SLW cc Watt is an inspired collaboration between prolific singer/songwriter/illustrator Samuel Locke Ward and SoCal punk legend bassist/singer Mike Watt. After the head-spinning fun of 2021’s Let’s Build a Logjam and 2022’s Real Manic Time, on the new Purple Pie Plow (due via Kill Rock Stars on July 21st), the duo corral guests throughout the record: saxophonist Bob Bucko Jr, along with drummer Dean Clean, and guitarist Joe Jack Talcum from the sardonic punk band The Dead Milkmen.
Packing in 24 tracks in 40 minutes, the new SLW cc Watt album has 11 brief poetic ‘spiels’ (voiced by Watt) alternating between 12 charming short songs (sung by Locke Ward, backed by Watt, Bucko, Talcum, Clean). The collaboration happened via the Internet, with Locke Ward sending lyrics to Watt and demo song tracks to everyone to layer on their own parts.
Purple Pie Plow, inspired by T. Rex’s unique mix of glam and psychedelia, does stylized takes on heavy subject matter. We’re led on a journey through mob rule (haunting ‘50’s-style ballad “A Face in the Crowd,” the ultra-catchy “Help Me,” the Motown swing of “Pray”), frightening fascism (New Orleans-flavored “Boring Out,” doo-wop styling “Boots March,” cow-punk “Lost To Time”) and ecological horrors (free jazz freakout “Flowers Scream,” power ballad “Toxic Sunrise”). Not to fear though as rising above the doom comes into play (acoustic/psych ballad “Children of the Stars,” lonesome folk “Dragon Steed,” noir jazz “Weeds of Your Dreams”).
Locke Ward and Watt hit it off so well that a 4th album is in the works. Listen to Purple Pie Plow and you’ll hear why they’re right to keep working together and wonder what they’ll come up with next.
Today Glide is excited to premiere the standout track and second single from the album “Boring Out” along with its accompanying video. The song hits right out of the gate with the kind of slinky barroom soul that you can easily blasting straight from the jukebox at your local dive. Watt’s elastic and perpetually groovy bass lines drive the tune forward and serve as the proper backbone for the saxophone-driven tune with its swooning lyrics and glorious element of punk rock sleaze. This tune is fun and loose, capturing the wild rock and roll spirit possessed by these two unlikely collaborators. Adding to music is the animated visuals created by Samuel Locke Ward himself.
Samuel Locke Ward describes the inspiration and process behind the tune:
Here you will find the music video I made for “Boring Out” the 2nd single for the “Purple Pie Plow” album by SLW cc Watt.
It is also the 2nd song on the 2nd side of said album. I spent many an hour building the dolls and doing the animation for this video.
The thing I love most about this song is how the rhythm and feel pulls in so many different ways by everyone.
Dean Clean playing a mighty huge glam rock shuffle on the toms over my simple toy guitar track. The biggest sounding, driving rock drums over the smallest gtr.
I love how Watt then unexpectedly slowed the entire feel of the song down by playing these long heavy notes on the bass. His ability to find space to play in ways that never would have occurred to me while simultaneously creating space for others is constantly inspiring.
Joe Jack Talcum went in the exact opposite direction and plays these frantic endless triplets on the keyboard that PUSHES the tempo in the opposite way.
As if Watt is slowing it down while Joe is speeding it up all while being perfectly in sync.
All the while Bob Bucko Jr soars over the top on sax…. Like Bob Bucko Jr should.
The lyrics of “Boring Out” are meant to embolden the righteous and insult those who are full of shit. May we all forever scratch our heads pondering which camp we belong in…. Especially those who never have.
WATCH:
