"One day closer to the end / I know something will begin / Holding myself to account / Not sure what this will amount to..."
The punk hearted, alt rock flesh and bones of "Gaslight" by Florida based 1blackfrend, fervently lead by Detroit-native Randi Johnson with cohorts bassist Grant Nielsen and drummer Chris Poland, absolutely cooks with it's heavy constructions, feral nature and Randi's potent vocal wail. Like a punk rock jigsaw puzzle, the trio (and I love trios) seem to be psychically connected as sinewy musical passages beckon you to head bang. I love the architecture here, the potent punk stances, the heavy metal chunky guitar atmospheres, the plucky booming bass and plucky throttles when on the chorus which surprises, love the solid drumming with the furious high hat and pummeling fills. Randi's vocal character while hard to explain or describe is magnetic, I love the sound of her sung voice, the kind of grit, yelp and sort of twist in her higher registers, again, impossible to describe but not a standard voice, a unique one. Kudos to Nielsen tossing in backing vox.
The Detroit / Michigan sound, historically rooted in a beautifully vicious blend of garage rock, soul and proto-punk influences is felt here and listening to, absorbing "Gaslight" has me feeling a kind of amalgam of artists like Oblivians, The Gories, Pleasure Venom, Lesibu Grand.
I am digging this a hell of a lot.
["This song is about an ex friend who rewrote my reality. They questioned my memories, managed my time, and acted concerned while quietly controlling me. I knew something was wrong, but stayed numb and compliant. It is me realizing how easily my life was shaped by someone who never asked permission."]
-Robb Donker Curtius
LYRICS
One day closer to the end
I know something will begin
Holding myself to account
Not sure what this will amount to
But I don’t care enough to make a change
You never even asked me anyway
Gaslight
Alright
Rewrite
My Life
It feels crazy to forget
Shadows casting silhouettes
Pinned down by my erratic twin
Takes her time to recommend
Oh baby nothing
She cares too much about my afternoon
A blue pill collared salesman on the moon
Gaslight
Alright
Rewrite
My Life
Oh ho ah hooooooooooo
Oh ho ah hooooooooooo
Oh ho ah hooooooooooo
Oh ho ah hooooooooooo
Gaslight
Alright
Rewrite
My Life
My Life
Gaslight
Alright
Not Tonight
Gaslight
Alright
Rewrite
My Life
My Life
Gaslight
Alright
Not Tonight
The Chicken Wheel will take you to the AP Go Fund Me- and any amount is so appreciated!
THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM
https://www.instagram.com/1blackfrend/
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/1blackfrend/1737666675
https://www.facebook.com/1blackfrendfb
https://www.youtube.com/@1blackfrendmusic
https://1blackfrend.com/
1blackfrend is the brainchild of Detroit-native Randi Johnson. The disavowed granddaughter of former first lady, Ladybird Johnson, and famed burrito aficionado, she has been turning her experiences into songs since a drifter handed her a beat-up acoustic guitar outside of a bus station in Bucksnort, Tennessee.
Johnson relocated to Jacksonville, Florida, in 2020 to be closer to her biological brothers, Grant Nielsen and Chris Poland. After teaching them to play bass and drums, respectively, Johnson successfully coerced them into forming a band through a combination of pizza parties and extortion. Watch for tour dates in the local alleys of your hometown soon!
1blackfrend, front woman Randi Johnson, Florida based alt rock trio, Grunge inspired, punk, garage rock, soul punk, furious rock, "Gaslight", chunky guitar, tightly wound rock, bassist Grant Nielsen, drummer Chris Poland,
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