The story goes like this: Four years ago, San Diego weirdo-fantasy-proggers put out a video from their first album, Unfavorable (review here), for the track “The Bearded Fool.” Their second album, the even-more-weirdo-fantasy-prog Blame it all on Sorcery, came out earlier this year and is comprised of 10 tracks for a 42-minute voyage into lush arrangements and melodies led by the folkish vocals of guitarist Francis Roberts and backed by the inventive rhythms and creative play of bassist Andre Beller and drummer Kris Calabio, both of whom also contribute backing vocals. Classic-style harmonies abound on songs like “Never Leave” with a patience in their delivery that reminds of peak-era Opeth while still other tracks like “Innocent Hands” (video premiere here) delve into extreme metal riffing and near-blastbeats before chugging out a still-melodic verse and 10-minute closer “The Long-Nosed Wiseman” holds doomly tension in a keyboard-laced build toward a sweeping finish.

And despite covering this swath of stylistic ground, front to back, the album is one that flows together and makes sense both in terms of narrative and actual sound. So, great, right? But what the hell does that have to do with the video for “The Bearded Fool?”

Well, glad you (I) asked. The thing is, Old Man Wizard have a new video for “The Blind Prince” from Blame it all on Sorcery, and it’s a sequel to the “The Bearded Fool” video. A four-years-later foll0w-up. It has the same would-be VHS static at the bottom of the screen and everything, and it picks up to find our trio of heroes encountering the titular Blind Prince and doing battle with a gaggle of witches in the woods only to be trapped and, finally, to win not with swords and battle-axes, but with the power of — wait for it — a Flying V and a fuzz pedal. Duh.

Obviously there’s some winking happening in line with the homage to classic low-budget fantasy filmmaking, but it’s all in good fun. Some things to watch for: radical perspective shifts, a burrito, a wrestling mask, an actual wink — the list goes on. There’s plenty to watch for, and they also leave it open to yet another sequel. Could it be a trilogy in the works?

Fingers crossed:

Old Man Wizard, “The Blind Prince” official video

We are pleased to share with you our newest music video for “The Blind Prince”, a track from our latest album “Blame It All On Sorcery”.

Official music video for “The Blind Prince” by OLD MAN WIZARD

Directed by Jessie Rudolph
VFX and Editing by Jessie Rudolph
Backgrounds and sound design by Francis Roberts

CAST:
Villager – Teemu Kaiponen
The Blind Prince – Reece Miller
Francis – Francis Roberts
Andre – Andre Beller
Kris – Kris Calabio
Witch Leader – Becky Campbell

The Witches:
Michelle Pannell
Kyle Bob
Michelle Louden
Carlos Zamora
Alexander Simsay
Zachary Simsay

Enjoy, and we hope to see some of you out on the road! Again, our tour with Worshipper [is on now]. Here are the [remaining] dates:

Fri 7/27 – GRANTS PASS, OR – The Haul – $10ADV/ 21+
Sat 7/28 – PORTLAND, OR – Tonic Lounge – $7ADV / $10 DOS / 21+ *
Sun 7/29 – SEATTLE, WA – Funhouse – $10 ADV / $12 DOS / 21+
Tues 7/31 – BOISE, ID – The Shredder – $8 ADV / ALL AGES
Wed 8/1 – SALT LAKE CITY, UT – Club X
Thurs 8/2 – DENVER, CO – Streets of London Pub – $5 ADV / 21+
Fri 8/3 – ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Moonlight Lounge – $5 ADV / 21+
Sat 8/4 – TEMPE, AZ – Time Out Lounge – 21+

Old Man Wizard is:
Francis Roberts – Guitar, Vocals
Kris Calabio – Drums, Backing Vocals
Andre Beller – Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals

Old Man Wizard, “The Bearded Fool” official video

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Tags: California, Old Man Wizard, San Diego, Unsigned bands

This entry was posted on Friday, July 27th, 2018 at 9:21 am and is filed under Bootleg Theater. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.