They Got Me Lost, but I Don't Care

The musical showdown started at high noon on June 5th. The location was the Cricket Stage at the Capitol Hill People's Fair. On one side was me, the lone music reviewer. On the other was a band of notorious musicians including a quiet but deadly guitar slinger. I didn't have a chance. I knew I was doomed from the first chord.

The Bad Directions feature the musical stylings of Bradley Weaver on lead vocals and bass, Carlos Newman on drums, and slinging his six-string is Dan Garcia. These three can get it done. You can't hide in a trio; everybody needs to know what they are doing. Not only do the Bad Directions know their stuff, they make it look easy, almost effortless.

I was already familiar with Bradley and Dan as they play in Rachel's Playpen, but if you think The Bad Directions are just the Playpen without Rachel, you are quite mistaken. It's hard to nail down the sound of the Bad Directions and frankly, I don't want to. I don't think labels benefit the evolution of music. These guys blur the lines between genres so badly, it's not even funny. The best I can do is to call it "punktry" and I know it's not adequate. Half the time I didn't know whether I should tap my foot or bang my head. We'll just call it good. There's a twang in their sound and a drive to the music that just hits me in the right place. The music moves and can be quite intense. Some of the younger audience members found them to be a little loud, but it's to be expected. It's not for everyone. The best example is their cover of a song Elvis made famous, "Suspicous Minds." They do a fantastic job with this tune. It's fast, bouncy yet powerful. Those that got it, loved it. Those that didn't tended to scrunch their faces up. But for those that liked it, it brought probably the loudest reaction of any song. Other notable songs include "Sideview," "Cool Cool" and "Wagon Wheel" (another major crowd pleaser). Yet for all the sound, there isn't much flash. They let their music do the talking. In a way, they remind me a little of another trio and, for once, it isn't Green Day. No, in pure stage presence, they kind of lean toward pre-MTV ZZ Top. You don't always have something to look at, but there's always something to hear. I wouldn't object to them showing a bit more presence on stage but not at the cost of the sound.

Most of the set, I found myself watching Dan Garcia's hands work the guitar. He's a very talented player. There's a lot going on in his playing, but it's done with such subtlety of motion, you don't always notice how much he does. If you play, do yourself a favor and check The Bad Directions out live so you can see for yourself. Not that this is meant to diminish the considerable talents of Bradley and Carlos. Dan's solos mean nothing without the backbone they provide. The drums and bass hook you while the guitar and vocals reel you in.

The real bonus to the People's Fair show was actually a result of something I found to be quite unprofessional. The band scheduled next, You Call That Art?, arrived late. This allowed an extra few songs to be played. When the audience was informed The Bad Directions would "play until they tell us to stop," there was a nice round of applause. The Bad Directions handled this burden well and proceeded to rock 14th Street like it's never been rocked before. If you like your music loud, hard and fast with a bit of twang, do check these guys out. I think they're onto something. Currently The Bad Directions are working on their first album. I've had the chance to hear a few of the initial recordings and they are on the right track. I just hope they can capture lightning in a bottle for the recording sessions. If so, we're in for a heck of a treat when it's released.

Michael Miller (Higher Listening: June 2004)