If you were asked to describe 2020 in one sentence, you could do worse than “it was a Jackalope of a year”. Death blues duo 20 Watt Tombstone were in the midst of touring with Doomstress in March when the madness of the pandemic hit. As venues cancelled shows, they headed home to Wisconsin, only to spend the next nine months watching the chaos unfold. Tough for a band who are known for their love of the road and especially given the high of their 2019 European tour. So, they put their effort into ‘Year of the Jackalope’, their third release since they took on the ‘Tombstone identity in 2001 (previously ‘The Goddams’). This EP title represents the barely believable, warped reality that 2020 became.
Like many things from that god awful year, the EP is only available digitally and despite the extended play label the offering is short-lived, given that it consists of just two tracks, both of which are covers. Clearly, someone couldn’t wait for 2020 to be over… Nevertheless Jeff Hamilton (Violent Femmes, Beatallica) helped create the sound and the band are really excited for fans to hear the E.P.
A-side ‘Just Got Paid’, is originally by none other than ZZ Top. I’ve got to say singer/guitarist Tom Jordan does a good job given that he and Billy Gibbons are not too far apart in vocal timbre. However, 20-Watt Tombstone’s version of the song is rhythmically quicker and heavier than the original, without losing that deep south feel. It’s a no-nonsense cover with gravelled tones and some nice drumwork from ‘Grand Master Oh to the Z’, more commonly known as Mitch (Ostrowski).
The second track is a re-interpretation of Chris Stapleton’s ‘Midnight Train To Memphis’ about doing 40 days in prison. A cover of a country star’s music may seem unexpected from a blues/stoner rock band who pride themselves on being heavier than the rest. Yet it’s actually a perfect choice when you learn that Stapleton was born in Kentucky and moved to Tennessee. That’s the southern states and in The South there is soul. Midnight Train to Memphis is blues rock and its rhythmic lament fits with the bands’ style well.
Inevitably there is more focus on blues than metal here and that’s because the E. P. consists of southern rock covers. Nevertheless, they do them well. ‘Tombstones’ magnificent first album, ‘Wisco Disco’ released in 2014 sounded in parts very like the Black Keys. Here they show another side. I just haven’t seen the death bit yet… Not that I’m complaining. This E.P is a small but perfectly formed (midget) gem.
I would however, have liked to hear more. This is merely a taster, a fleeting glimpse at what 20 Watt Tombstone can do. That glimpse was, thankfully, enough to make me look up their back catalogue which is very good indeed. I wouldn’t like to have missed that. There’s something about this band, something that’s provoked fascination from those who have heard them on tour. So, I’m excited about what they may have up their sleeves. Surely, they managed more than this during all those months of lockdown 2020.
Hopefully, as we all emerge confused from the land of the wolpertinger there’s a light on the edge of the horizon. Hopefully 20 Watt Tombstone pull the finger out and get on with their full length album.
- ‘Year of the Jackalope’ is released on Friday (22 January). You can get your copy HERE.
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