SETLIST
A Little Taste of Royalty Conman Bolo’s “King Spliff” By Collin Yeo
music@northcoastjournal.com
S
o much has changed in the last two years, it’s sometimes difficult to keep track of every little turn of the screw. In the old days, I used social media, emails to friends and even this column to track the various changes, moods, ideas and events that crossed the boundaries of my orb of conscious being. Music, culture and politics all meshed in this 21st century multimedia diary to form a (semi) coherent perspective of the world at large, both local and global. However, the Setlist is no longer a weekly publication as new variants pop up and the plague continues while the anti-vaxxers enjoy a nice perch in the marketplace of ideas in this, the smartest country in the history of the world. I got rid of most social media after the election, and I barely talk about politics and culture in any forum anymore, since I believe that the time to make things better has passed. What’s coming in ’22 and ’24 is likely horrifying. The jokes that people used to make about Idiocracy being a documentary will likely be retooled soon for The Purge series. And I can think globally and act locally all I want, but when my local liberal government representatives pick up union endorsements and then vote against pro-labor measures for pandemic workers before getting nice promotions themselves, I have to admit defeat and move on with my life. I’ve got books to read while I still have a warm place in which to read them.
so that when I tell you that something is worth listening to, you’ll know that if nothing else I am being completely honest. “King Spliff,” the new single from local jazz rock outfit Conman Bolo, is worth listening to. I’ve listened to it probably 30 times; it’s been on in the background pretty Conman Bolo’s latest single “King Spliff.” Courtesy of the artist frequently for the last two weeks. Lyrically, the song is about one of my However, here comes the ray of sunshine favorite topics: the hater. In this case, a guy on the trash heap: There’s still really good who gets high all day and dedicates his entire music being made, right here in our own rapidly gentrifying backyard. Musicians are the creative output to talking shit about other best artists in many ways because they can’t musicians. As a longtime resident of the help themselves. They know intuitively that Arcata music scene, would it surprise you to their music occupies a space usually reserved learn that I have met a few fellas who fit this for incense and excellent food and drink — bill? Anyway, the lyrics are the least interesting thing about this track and I mean that ephemeral, best when shared, and timeless in a complimentary sense because they are in the cherished memories of our hearts and good. Bandleader Conner West and company minds. Sure, you can buy an album and listen have pulled together something rare: a highly to it for ages. But you can’t go to a store and derivative piece of music that’s still fresh and see Miles Davis at the 1955 Newport Jazz a delight to the ears. The biggest influence Festival in person. Those experiences live that these folks cop is Steely Dan, specifiin the Valhalla of the soul for the lucky few cally the Katy Lied album, which serves as who were there wearing the right ears and a creative hingepoint in that band’s sublime eyes. I have a few performances like that in discography. I’ve made it no secret that the my happy place, stored safely for when I will Dan has been one of my favorite bands for need to go there permanently like Jonathan years and there are two live shows of theirs Pryce in the end of Brazil. I hope to gather a hidden in my private archives of divinity. And few more before that happens, too. Why am I sharing all of this? Because I want although I usually don’t like Dan imitators to be straight with you, dear reader, about like Mac DeMarco, Conman Bolo pulls it off, where I’m at and what I’m thinking about largely because the song is just irresistibly
sweet. Written by West, “King Spliff” is a wonderful little diversion, the tight vocal harmonies and warmly melted keys and guitar of which sit just right in the crunchy shell of the rhythm section. And the horns, arranged by Allison Muench, are the proper filling to complete this musical taco. I’m using food terms here because it’s a stoner song but, as I mentioned, that’s just the theme of the lyrics. It’s not a stoney song at all, although I’m sure that an imbiber of cannabis would enjoy the journey regardless. West’s press release calls it yacht rock but I wish he wouldn’t do that. Yacht rock is an ironic elder millennial term for the early ’80s musical output of artists like Michael McDonald and Christopher Cross. The bitterness and detachment of my people’s imprimatur from yesteryear is all over it. This stuff is newer and younger. If you’re smart enough to write a groovy little chiller like this, you’re smart enough to come up with a new stupid name for the genre. Or better yet, let a music writer from the younger set do it for you, I am perfectly happy to let the kids have a crack at this weird biz. Conman Bolo will be playing a maskand-vax-card show at the Miniplex on Dec. 11 to celebrate the release of this single on Spotify, YouTube, SoundCloud and most of the other streaming services that same day. Also on the bill is Los Angeles’ delightful and peerlessly odd sound artist Jerry Paper and their supporting act Sitcom. So believe me when I tell you that this show is going to be righteous and a potential future memory bank inductee. Presale tickets are $15 and $20 at the door, and the sounds start at 9 p.m. If you feel comfortable risking the second worst disease with Greek lettering (after college fraternities, of course) then you won’t want to miss this one. l Collin Yeo (he/him) wonders if there are any historical precedents for a corrupt and ineffectual liberal establishment facing a far-right insurgence during a crisis. Best not to think about it. He lives in Arcata.
northcoastjournal.com • Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021 • NORTH COAST JOURNAL
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