Various

3 x 4

The Bangles, The Three O’Clock, The Dream Syndicate and Rain Parade join forces.

The above four bands formed what was known as the Paisley Underground, a small but highly potent scene that originally grew up in Los Angeles at the dawn of the 1980s, held together by a love for the jangling guitars of The Byrds and the Velvet Underground, and (of course) for floral-paisley-shirts Sunshine pop, Nuggets and Pebbles garage rock. These were bands that didn’t so much faithfully recreate the past as add another layer of interpretation to it.

The idea behind 3 x 4 – for each band to cover one song by each of the other three – came about at a benefit gig the four bands played at LA’s Fonda Theatre to raise money for Education Through Music. They wanted to pay tribute to their Paisley roots, and this seemed like a great way to do it.

Rain Parade cover The Dream Syndicate’s When You Smile and put an acoustic bridge on the chorus; the mighty Bangles bring in Indian percussion for Rain Parade’s Talking In My Sleep, and so forth. Of particular note is

The Dream Syndicate’s fiery interpretation of The Bangles’ Hero Takes A Fall.

A splendid loving indulgence.

everett true