Hailing from Highland Park, New Jersey, the Grip Weeds are quite the family band. Comprised of brothers drummer Kurt and guitarist Rick Reil, Kurt’s wife Kristin Pinell on lead guitar, and good friend Dave DeSantis on bass, the group has since their formation two decades ago held sway as one of the finest bands to be had.
The Grip Weeds’ handling of classic pop rock, elevated by their own vital vision and songwriting expertise, has duly provided them worldwide accolades.
To keep us happy until a new studio album is released later this year, the Grip Weeds have put together Inner Grooves (Ground Up Records), which features rare tracks, involving remixed singles, B-sides, and compilation contributions. And what a delight it is!
Padded snuggly with burning breaks, whirling rhythms, and fiercely fetching melodies, “In Waking Dreams,” “Nothing Lasts,” and “Rainy Day #1&2” echo the prime power pop presence of bands like the Who, Nazz, and the Move. Maximized by blazing drum fills, lusty licks, and harmonious vocals, these tunes portray the heart and soul of the Grips Weeds through and through. The energy is raw, but controlled, and the group pops and rocks with direction and determination.
Acoustic takes of “Sight Unseen” and “Every Minute” crackle with crisp and catchy beats, where covers of Gene Clark’s gorgeously glimmery “She Don’t Care About Time” and the buzzing psychedelic thrust of the Electric Banana’s (aka the Pretty Things) “It’ll Never Be Me” are revisited with total credibility. The disc closes with the utterly amazing “Sun Ra Ga,” an 11 minute raga rock styled jam twisting, turning and churning with brain-bending measures.
How nice it was of the Grip Weeds to raid the archives and share these nuggets with us. Not only will veteran fans find lots to love about Inner Grooves, but those hearing the Grip Weeds for the first time will be slayed by their sharp and stirring sounds, encouraging them to look into the band’s past ventures.
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