ShareFrom the swamps of southern Louisiana comes the return of apocalyptic folk rocker Rod Melancon. His new album, “Southern Gothic” reflects the same “Gothic Dixie Fried Trash Rock” from his previous works… except the weight of fighting against the apostate seemed to have only gotten heavier. Its outsider music for the dying transistor radios hidden in the basements at the ends of the world. Melancon’s affinity to the great Southern writer, Larry Brown gives a surreal cast to his lyrics that masks for some very human stories about his growing up in South Louisiana. Again, L.A. producer… Brian Whelan has delivered on his promise of making a great rock and roll album that has a wallup! Let the other music pundits call it what it “ain’t”…Americana. We would prefer calling it rock and roll!… His low Delta howl is the pretty, the pain and the yelp of a man going through resolve. Melancon has evolved into an intriguing artist simply because he follows his own instincts and is committed to the art of storytelling. There’s a Gothic air reflected in the music’s earthy graveyard pall which creeps into his lyrical lexicon.
Writer… Larry Brown… Rod Melancon…
The opening track, “With The Devil” is marked by gritty realism, shocking violence, and diachronic narrative. It evokes morbid imagery as much as being a vehicle for moving heady thoughts. It’s more like a punk rock Leadbelly than Americana.
Just when the tone of the album is set you wouldn’t expect a song that leaps out at you and could’ve of easily been heard on The Rolling Stones’ epic album, “Exile of Main Street” with the track,”Promises” .. There’s frantic boogie woogie piano and frenzied horns in the song, “Red Head”… You’ve never had them all until you’ve had a red head!
Rod Melancon..”Southern Gothic”
“Southern Gothic’s” best moment is the “remake” from his second album, “Different Man”. A tribute to those who’ve served in the armed forces and upon there return have been neglected by our country ..“Different Man” Louisiana’s own dark star and Orpheus of the underground, Rod Melancon – the fool in your tarot deck – at times trippin’ over his own tombstone reaching into the atmosphere and pulling spirits from the air. An alchemy of all roots music, doom metal with glam-punk poetry. It sounds like voodoo, feels like redemption and puts off heat like a burning oil rig. In the service of tears and the ghost of all sorrows…say goodnight to the world and feel the fire burning at the intersection of perfection and decadence.
Rock Bands of L.A. com had the chance to connect with Melancon about Southern Gothic..
Rock Bands of L.A. com:
What makes your music so engaging is that it touches the hearts of everyone. The stories of your family are relatable…… “Parish Lines” is a fave album of mine and I loved “Different Man”… Why did you “re-record” it? Why mess with a “Picasso”?.. My interpretation of the song is its about a man who served in the Mid-East war and when he returned the world seemed different to him… America turned its back on him and he became depressed… isolated … lonely..
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Rod Melancon:
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