I have never bought vinyl
in my life. I believed that music should be listened to, not kept locked in a
box under your bed… So why did I by The Last Internationale’s debut album
without thinking twice? Well, their CDs sold out in about 30 minutes from the
merch table, but they were THAT GOOD. I got the record, and had it signed by
Delila Paz and Edgey Pires… and then got the disk the next day.
It isn’t often that an opening band makes
competition for the headliner… the headliner in question here being THE Robert
Plant from Led Zeppelin… These kids from New York gave the Golden God himself a
run for his money. I was truly astonished by the sheer presence and musicianship
held by the three members, Dilila Paz on vocals and bass/guitar, Edgey Pires on
lead guitar and backing vocals, and Brad Wilk (Yes, from Rage Against the Machine)
on Drums.
When the three and a temporary bassist came
on stage, the usual hum picked up, and the quieter cheering that opening bands
commend began. Of course the first words I could make out around me had to do
with the sex of the leading lady. I would say musician, but apparently that
doesn’t matter when a woman walks on stage. Hey man, I’m just here to rock. On
a side note, I must say that very many people in the crowd were very unpleasant
and rude. The Last Internationale, 6/5 stars… the audience…
-3/5.
That doesn’t matter because I had no
capacity to think because my brain was splattered all over the inside of my
skull…These guys rocked the house. People were excited, especially the kids out
there. They actually drew in the audience. You weren’t there to see The Great
Robert Plant… no, forget that old relic for a minute! You were there to see The
Last Internationale. I sure didn’t care that they were ‘and opening band’. They
are Rockers in every sense of the word. These are people who have the blood of
rock and roll in their veins, and the air of solid rebellion in their lungs.
Punk kids trying to make a fuss? Go jump off a bridge, man! The Last
Internationale are rebelling against a corrupt system. From their name to their
music and current logo, they are the voice of rebellion.
The first song of their album IS that. Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Indian
Blood. It doesn’t get any more self-explanatory than that! This dig starts
off with a powerful flush of drums and a simple bass riff accented by a few
powerful strums of the guitar. Delila Paz’s powerful vocals take us back to the
time of Ann Wilson and Joan Jett. Deep and soaring, yet still feminine in its
suburb masculinity. The chant of Blood!
and the descriptions of a divine revolution engross the mind. Taking from the
rich and giving to the poor, destroying the world of man and rebuilding our depleted
forests.
There is a quitter build up that leads to
the songs dramatic climax. I listened
to this song over and over again while writing, and EVERY single time I got a
chill that could freeze that could send someone into cryogenics… It is the
quiet before the storm. You can only imagine what is going to happen next as
the children of the revolution plot. They break free once the tension is just
right. The climax tells a story all on its own, so simple in every way, no
lyrical content, only constantly rising vocals. You can see the revolution
appear in this smoke, the blood, the loss, and the victory.
The next line is like the beginning of a new
life. “Wake up Love! I want some action!”
It’s all said and done with. You are now a part of the revolution. A reprise of
the chorus suggests that once the revolution has taken place, you have to
maintain, before the fight is lost and a world of Capitalism and hatred arises once
more.
The next jam is the album’s title track, We Will Reign. It’s a softer piece with
a powerful chorus. The song is the perfect sequel to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Indian Blood. The lyrics portray
a world that needs to be rebuilt, and the passion that rests in the creation of
a society that we could one day reign. It is the birth of the revolution and
the revelations that come with it. Teamwork, desire, and passion. Something we
don’t have in our world today.
Wanted
Man is another tingler. A heartfelt blues with a touch that can only make
contemporary. It is slow, but each note has meaning. The beat is strong, like
the heartbeat that flows through the collective audience. The moral of the
story: Get in my way, and you will not make it out on the other side. The song
is a beautiful tribute to the persistence of the fight.
There is no hold on the 4th of
the album. Killing Field is the one I
remember the most from their performance. It has a rift that can burrow into
your brain and lay eggs. This is a tune that packs a punch… with brass
knuckles. The lie of choice here is “You
Think that Flower Power will make them stop… Bang Bang Bang! Baby, Here come
the cops!” Now that is a big difference from our daisy toting hippie
forefathers! The song just SOUNDS rebellious and powerful. Edgey’s solo is wild
and loud. It’s a face-melter, bro. That’s all there is to it If there is one
thing (and there is by far NOT.) The Last Internationale is good at, it’s
sounding rebellious.
Battleground is a huge change from the sick
riffs and head banging jams of before. I don’t mean this in a bad way at all,
but if there was any song that ended up on the top 40, it would be this one.
Now we have a Cover on our hands! Baby It’s You is a cover of the Shirelles
1961 tune, but you might know it by The Beatles or Smith. A great song to
follow Battleground up with. Come on
now, You can’t even tell it’s a 60s cover! They put their mark on it for sure. It
belongs to 2014 now! Rock organ, a sick beat, those vocals, what more do you
want from this thing! Not a headbanger, but for sure this is a hip shaker!
Track seven is Devil’s Dust. A bluesy folk tune here. Coming from an old Coal
Town, You hear the stories. You could work an entire lifetime and still die in
the same old camp. You work hard, you break down for what you want and need,
but the company never seems to have enough to go around. I think back to the
Ludlow Massacre here. 35 miles from here is the site, and you can only think
about how many people died for wanting more for themselves. That’s what it is. Uncertainty
in this life. This song is still heartfelt and brilliantly gorgeous in its
hopefulness
I’ll
Be Alright. Another one I remember from the show. It’s slow, it’s quiet. I
love the tone of the guitar here. Everything comes together perfectly to create
the feeling of a wandering soul. The vocals fly above everything else here. It is
light-hearted and free, even though the subject matter is dark. It is the type
of freedom that doesn’t come without sacrifice and hardship. You’ll be ok on
the other side.
Let’s rock back on over to the blues here, because
that is what Fire is. Prisons,
railroads, jail, that’s where you are here. And you thought the Blues were dead.
Nothing captures the angst, sorrow, and raw emotion quite like the Blues. Fire is emotional. You can whisper it,
you can scream it, and it will never lose its power and will. You feel it.it is
a simple song that just wraps it all together to form something new to our
generation: The Blues. What is this thing you speak of?
This is another from the show that stuck
out. A terrific dedication was given to those of the Jefferson County High
Schools, who staged walkouts due to curriculum that would force patriotism and
fight civil disobedience. Irony, Far out, man. Along with this great tribute
was Edgey. “We won’t stop until Capitalism is abolished!” Hell yeah dude!
Opening bands usually don’t have balls because they are on egg shells, but,
hell, I screamed.
So, back to the tunes in less than 60
seconds! Back to the Revolution here! This song has fight here! The kind of
thing that grabs you by the wingding. We won’t be trapped by the false ideals
that are forced down on us! We have to be the change we want in the world! Here
we get back to the likes of Life, Liberty,
and We Will Reign. 1968 is a reprise for
the tales of the Revolution. The drums got my attention here. I love the
fanfare that rests on the bridges. A pretty bangin way to end the album here!
You want more after that.
I was glad that I went and got that Album. I
lived meeting Edgey and Delila. They were the nicest, down to earth guys. They
were willing to hug us greaseball rock fans, after all... which is the grossest
and coolest thing you can do, really. I have that CD for practical use (I have
it in my purse right now… Can’t do that with a Record!) and my treasured signed
Vinyl hanging on the wall in a dollar store frame, right next to my guitars and
poster of Jimi.
Thank you guys for bringing true rock to us,
and I want to see you guys get somewhere! You are the Voice of the Revolution.
Best album I’ve heard that has come out in my lifetime.
-Cheyenne Kline; Photos
Courtesy of www.facebook.com/thelastinternationale
Hey! If you liked it here, Like it on over at Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/ThatWretchedRockAndRoll And don't forget to check out the story in the publication, out on Halloween!
Hey! If you liked it here, Like it on over at Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/ThatWretchedRockAndRoll And don't forget to check out the story in the publication, out on Halloween!
