Who are these guys? Allow me to quote from (IMHO) the greatest press release of all time:
FOUNDING WEASEL MEMBERS SAY NEVER THROW ANYTHING AWAYReunited duo rescues "Another Fine Mess' if only temporarily from the trash heap
In the early 1970s, Glenn Leeds and David Hawxwell, two of the original members of the legendary band The Weasels, got together at FrogDeath Records' Moe's Mountain Studios and recorded a collection of thirteen original songs sans fellow band-mates Allan Weissman and Steve Simels. On hearing the new tracks, an A&R man dismissed the project as "nothing but an ill-conceived, contrived rehash of irrelvent troubadour tropes." The album was quickly shelved and the tapes consigned to a vault.
Fast-forward 50 years...The Weasels are shoo-ins for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Leeds owns the Petomane label, with its stable of very successful so-called "rip-hop"/"gas-rap" artists.
After many years, a chance reunion between Leeds and Hawxwwell leads to a discussion regarding the old recordings. David, long out of the music business and fallen on hard times, prevails upon his former bandmate to acquire the tapes from FrogDeath and release them via Leeds own label. In a remarkable act of generosity, Glenn agrees to distriute the album and donate all the profits to the homeless Hawxwell. The veteran musicians call themselves The Collyer Brothers, a tip of the hat to the legendary New York siblings who never threw anything away.
Will there be a tour in support of the new album? Leeds, now a spry 75, doesn't rule it out. Hawxwell, who is currently involved in resolving some legal issues, says he would happily perform in local venues and he looks forward to a time when he can leave the state.
-----Nick Madascalpo, AlterCocker Press, August 2023
All kidding aside, when I heard that my old bandmate(s) was(were) doing a Glenn solo album, I kinda figured that it would be this huge Abbey Road-ish production, given that Glenn's a) a ridiculously accomplished multi-instrumentalist and b) he's our resident engineer and studio wizard (the gear he's got packed into the Weasels cramped attic facility is truly amazing). So imagine my surprise when the record turned out to be a quiet, contemplative, and understatedly lovely sort of folkie song cycle. I think it's quite wonderful and I think you will too; you can listen to it free (or download it) over at Bandcamp (just type in The Collyer Brothers in the search engine) and it will be available for download or purchase at the rest of the usual suspects -- Amazon, iTunes, Spotify, YouTube et al -- beginning on September 11. I'll keep you posted.
Meanwhile, kudos Glenn and Dave -- you did good.
7 comments:
Proof again, sir, that you are the preeminent music critic of our time!!!
What I like most is the photo, which (visually) implies that I am the auteur/guitarist of all this, and that Glenn’s role was mostly just to gaze admiringly at me. Sweet!
Same as it ever was!
I, who have suffered thru many an ear splitting version of Weasel drivel….have actually listened to this album on many a car ride and have not had to stop to barf!!
I give this a thumbs up to Glenn, the master mind and biggest liar I have ever known!
Lorraine….the BIGGEST liar?? You flatter me!
Okay, kids -- keep it clean. :-)
Very very enjoyable to listen to!
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