A new release from The Richmond District brings a flurry of guitars and some genuine classic rock tones and style with melodic and bright vocals and a soulful attitude the whole time.
"Monaco" is lush and full bodies with vocals and guitars layers and harmonized up front and in the background. It all has a way of flowing together and the song still has this hard rocking undertone that never goes away.
The energy is absolutely perfected, and the song actually holds true to the aesthetic of late 70's classic rock and even the tonality and soundscape of it all nails that authentically.
Guitar harmonies roll and shred with that Rock N' Roll soul and impactful approach.
This single grooves hard too and really does make you start dancing along or even dare I say it...air guitaring to well, plenty of sections with leads.
This one is for the real deal classic rock lovers. The movers and the shakers. The ones that love pure Rock N' Roll as inspiration for their day.
With such a tastefully performed single, we wanted to have a sit down with Pat Moley of The Richmond District to talk shop.
Here's what happened.
Buzz Slayers: Okay so let's start "Monaco". This single has a genuine classic rock feel to it. Where did this track come from?
Actually 'Monaco' started out as a jangly, folk-rock thing. I was listening to The Byrds and a great LA band called Beechwood Sparks in my living room one night, picked up the guitar, and started playing in that style. A loose, country-tinged jangle feel. As often happens, a couple of hours later the song had morphed into a Jack White/Allmans/Stones pop-freakout sort of thing. When I'm jamming on a new idea, usually at home, my mind shoots in a thousand directions - 'Monaco' is a good example of that restlessness.
Buzz Slayers: I'm hearing some great styles on this song. Who are some of your biggest musical influences?
My biggest influences are guys like Bowie, Miles Davis, My Morning Jacket, The Beatles, Grateful Dead, Grant Green, Hendrix, Earthless, The Who, Radiohead, Sabbath, Pink Floyd. Too many more to name, but that batch there is a strong representation of what I always go back to.
Buzz Slayers: So how did this all begin for you really? When did you fall in love with making music?
This all started for me in a few very specific ways: 99.7 KFRC (a San Francisco oldies station that is now long gone); being a Monkees fanatic as a kid; my dad's record collection; and finally, hearing 'Like A Rolling Stone' & 'Voodoo Child (Slight Return)' within a few weeks of each other when I was 12. From there on, I was hopeless. It all started there, in childhood.
Buzz Slayers: What's next for you as an artist?
I currently have a crop of songs that I'm going to release every two months, 'Monaco' being the first of the batch. Next up, the August release, is a cover of Arlo Guthrie's 'Coming Into Los Angeles.' Watch out for that in a few weeks! Covid put a solid halt to the version of The Richmond District that was performing in 2018-19, so along with releasing songs well into 2023, I'm going to relaunch the band and get back onstage. It's been too long.
Buzz Slayers: What inspires you to write a song?
I'm inspired to write by the poetry of everyday life, whether it's euphoric or fucked up and sad; it's out there every single day for all of us to see - I love to observe it, then go home and try to put my ridiculous spin on it.
Buzz Slayers: What are you doing when you're NOT working on music?
When not working on music, I drive through the canyons of LA listening to music; go to Amoeba Records; go to Booksoup looking for music bios, sports bios, Kerouac, Borges; swim; go running; jot down lyrics for later, so on. And just think about music.
Buzz Slayers: Who are you listening to right now?
Right now I'm listening to Jack White's 'Fear of the Dawn'; Spoon's latest album (a gem); Zappa's 'Freak Out;' a '69 Hendrix bootleg from the Forum; the Chilis' 'Unlimited Love'; Ryley Walker's 'Course In Fable.'
Buzz Slayers: Are you doing live performances?
I'm currently performing with a San Diego covers band called Lost Villains of the West. We haven't played together since March 2020 but we're hitting the stage again. It's a great side project that I have a lot of fun with.
Buzz Slayers: This single seems like a big undertaking. What kind of advice might you have for other up and coming artists out there?
My advice would be to stay original and steer clear of trends. I really believe that audiences respond to passion and conviction more so than an artist who sounds like the pop hit they just heard five minutes ago. Trends are cheap and never last.
Buzz Slayers: Before we go, what would you like to say to fans of the music?
I'd like to say thank you so much for responding positively to some experimental psychedelic heart and soul, which is all I want my music to be at the end of the day. That and a cool little melody to drive it home.
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