MAVIS STAPLES’ GUITARIST OPTS FOR GARAGE BAND BASICS
Rick Holmstrom, “See That Light” (LuEllie Records)
Mask up, plug in and rock out to a stripped-down sound. That’s the recipe for success on “See That Light,” the new solo album by Rick Holmstrom, who has been Mavis Staples’ guitarist and bandleader for the past 13 years.
When the pandemic wiped out Staples’ 2020 tour schedule, Holmstrom regrouped — so to speak — and assembled a power trio in a studio near his home in Venice, California.
The happy result is a 12-song set built on garage band basics that showcases Holmstrom’s enormous guitar vocabulary. Not that he’s a showboat — his solos aren’t so much high-flying as rooted, specifically in the blues and Chuck Berry, with lots of vibrato, twang and reverb.
Some of Holmstrom’s most impressive, inventive playing is as a rhythm guitarist in support of his singing. Equally appealing is the work of Steve Mugalian on drums and Gregory Boaz on bass.
There’s considerable variety to Holmstrom’s original material. “Waiting Too Long” chugs like the El Camino he sings about, while “Look Me In the Eye” rides a sock hop beat, and the swinging “Come Along” is bracketed by a slow, sweet melody. Holmstrom sings about dysfunction in dyspeptic, dystopian times before an inquisitive child inspires the uplifting finale, “Joyful Eye.”
After it ends in feedback, listeners can provide their own: great stuff.
Several decades ago Dr. John Gray wrote a book which shot straight to the top of the best-seller lists, Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus. I am one of the few people who did not read it because
I felt the title was pretty much self-explanatory. Men and women are different from one another; it is a platitude that requires no further discussion. Back in the 40’s Irving Berlin wrote a song for
Broadway’s “Annie
Get Your Gun” and its title was
“Whatever You Can Do, I Can Do Better.” In the film version, Betty Hutton was telling Howard Keel that, in most cases, women can out perform men.
I guess I am terribly old fashioned, but I identify more with Rodgers and Hammerstein’s tune from Flower Drum Song, “I Enjoy Being A Girl.” There are some things I never want to do… operate heavy equipment… climb telephone poles… repair elevator shafts. And, on the other side of the coin, how often do you see a man selling AVON or women’s lingerie at Dillards? In other words, certain tasks are too difficult for the opposite sex to perform. Let me use one example to prove my point: aside from the physical drawbacks, maternity is simply too emotional for the male species to handle.
It is my belief that God really knew what He was doing when He chose Eve to bear the children rather than Adam. I honestly do not believe the average male could handle the discomfort, fatigue, day-to-day adjustments and body changes involved… and these all come before we reach the ‘travail’ part! In a nutshell, I believe the male would be just too faint of heart to undertake the condition. This point was brought to mind through a recent phone call with my great nephew. He and his wife had their first child the day after Thanksgiving and I had the opportunity to meet Miss Sara Anne the last of December. This was not a casual call since Ryan rarely phones, but one with a specific question for his elderly aunt.
When I greeted him and asked how the little family was doing, he responded,
“Aunt Brenda, if I had experienced one full night of sleep lately, I would say we are all doing well. Sara Anne continues to have her days
and nights mixed up plus she is still having colic each evening before bedtime. How long did you tell us Melissa’s colic lasted? Did you actually say it went on like eight months with you and Uncle Freemon taking turns walking her? I honestly don’t think I can make it until August.”
I tried to calm him by suggesting (again) they consult the pediatrician about changing from breast milk to formula or changing the sedative prescribed. My words made little difference, I am afraid, as he extended his venting to include other problems such as not being able to control his nausea while changing dirty diapers. I inserted a few consoling “I knows” and “I sees” during the conversation but clearly got nowhere other than being his aunt who loved him and lent a listening ear.
If, indeed, God had switched the motherhood thing in Genesis, men giving birth would be a whole ‘nother story. In fact, I‘ll go so far as to say there would be certain requirements/conditions in play…
Morning sickness would out rank COVID-19 as the nation’s number one health problem. He would rarely make it to the basin in time and then the wife would be called on for “clean up.”
Michael Strahan of “Good Morning America” would add to his personal clothing line the all-important Paternity Suit.
Males would lobby every congressman in America to come up with a cure for stretch marks.
Another “must” for the Federal Government: Maternity… er… paternity leave must last for two years—with full pay.
Caesarean sections would be the patient’s only option. Natural childbirth would become obsolete.
The new style while in the office—briefcases would be used as diaper bags.
Children would be kept in the hospital until they slept all night and were potty trained.
And last, but not least… TA-DA!…. They would expect to be kept in bed for the entire nine months and ESPN would broadcast on at least 27 channels from their 72” screen positioned at the foot of the bed. Snacks, beverages, and meals to be provided by the wife.