The Getdown! rocks the Lion’s Lair. Photo by Jay Vollmar
Here at Reverb, we know it’s not enough to simply read about Denver’s best local bands — you’ve got to HEAR them. That’s why, every single Tuesday, without fail, Steal This Track brings you 100 percent local music downloads that are 100 percent free. Bookmark this page. Subscribe to the RSS feed. Set your alarm. Do whatever it takes to make sure you don’t miss your weekly chance to reach into our goodie bag.
This week, we bring you a track from a noisy Denver duo that makes deliciously grimy garage rock with one eye on dirty, dangerous ’50s blues, one on the ’60s and ’70s Detroit proto-punk of the MC5 and the Stooges and a third eye (that’s right) on the noise rock of Sonic Youth.
The Getdown! — with Tom Nelsen on drums and Dustin Lawlor on bass and vocals — delivers rough-hewn slabs of rock with an emphasis on attitude and impact, and little regard for fancy equipment or flashy musicianship. That doesn’t mean, however, that the pair lacks subtlety. The band’s deep, visceral effect relies on sincerity, passion and a particular kind of precision that has to be heard (and seen) to be appreciated.
To that end, we proudly give you the Getdown!’s unique take on Little Willie John‘s “Leave My Kitten Alone,” a song that has been covered by the Beatles on one end of the spectrum, and by the Sonics on the other. In a simple, raw blues context, Lawlor’s fuzzed-out bass and surprisingly melodic vocals provide the musical anchor against which Nelsen pulls with his merciless and tireless kit pummeling. It’s an exciting and enervating ride that leaves the listener happily drained at the end of its three-minute duration.
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If you like what you hear and can’t wait for the duo’s forthcoming full-length, you can download all three tracks from their most recent EP, “Snakes & Snails,” as well as their seven-song debut, “Rats & Vultures,” .
If you’re a band or musician ready to unleash some fresh sounds on the readers of Reverb, email your tracks to Eryc Eyl for consideration.
Please note that downloads offered via Steal This Track are intended to whet your appetite, and are NOT CD-quality recordings. If you want those, please support the artists by buying their music and/or seeing them live.
Eryc Eyl is a veteran music journalist, critic and Colorado native who has been neck-deep in local music for many years. Check out every Tuesday for local music you can HEAR, and the every Friday.
