True West is a guitar band, often considered part of the Paisley Underground. Singer Gavin Blair and guitarists Richard McGrath and Russ Tolman are the nucleus of the group. Originally from
California's Sacramento Valley, True West were contemporaries and friends with Los Angeles bands such as The Dream Syndicate, Green on Red, Rain Parade, Thin White Rope, and The Long Ryders. From 1979 to 1981, Gavin Blair and Russ Tolman had been bandmates in The Suspects, a Davis-based band, with a pre-Dream Syndicate Steve Wynn and Kendra Smith.
Out of the same mold as L.A.'s Paisley Underground bands,
True West didn't fit because they were from Davis, CA (operating out of the nearby nexus for guitar bands, San Francisco) and a little darker and less dreamy than the others. They debuted with True West, an EP in 1983 on Bring Out
Your Dead Records. It was produced by the band's Russ Tolman and the Dream Syndicate's Steve Wynn. Hollywood Holiday, released by France's then-very hip New Rose label that same year, contained the debut EP as well as some new tracks. By 1984, the band signed a deal with U.S. indie label PVC for Drifters. Drummer Josef Becker left to join the similar, though darker California-centric roots band Thin White Rope, and after recording, so too did Tolman.
True West landed in London in April 1985 amidst what the U.K. music press had declared "The American Invasion," which had been kicked off a few months earlier by the arrival of R.E.M. Suddenly, England couldn't get enough of American guitar bands and True West made the front pages of the big
three music publications of the day: the NME, Melody Maker, and Sounds. Several major labels came courting with talk of production by Steve Lillywhite (U2, XTC), but problems with their work permits did not allow the band to make scheduled appearances on The Old Grey Whistle Test and other British TV that would have pushed them over the top and into the arms of a waiting major, unlike other Paisley Underground bands. After a successful tour of the European continent, the band returned to the U.S. to write and prepare to record their third album
West Side Story (Skyclad, 1989) is an odds-and-sods collection, Best Western (Skyclad, 1990) a
compilation of of old demos, and TV Western (Skyclad, 1990) adds some live tracks to the demo sessions. Singer Gavin Blair and guitarist Richard McGrath worked as Fool Killers after the breakup, and Tolman is a prolific singer/songwriter. Becker went on to play with Game Theory. The group's bassist was Kevin Staydohar.
TRUE WEST - HOLLYWOOD HOLIDAY REVISITED 2007
True West were the black sheep of the paisley underground set. While their pals were recording major-label records with Sandy Pearlman (the Dream Syndicate), working with Prince (both the Bangles and the Three O'Clock), hanging out with Gene Clark (the Long Ryders), or becoming critical darlings
(Green on Red), True West were relegated to a relatively tiny indie label (PVC) and split up before making much of an impression on more than a handful dedicated fans. Atavistic's 2007 release of the band's first two releases (1983's Hollywood Holiday and 1984's Drifters) proves that while True West may have faded into obscurity, their music remains challenging and inspiring, and stands up better today than many of their peers' best efforts.
Influenced as much by the sound of mid-'70s N.Y.C. (Television) as by the psychedelic '60s (Pink Floyd, Quicksilver Messenger Service), the group was defined by the intricate and passionate guitar duels between Russ Tolman and Richard McGrath, the unhinged vocals of Gavin Blair, and the
incredible amount of drama and mystery in its sound. Hollywood Holiday is a raw document of a band that already sounds fully formed and ready to make a splash. Everything on the record seethes with energy and imagination, but the highlights -- like the melancholy jangle pop of "And Then the Rain," the wild tribal improvisation "I'm Not Here," the very catchy title track, and the awesome "You," which features Tolman and McGrath's mind-reading interplay at its most breathtaking -- are some of the best examples of the American underground of the early '80s you'll ever hear.
After such an impressive debut, the next album was almost sure to be a major letdown. In True West's
case, though, there is only change to be found on Drifters, not disappointment. Drifters is a more polished record, made in a real studio with Sandy Pearlman's engineer behind the board (again, they were one step behind their scene-mates). While the sound is cleaner (oh, those cursed mid-'80s drum sounds!) and slightly less immediate than on Hollywood Holiday, it sounds raw and fiery enough to put, say, The Medicine Show to shame.
McGrath and Tolman still manage to work up storms of six-string majesty throughout, especially on "What About You," where McGrath channels Tom Verlaine very convincingly, the rampaging
"Backroad Bridge Song (What Could I Say)," and the chiming "Morning Light." True West reformed in 2006, with original members Tolman, McGrath, and Blair, along with new members drummer Jim Huie and bassist Ian Barrett and began to tour for a series of concert dates. The band released the 3CD set Kaleidoscope of Shadows: The Story So Far on their Bring Out Your Dead label in 2021.
(By Tim Sendra)
True West – Hollywood Holiday Revisited
Label: Atavistic – ALP179CD
Format: CD, Compilation, Remastered
Country: U S
Released:2007
Genre: Rock
Style: Paisley Underground, Psychedelic Rock, Indie Rock
TRACKS
HOLLYWOOD HOLIDAY 1983
01. Steps To The Door 3:14
02. I'm Not Here 2:23
03. And Then The Rain 3:48
04. Hollywood Holiday 4:10
05. Lucifer Sam (Wri tten-By – Syd Barrett) 3:12
06. It's About Time 4:38
07. Throw Away The Key 3:12
08. You 4:47
DRIFTERS 1984
09. Look Around 4:30
10. At Night They Speak 3:22
11. Speak Easy 3:29
12. Shot You Down 3:32
13. What About You 4:47
14. Hold On 4:43
15. And Then The Rain 4:24
16. Backroad Bridge Song (What Could I Say) 3:01
17. Ain't No Hangman 2:47
18. Morning Light 4:02
THE VERLAINE DEMOS (PRODUCE BY TOM VERLAINE: TELEVISION)
19. Burn The Roses 3:24
20. Look Around 4:22
21. Throw Away The Key 3:13
LINE - UP
Guitar –
Richard McGrath (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 6 to 21),
Russ TolmanLead Guitar –
Steve Wynn (tracks: 5)
Backing Vocals [Guest] –
Sid Griffin (tracks: 9 to 18),
Stephen McCarthy (tracks: 9 to 18)
Bass –
Ken Lacewell (tracks: 5),
Kevin Staydohar (tracks: 3, 5, 7 to 21),
Mike Palmer (tracks: 1, 4, 6)
Drums –
Frank French (tracks: 2, 5),
Joe Becker (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 19 to 21),
Steve Packenham (tracks: 9 to 18)
Organ [Guest] –
Chris Cacavas (tracks: 9 to 18)
Vocals –
Gavin BlairWritten-By –
Gavin Blair (tracks: 1 to 4, 6 to 21),
Richard McGrath (tracks: 1 to 4, 6 to 21),
Russ Tolman (tracks: 1 to 4, 6 to 21)
NOTES
Tracks 1 to 8 originally released as 'Hollywood Holiday' on New Rose Records in 1983 (ROSE 23).
Tracks 9 to 18 originally released as 'Drifters' on PVC Records (PVC 8921) in U.S.A. and New Rose Records (ROSE 45) in France in 1984.
Tracks 19 to 21 are previously unreleased.
Flac Size: 538 MB
TRUE WEST - HAND OF FATE 1986
Two years of constant touring and several disappointing close brushes with a major label recording
contract had taken their toll on the band, and True West called it quits in the summer of 1985. Tolman started a successful solo career and the band decided to reform without Tolman shortly after and go on to record and release their third album Hand Of Fate the next year. 1986's Hand of Fate for CD Presents
features guitar work by the Rain Parade's Matt Piucci and Green on Red's Chuck Prophet in place of Tolman. Shortly after, the band called it quits. True West – Hand Of Fate
Label:CD Presents, Ltd. – CD041
Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Rock
Style: Paisley Underground, Psychedelic Rock, Alternative Rock
TRACKS
01. Falling Away 3:57
02. The Gunner 3:37
03. Just One Chance 3:34
04. Mark Time 4:05
05. Trim The Fat 3:49
06. Riches Still May Fly 3:41
07. Hand Of Fate 4:50
08. Waved Me By 4:27
09. Lost At Daybreak 3:28
10. Happenings Ten Years' Time Ago 3:31
11. No Comebacks 4:04
12. Bitter Dream 3:32
13. Story Of Sweet May 4:05
14. Leathers Worn 1:18
LINE - UP
Bass –
Kevin StaydoharDrums, Guitar –
Steve PackenhamGuest [Guest Artist], Percussion, Drums [Additional Drums] –
Trey SabatelliGuitar –
Richard McGrathVocals –
Gavin BlairGuitar -
Matt PiucciGuitar -
Chuck Prophet Flac Size: 383 MB
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