverent take on the iconic Rolling Stones singer on the track "Mick Jagger'' from their just-released album, "Savages'' (Triple Crown Records/ILG). The sound of the Blades' funky and clippy "Mick Jagger'' conjures up the Stones of the early '80s.
"Nobody wants to hear new music from the Stones,'' Westfield continued. "You don't think of it. You think of Mick Jagger in a loud sequined jacket and tight jeans and Keith Richards smoking like a chimney and playing riffs. Leave it to younger artists to create new music and the Stones to provide entertaining concerts … that's awesome.''
The Gay Blades are a younger band, and they do put on entertaining concerts, which should be evident tonight at the Asbury Lanes New Year's Eve party, which also features a DJ.
The guys … vets of Exit 9 bands such as Clever Hans and Hello Lovely … have built a rep for their minimalist snark and alternately charming and creepy wit, with Westfield on guitar and Puppy Mills (Quinn English) on drums, a la White Stripes with humor. Critics on both sides of the pond raved about their debut album, "Ghosts,'' and the band shared stages with Cursive, MGMT, Ra Ra Riot, Jack's Mannequin and Juliette Lewis.
"If I told you what happened, I'd have to make love to you,'' Westfield said.
Hmm, maybe the Blades haven't changed that much after all
Now, with the new "Savages,'' the Gay Blades have expanded their sound to include horns, arena power chords and gospel choirs. Also, the death of Westfield's younger brother last year had added a bit of seriousness to the lyrics, songs about Mick Jagger aside.
As for the live show, multi-instrumentalist Mike Abiuso of Kiss Kiss now is accompanying the band on tour, which leads us to ask whether he had to undergo some sort of initiation to go on the road with Westfield and Mills.