In his youth, Bill Frisell mixed a healthy dose of distortion and dissonance with his pastoral lyricism. For those who think the balance may have, in recent years, tipped a bit towards mellow Americana, I give you Frisell the rocker.
Here he is with Power Tools, employing a Gibson SG Junior equipped with a Seymour Duncan JB. I recommended the pickup to him when I worked at Rudy’s Music Stop in the Eighties. He came in looking for a replacement for the original P-90. I think he was having hum issues.
And a rare instance of Frisell on slide.
In fairness, he occasionally evidences brief flashes of the old fire, as in 4:35 here.
I love shronky, SG-wielding, volume pedaling , Rat steppiing Bill the best. All of his music is great I prefer his earlier music. His duet cd with Vernon Reid, Smash and Scatteration is definitely worth checking out.
I really love his answer to Sco´s Solo in this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ML3Pj5AijY&spfreload=10
or here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0myPoj2FKM
and here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWoofZChcdY
Power Tools was amazing, but Bill still shows plenty of angular tooth on his “Where in the World” release, especially the tune “Unsung Heroes”, an absolute desert island tune and record for me.
Tim Berne – Fulton Street Maul with Bill Frisell, Alex Cline and Hank Roberts – https://youtu.be/xq7nGPgmqCg
Ha! That clip with Joey Baron and Kermit Driscoll is bonkers! I love Bill in all his modes. It’s fun to remember that he was in Naked City.
WOW. Frisell with Roland Shannon Jackson and Melvin Gibbs!
Surprised you haven’t heard Power Tools. One studio record and one live one released years later. Come to think of it the latter might have originally been a bootleg
So true. Currently, Bill usually puts me to sleep, and has been doing so for many years. I love not just Early Bill the rocker, but Early Bill the Unamericana in other modes. to cite two examples – his very first solo album on ECM, which is very quiet and subtle but SO different from anything else at the time, and harmonically so rich; and Rambling, with the trombone mariachi stuff among other oddball goofiness. Anyway, the Power tools video is great – thanks.
In fairness he can still occasionally rock out. Just added an example.
I did say usually! I know he rocks out on occasion now, but those occasions look to be pretty infrequent now.