VIDEO PREMIERE: Dead Rock West Bring Dirty Whirl of Big & Bold Rock Via “Revolution In The Garden”

Dead Rock West, the acclaimed Los Angeles-based band led by Cindy Wasserman and Frank Lee Drennen never let their boots down and their new single “Revolution in the Garden” is equally poignant, resilient, and powerful. The band combines absolute rockish thunder and a punkish raw noir that mixes shades of Patti Smith with The Germs. The song was written by Drennen and indie rock artist Patrick Dennis 30 years ago when they played in a duo called The Homer Gunns from Leucadia, CA near San Diego.

“Revolution In The Garden” marks a potent new sound for Dead Rock West whose 2017 album More Love was produced by punk rock legend John Doe of X and the band toured with X, Dave & Phil Alvin, and Peter Case. 

“We wanted something that sounds epic. Big as life. A sound that reflects the urgency of the lyrics. We wanted a big rock ‘n’ roll sound. We wanted to destroy the idea that Dead Rock West is merely a neat little Americana group from the West Coast,” says Drennen

Henry Mortensen, the son of Exene Cervenka of X and actor Viggo Mortensen, has directed the video for the “Revolution In The Garden” (Blackbird Record Label), which Glide is thrilled to premiere (below).  

Mortensen shot the video between Northern Idaho and sun-dappled Venice California, mixing images of the Garden of America with the cartoon influences of an American Youth past. The animation of the song’s chorus became a collaborative effort with all hands on deck, including Kelli Mayo of Skating Polly, Louis Perez III, Exene Cervenka of X (who happens to be Henry’s mother and whose handwritten artwork is seen in the video), and the hand of Viggo Mortensen; Henry’s father even signed on for a guest spot pushing a stick around in a frame. His hand was paid scale. Henry’s vision was of a true garden, its defenders, of justice and hope.

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