Forever young: Darth Vato rocks the party.
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Back-stabbing pinche gringos
By Anthony Mariani
Ain’t no party like a Darth Vato party. Since forming three years ago, the self-proclaimed “back-stabbing pinche gringos” have been steadily providing the coolest soundtrack to Funkytown bacchanals. Party bands usually stay together for as long as their members remain committed to hanging out. Though mature and articulate, the three dudes that make up Darth Vato party just enough — to gain inspiration and, you know, keep up appearances.
The scene has apparently been good to the boys. Their new disc, a four-song e.p. called The Seven Seas, contains a little bit of everything the band loves — rock, reggae, ska — plus some extra flavor, including R&B, the occasional piercing keyboard whistle that Dr. Dre made famous, and a tinge of Offspring-ish metallica. The first track, “War on the West Side,” gets most of its catchy heft from the chorus, in which drums, bass, and heavily distorted (and loud) guitar collide on two big notes — BAM! BAM! Then frontman Kerry Dean sings, in his best (intentionally slightly off-key) shout, “War on the West Side!,” followed by a four-note collapse — BAMMM, bammm, BAM-BAM! Then: “We won’t be denied!” Party music, “War” isn’t. But it is fun in the way that rapping along to N.W.A. is, even though the closest you may have ever been to SoCal is Beverly Hills.
While not as tongue-in-cheek aggressive, the remainder of Seven Seas is full-bodied, sharp, and, yes, full of good humor. “Take Down” begins as an upbeat ska shuffle before downshifting into a reggae-rific torch. Dean assumes his sweetest bedroom voice, addressing a honey with whom he is apparently about to have relations. The lines roll off his tongue patiently, thoughtfully. “Wouldn’t it be lovely,” he sings, “if the world were you and me?” He pauses, inhales deeply, and then spits, “But it’s not!” Bang! The speedy ska returns, rudely intruding on the reverie like sunlight on the noggin after a night of heavy booze.
Produced by Oliver Future drummer Jordan Richardson at First Street Audio, Seven Seas is the sound of a band growing up — as musicians, never as people.
Fri with Can’t Hang at the Moon, 2911 W Berry St, FW. 817-926-9600.
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