Go Ron Go

This collaboration between Dutch veteran Ron Splinter (lead guitarist of the seminal the Outsiders) and '80s Neiderbeat/garage revivalists Michel Tertsegen and Marcel Kruup (the Otherside), the Kiek and current instro act the Treble Spankers is so much more endearing for the fact that is a labor of love. And that's no bad thing. Four thirty-something beat fans talking one of their heroes into forming a band with them and it coming off is nearly miraculous. Splinter was such a unique guitarist with the Outsiders and it's so nice to see that he's still got it. Many musicians who "made it" in the '60s for some reason late opted for resorting to heavy metal riffs and a complete loss of what made them special. Thankfully it hasn't happened to "unsung legend of rock & roll" Splinter. This certainly won't sell a million, or make the band rich, but that's what makes it even better — it's from the heart! As a homage to the jangly guitar sound of the '60s that Splinter perfected, here, obviously inspired by his younger buddies, the band ploughs through carefully selected covers of '60s garage/folk-rock tracks: Lowell George's early garage/folk-rock outfit the Factory's "Lost"; Buffalo Springfield's "Burned"; an out-of-character folky Townsend song not released until 1983 on Scoop, "Things Have Changed"; the Texas garage pop gem "Rejected" originally recorded by Sterling Damon in 1966 for International Artists; The Trashmen's venture into folk-rock "Hanging on Me"; and the Kinks' "Don't Ever Let Me Go." Along with these spirited takes, that are only slightly marred by Tertsegen's vocals, are a working of the unfinished Outsiders' cut "Space Demo," which was probably intended for CQ, and a new Kinks type Diddley instro-shuffle called "I." This set isn't mind-blowing by any reach, but to hear the Outsiders' guitarist perform some '60s obscurities will certainly please many. ~ Jon "Mojo" Mills, Rovi