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Blues and Chrome: Big
Head rears its head in Boise
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Chrome-laden blues rock. Okay, it might sound a skosh too vague at first, but I honestly think this little phrase I’ve created does well to describe the musical stylings of Big Head Todd and the Monsters.
The Colorado trio BHTM – plus a concert keyboard player – signed, sealed, and delivered a seriously bluesy set on Friday night at the Big Easy Concert House in Boise. Every song let loose by the band came as a call for travelers to hit the pavement (in the tradition of “Born to Be Wild,” minus the mid-life crisis cheese factor). On its current tour, BHTM is revving its own little engine in that time-honored parking space: Road trip music.
Pulling influences from a variety of greats (Stevie Wonder, Pink Floyd, Stone Temple Pilots, John Lee Hooker, etc.) guitarist/vocalist/harmonica/sax player Todd Park Mohr had no difficulty delivering an emotionally acoustic version of the ‘90s hit “Broken Hearted Savior.”
Mohr’s vocals rumbled along like funked-out lover’s laments against his distorted guitar licks on their mostly up-tempo blues rock. In contrast, “Bittersweet” wafted in from left field, a hit with staying power when played live.
A few covers dotted the show horizons. “Friend of the Devil” was a pleasure to all with its dancing keyboard solo, while “Voodoo Chile” and “Let’s Get it On” helped to round out the encore – a second round of BHTM readily welcomed.
A hellagripastacka die hard fans arrived in business-casual attire. One can be sure that most present probably had to hire a babysitter in order to make the show, but, age-be-damned, these yuppies and their older ilk came to rock.
I myself knew little about the band until about 9:45 p.m. Friday night when they took the stage. But note after note unfolded the story of the most unknown band ever to live securely in the peripheries of the American college kid.
It seems, whether we know it or not, the songs of BHTM have been consistently great and everywhere since the late 1980s. Sadly enough, the band came into its own at a time when 1990s four chord acts were a dime a dozen on both student and commercial radio. (You remember the Gin Blossoms, right?)
But at the end of the day – or decade even – BHTM has stood apart from the fray playing often and well for a loyal following. In addition, the band just released a DVD of two packed shows at the legendary Filmore.
Jeans and ponchos are the garb. Sweet and sad are the mettle. Blues and chrome are the medium. For all their pop culture underexposure, these rockers have assured themselves a spot on the collegiate soundtrack with a full tank yet to go.
Mary Grace Lucas
News Writer