‘Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.’ Victor Hugo
What would alt rock and heard rock be without bombastic screaming, distortion pedals and studio trickery? Much ado about nothing really. My Father's Good Name is a band steeped in hard rock roots, but they have managed to strip away the shell of noise and expose the power of true anger, joy, and heartbreak.
Mike Clare, the singer/songwriter/guitarist/pianist and most anything else of My Father's Good Name is the kind of player who might dream of filling in on guitar for Smashing Pumpkins or Atreyu. But when he opens his mouth to sing one his songs, it is apparent this is what he was born to do. The progressions, riffs, and sensibilities of hard rock are still there, but subdued. The result is a collection of memorable songs that have a soulful strength and power - and none of that light and flimsy air of typical singer/songwriter fare.
Along with Mike, this new Sussex band features drummer/singer Trevor Ford and Bassist Nathan.
"We're all a bit into hard rock, but we don't need to shout or plug in the overdrive pedals," is how Mike starts to describe the band's sound. "We'll use it when it makes sense, but everyone in the band is all about pulling the emotion out of the performance, not the electronics." He goes on to say, "And I like folks to remember the songs without beating them over the head with some chippy chorus."
Apparently the band is on board with this as shown by their strong 2007 recording. That collection of emotional songs mixed several influences but showed pop sensibilities without being poppy. It is passion without being pithy.
Because of Mike's confident voice and intuitive creation of memorable melodies, he succeeds whether soaring over a quiet piano piece (Easystreet) or riding along on a driving track (So Good). Trevor's influence clearly adds another level of interest to the band. Intricate drum patterns and polyrhythms do not distract from the songs, but add pleasant surprises to multiple listens.
The band's best attributes cannot be taught or brought. This is emotional song writing directly delivered.
The band has just begun to take shape, but with so many key elements in place, it is clearly a band with a big upside and one to watch in 2008.
