RGG April 2015 - p.13
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Then there’s the intensely introspective rocker
“The Fallen ” which contains psyche bearing lines
like “How’d I fall so far no one can find me?” and
“My ambition is a curse/because it hides the best
in me but shows the worst ”
Other songs had their genesis in more intimate
first person experiences “You Before Me” embeds
an expression of devotion and commitment into
a sturdy rock structure “That song was written
when my wife was pregnant ” Robb explains “It
sounds more romantic in its final form but the
emotional tone was set with the original theme
in mind It’s an overall statement of how
important your significant other is in your life in
the sense of ‘I’ll put myself on the backburner to
make sure everything’s OK with you ’ But it
applies to all kinds of relationships and being a
parent it hits home ”
Which brings us to “Magnolia ” another vibrant
uptempo song with a tender core “That is a very
literal song ” says Robb “Magnolia is my
daughter’s name The first line is ‘I watch and
wonder as you discover’—it’s me looking at my
child as an infant discovering the world and
hoping that I find something in her that reminds
me of myself More generally it’s a father looking
at his daughter and realizing how fleeting and
precious these moments are ” The rhythmic
whooshing sound heard at the beginning of the
song and repeated in the bridge is an ultrasound
recording of Magnolia’s prenatal heartbeat—a
poignant touch indeed “It wasn’t altered tempo
wise to fit the song ” Robb points out “It just fit
It’s one of the songs I play for Maggie and the
second she hears the guitar in the beginning she
starts dancing Maybe it subconsciously reminds
her of being in the womb ”
“We’ve been on this journey for a long time now ”
says Robb “and we’ve come to a greater
appreciation of what motivated us when we were
first starting out: We play music enjoy each
other’s company have a good time and let the
chips fall where they may It’s like a clean
slate but not in a bad way—quite the
opposite We’re no longer trying to satisfy
others not even on a subconscious level;
we’re comfortable in our own skin We know
who we are and we know what we do and
there’s a certain amount of peace in that ”
Supports for this great gig comes from
Payable on Death (POD) and Alien Ant Farm
POD is an American Christian alternative
metal band formed in
and best known for
track "Alive" Alien Ant Farm is an American
rock band that formed in Riverside California
in
and you may well remember the
banging cover version "Smooth Criminal"
One lucky reader will
win a pair of tickets for
this gig just enter at
the address below
Celebrating Years
r
gg
since
1995
