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 Loky is a band I played in from the fall of 1997 until May
2000. It was a traditional four-piece rock band setup with
the twist that the guitars were acoustic and the drummer
played two djembes instead of a drum kit. It was folk-rock
in the same way the Grateful Dead was; any given song would
be reshaped in tempo or groove from one performance to the
next. This is a habit carried over to Fahl & Folk, my
current band. We did some covers but mostly played tunes
written by Jimmy Mac or myself. The quintessential elements
of Loky's sound were the acoustic guitar rhythms, Jimmy's
distorted lead style, strong odd grooves, and intelligent,
unpretentious lyrics. Here In Paradise, the studio CD Loky
recorded, shows what the band was all about, and is a piece
of work I'm still proud of.
We've produced one CD, Here in Paradise
Here in Paradise
Real Folk Music
RF00001
Available Now! - Buy CDs at  and 
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Download MP3s
(2) Here In Paradise (.zip)
(7) Her Boyfriend's Shirt (.zip)
Here In Paradise was recorded by Jimmy Mac,
Dana Harrington, Victor Agis, and myself. The songs we chose
to include show off Jimmy's and my songwriting, and show
off the range of music Loky is capable of playing.
Here in Paradise is Loky's debut CD, put together to display
the band's unique sound. Loky is a band that loves to play.
Since they got together they have been playing two to three
times a week, usually for three to four hours a show. Most
of their songs are set up to allow for some stretch-out
room, but the jamming is always there to serve the song,
because they're as much about songwriting as they are about
playing.
About the Songs:
1. Here in Paradise
Here in Paradise is Loky's debut CD, put together to display the band's unique sound. Loky is a band that loves to play. Since they got together they have been playing two to three times a week, usually for three to four hours a show. Most of their songs are set up to allow for some stretch-out room, but the jamming is always there to serve the song, because they're as much about songwriting as they are about playing.
The title song, "Here in Paradise", leads off the album with an acoustic guitar groove and Jimmy's distinctive lead. David sings about grownup loneliness.
2. Lost in Houston
"Lost in Houston" is Jimmy's take on the country-boy-lost-in-the-city story, played at Ramones pace and accented by David's 90s version of classic Chuck Berry licks.
3. Houston to New Orleans
The next two songs are variations on the lonely guy theme. David's "Houston to New Orleans" is an old-fashioned "she's gone" song with some simple harmonica accompaniment and Jimmy's guitar impersonation of early Neil Young.
4. Escargot
Jimmy's "Escargot" is a ballad featuring some clear harmonies and David's meditative guitar solos.
5. Waiting for the President
While it sounds pretty topical at the moment, "Waiting for the President" was written in the early years of the Clinton administration as a comment on the general wierdness of power and the powerful, set to a retro rock beat. The pointed monologue was added just before recording. "Impeach this, Senator Pissant" indeed.
6. 12-Bar Blues
The twelve bars in "Twelve Bar Blues" are Houston music clubs Jimmy played during his his musical life before Loky. All the stories are true, except the ones he made up. A B3 organ resident to the Sugar Hill studio was used to add some extra color to this version.
7. Her Boyfriend's Shirt
The great pop hope on this CD is "Her Boyfriend's Shirt", a catchy tune inspired by a late night trip to the grocery store, the first verse and chorus written on the way home. What we really want to know is why they call it cross-dressing when a guy borrows his girIfirend's skirt.
8. New Orleans
Jimmy's "New Orleans" is folk funk jam tune with extended solos by both guitarists and a story about one of "those" Mardi Gras experiences back in the late 70s.
9. Trainwreck
David wrote "Trainwreck" as an experiment in music and spoken word, using blues instead of the jazz/poetry beatnik thing. The contrast in Jimmy and David's guitar styles is well displayed in the intro and in the closing guitar section.
10. Carl Brown
In "Carl Brown", Jimmy tells a man's life story as pieced together from pictures and letters found discarded in a trash bin.
11. I Can't Cry Anymore
"I Can't Cry Anymore" begins as a stark litany of grief and resolves with one of David's better guitar workouts.
12. Angels in My House
Billed in concert as a "theology song", "Angels in My House" uses layered percussion to drive a tongue-in-cheek tale of near-revelation. |
