Wino Wednesday: The Hidden Hand, “Slow Rain” From The Resurrection of Whiskey Foote
By the time they got around to releasing their swansong, 2007’s The Resurrection of Whiskey Foote, it was becoming clear all was not well within the band. They’d toured hard in the US and Europe for 2004’s Mother Teacher Destroyer and the ensuing Devoid of Colour limited EP, and having seen a couple drummers come and go and the straining relationship between guitarist/vocalist Scott “Wino” Weinrich and bassist/vocalist Bruce Falkinburg, the band simply dissolved after the release of their third record.
They broke up despite some considerable momentum in their favor. For the stylistic shifts it represented — more progressive than the album before it, more conceptual — it was nonetheless a killer record, with Weinrich‘s signature tone a distinct factor in carrying across the songs while both he and Falkinburg showed off how tight their vocal arrangements had become. It didn’t last — three albums in five years is more than a lot of bands get to do — but their work during their time together is worthy of consideration as more than just what Wino was doing before he started the Wino band and hooked up with Shrinebuilder. Underrated, I guess is what I’m saying, and I know I’ve said it before.
“Slow Rain” closed out The Resurrection of Whiskey Foote, and so would be the final song of The Hidden Hand‘s career. At 7:20, it’s also the longest track they ever wrote, and hearing it again now, it’s a shame they couldn’t have built on what they did here for another outing. So it goes. Good band, good album, good listen. I hope you enjoy it, and hope you have (or have had, given the time of day) a happy Wino Wednesday:
Tags: Scott "Wino" Weinrich, The Hidden Hand, The Hidden Hand doom, The Hidden Hand Southern Lord, The Hidden Hand The Resurrection of Whiskey Foote, The Hidden Hand Wino, The Hidden Hand Wino band, The Resurrection of Whiskey Foote, Wino, Wino Wednesday
Hidden Hand is one of my favorite bands of all time. RoWF is my favorite album from these guys for the elements you mentioned- the progressiveness of the tunes, the concept, all of it. Thanks for reminding me. It’s a shame these guys had to hang it up.
Personally I prefer “Mother Teacher Destroyer”… But as always, Wino Wednesday cheers up the whole week! See ya!
I must have read this wrong – When is Wino playing again? Please say that it is soon; let me know if I have to do something to motivate this musik, please.
Say this isn’t so…somebody please…