Sterling Loons - March To The Tune
“March to the Tune” marks the debut of Seattle’s The Sterling Loons on New Jersey’s Koolkat Musik label, and is the follow up to their 2004 release “What to do in Trouble”. Expanding on the powerpop/psychedelic sound of their earlier release, “March to the Tune” sees the Loons getting more pop, more psychedelic, and more hard rock. The songs all tie together like a 60’s psychedelic era concept album, and the sound is expanded by guest appearances on cello by Lori Goldston (Earth, Nirvana) and vocals/keyboards by Paul Hiraga (Downpilot). The opening song “Old Nick” updates the classic late 60’s sound of fuzz guitar and Hammond organ with a driving rhythm section, and adds the heavy droning sound of Lori Goldston’s cello. The album’s title song, “March to the Tune”, starts off as a pop song in the style of “Axis” era Hendrix meets the Kinks, and then evolves into an orchestrated psychedelic instrumental. “She’s Happy” is reminiscent of “Substitute” or “Pictures of Lily” era Who with a little Ray Davies thrown in. The Sterling Loons are Eamon Nordquist (vocals, guitar), J. Curtis Brown (drums, vocals), and John Kornstein (bass , vocals). Guest artists included Lori Goldston on cello for tracks 1, 14, and Paul Hiraga on piano and organ on tracks 7 and 12. The band is planning to tour the Western US this coming winter, and plan to release another album in late 2012.