Norm Dodge
"Two Cans and a String"
NormDodge.net
Buy at BandCamp.com
CD review by Roger Zee (03/16/21)
Cover Art by Carina Scorcia
Love this record, "Two Cans and a String!" Really dig the Psychedelic Blues Rock songs and especially the feel. Norm Dodge gleans the best from The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones, Hot Tuna, and the Grateful Dead. So important, it grooves from start to finish. Crank it up and shake to the palpable sound, feel, and even the smell of a breathing, snorting beast! Players include Dodge (vocals, guitars, bass, drums, keys, harp); Jason Brower (drums, keys); Kevin Donohue (drums); Mike Levine (bass); Ron Negro (drums); Brian Newsholme (mellotron); and Nancy Scorcia (keys, vocals). All songs written and produced by Norm Dodge.
I met Norm Dodge over twenty years ago in White Plains, NY when I first came here from Teaneck, NJ after my divorce. My ex-wife moves the kids into her parent's house in town and I need to live close by. On a Friday night with time on my hands, I stroll across the street down North Broadway and hear live music wafting out of Paparazzi, a brick-oven pizza joint. Like an enticing Siren, it lures me in.
I order a beer at the bar and revel in my introduction to the fabulous Bob & Norm Classic Rock duo. The two dip me in the waters of all my favorite "growing up" tunes. After the set to a small crowd finishes, I go over and introduce myself. They greet me warmly and ask if I want to request any tunes for the last show. I do. They play them and I help pack them out at the night's end.
I follow my usual immersion process in getting to know the album. Listen when I wake up, feed my pets, and shower. Then learn all the very impressive bass parts, most played by Dodge on his Gretsch short-scale instrument with one pickup and volume knob. Hey, I'm a minimalist too! The vibe raptures me from first hearing. We're not talking about extreme digital production. No, just more like real musicians feeling it in the studio while capturing it all on tape!
Hard to pick out my favorites between the chuggers, muggers, and lovers. But I will. Due to the stream of consciousness nature of Dodge's lyrics, I ask him for the words. He cheerfully obliges. So let's start with the chuggers. "Sirens," the record opener, reels me in just like the real-life ladies. Never could resist! They catch me in the undertow with the interplay of bass, drums, and guitar. Great "Live Dead" type jam at the end with Dodge beautiful cutting the band wake.
Bring on the Psychedelic Haze! "One More Thing" sounds like me trying to work my way through a frustrating acid trip. "I wanna crawl away and hide. But you still can’t find me. Gotta save myself.
Are you trying to shape me? I’m doing things lately that I can’t even stand myself." The same feelings of confusion and vexation continue on "Sometimes." "Sometimes you wake up dreaming, Sometimes you dream all day. Sometimes the dream is scary. Sometimes you scare the dream away."
Then come the angst-fueled, young man "Power Punch" songs. "These Words" take the intro to "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and turn it into a full-fledged Rave. "Running my fingers through your hair. Telling myself that I just don’t care. I should just say that it just ain’t fair. But I’m just not that way anymore." Another great Dead-like wind down at the end. "Go Find Ann" reminds me of driving down to FL for Spring break with my buddy Martin after breaking up with my girl. Oh the adventures we had! "Go find Ann. I’ve already found her. Go find Ann. Aw she looks so good. Go find Ann. With my arms around her. Go find Ann. I don’t know if I should." Fire-spitting guitar solo. The song denouements into "Spinning Round" then ebbs out on a gently flowing two chord vamp and tasty guitar picking.
We also get the big, Beatlesque/Pink Floyd ballads. "Harder Than It Seems" appears to pretty much sum up Dodge's life journey. "And there’s no simple answer. I can see it in your eyes. It’s the last thing I expected. It truly comes as a surprise. No rhyme no reason. It boggles my mind. ‘Til I’m at my wit’s end. Three steps behind." More of the Psychedelic same with "Ghost of a Chance." "Fall down in your surprise. Is all you can do. Words fail again. And if you can’t stay the night. I’ll always remain. It’s a ghost of a Chance."
"Two Cans and a String" takes me back to my 60's Long Island, NY garage bands. Three chord classics like "Gloria," "Satisfaction," and "Season of the Witch." Maybe five chords at the most, LOL! All generated from teenage joy and angst. No, really driven by dreams of "Sex, Drugs, and Rock'n Roll!" Heartens me to hear Norm Dodge sing his tales of hope, loss, and confusion. In a voice similar to Jorma Kaukonen, he delivers the real, un-filtered "Heart and Soul of Rock 'n Roll." Buy the CD! Don't stream it. Make the artist money and not the large corporations with their grift. As the Pandemic slowly lifts, you can find Dodge playing around Westchester solo, as well as with Bob & Norm,
Powderfinger, and SoulShine ABB. One <3
YouTube - Harder Than It Seems - Norm Dodge
©2021 Roger Zee
