The statistics of COVID-19 change with every news cycle, and with growing numbers, stay-at-home isolation and a near-universal disruption to society on a global scale, it is ever more important to consider the human aspect of this coronavirus. Amid the sad surrealism of living through social distancing, quarantines and bans on gatherings of groups of any size, creative professionals — artists, musicians, promoters, club owners, techs, producers, and more — are seeing an effect like nothing witnessed in the last century, and as humanity as a whole deals with this calamity, some perspective on who, what, where, when and how we’re all getting through is a needed reminder of why we’re doing so in the first place.

Thus, Days of Rona, in some attempt to help document the state of things as they are now, both so help can be asked for and given where needed, and so that when this is over it can be remembered.

Thanks to all who participate. To read all the Days of Rona coverage, click here. — JJ Koczan

Days of Rona: Christopher West of Trippy Wicked (St. Albans, United Kingdom)

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How are you dealing with this crisis as a band? Have you had to rework plans at all? How is everyone’s health so far?

Everyone’s health is good and we’re all following the advice to help reduce the spread of the virus. Jamming and recording is off for the foreseeable and some of our plans have changed a lot. We all live in different places and currently cannot meet up. Since December last year we’ve been recording various songs written over the last couple of years. Some of those are for an album and that is now on hold. Some of the songs are for other releases though including this upcoming single we just announced.

We have a few gigs booked for the year but I think everyone is just waiting to see what happens now. Understandably Desertfest London has been cancelled and that is a major blow for the bands and especially the organisers, considering how much work must go into getting that up and running.

I’m going to start looking back at the archives to see if there’s any more old stuff we can put out and I think this could be a good time to start recording/releasing some of our acoustic music properly. I just need to post Pete’s uke to him and we can record at home no problems.

What are the quarantine/isolation rules where you are?

I’m in the UK and we’re currently in week two of a fairly strict lockdown [as of April 1]. You’re only supposed to leave the house for essentials — shopping as infrequently as possible, exercise, and work if you are a key worker. If you get symptoms then stay inside for seven days and anyone else in the house stays in for 14 days.

How have you seen the virus affecting the community around you and in music?

There are a lot of people signed up to help deliver food for those that can’t get out and those sort of things and that is really good to see. Obviously the closure of pubs and the like is having a significant effect on businesses but some are able to operate by selling takeout beer and food still so that’s good for them.

Live music is gone of course and there’s been a huge shift to online and live streaming. I’m in a couple of Facebook groups where people are sharing music and art that they’ve made. I don’t think many will be able to make any money of note from this but it sure beats a lot of the politics that’s been weighing us all down online.

I think most underground and non-mainstream musicians are being hit hard right now. Sales are down because people have lost jobs, money, security. Streams are down because people are gaming, or on Netflix.

What is the one thing you want people to know about your situation, either as a band, or personally, or anything?

Don’t worry about us. We’ll get back to working on the album when we can and there’s plenty to do outside of that. Look after yourself, your family and your friends, help them and your community if you can.

https://www.facebook.com/trippywicked
https://www.instagram.com/trippywicked
https://trippywicked.bandcamp.com/
https://www.trippywicked.band/

If you were to take Trippy Wicked (né Trippy Wicked and the Cosmic Children of the Knight) at their word from their last three studio releases, they might be one of the least predictable heavy bands on the planet. Yes, last year they had the Movin’ On Singles compilation (discussed here) out through APF Records, and in 2017, there was Lost Songs (discussed here) rounding up other recordings, but in 2018 they had the unplugged Stakes and Scale EP (review here), and that was preceded by a 2016 split/collaboration with GURT (review here) and 2013’s Underground (review here), which cast off heavy rock almost entirely in favor of a more clearly metal sound. So what the hell is coming on their new single, Three Leaves, which is out next Monday, April 20, as a two-songer with its title-track and the eight-minute “Green Memories” accompanying?

Hell if I know.

Okay, actually I do know. As they did when guitarist/vocalist Peter Holland and drummer Chris West brought bassist Dicky King back into the lineup last year, and as they did by putting together the Movin’ On Singles — which was preceded by a series of individually-issued videos of the songs (as seen here, here and here) — they’re going to ground. It’s not about expectations, or about making some grand stylistic statement. It’s about getting three friends, each with their own life and whathaveyou outside the band, in the same place to revel in a long-established collaboration for the simple joy of it. “Three Leaves?” It’s stoner sludge with lyrics out of the movie Friday. And “Green Memories?” It’s newer, a bit moodier and offset by acoustic interludes. Neither contains an ounce of pretense either in its structure or presentation, and both sound like the work of a band who’ve realized how much they want to write these songs.

Not to belabor the point, but as you watch the “Three Leaves” video with Holland, King and West filming their commutes to and from rehearsal, including train rides and pre-practice beers, there’s hardly a statement to be made that could seem more poignant at this present moment. These guys are a band, and they have been for more than a decade, but as they stand in the rehearsal room and goofily wave goodbye to each other, it’s clear they’re also friends and it’s clear that friendship is something cherished by each of them. Sitting in social isolation under the omnipresent threat of plague, perhaps that resonates all the more than it otherwise might. Or maybe I just don’t have any friends. Ha.

Either way, enjoy the clip for “Three Leaves,” and here’s hoping for more Trippy Wicked to come soon, whatever form it might take upon arrival:

Trippy Wicked, “Three Leaves” official video

Trippy Wicked & the Cosmic Children of the Knight announce the upcoming digital double A side single ‘Three Leaves’ and ‘Green Memories’.

Out on April 20th Three Leaves is a stoner doom homage to the cult classic movie ‘Friday’ and the song has been a permanent fixture in the band’s live set for several years.

Green Memories is the first new music written and released since the longest serving line up of Pete Holland, Chris West and Dicky King announced they were playing together again in early 2019.

Drummer Chris West commented:

“Originally we were just going to release Three Leaves as a single on its own. We’ve been recording songs for an album and we’re getting down everything we’ve been working on including some songs not set for the album. Green Memories wasn’t going to be on that and once we started working on it, it became one of those songs that grows to be greater than the sum of its parts. The direction of the band’s sound is a touch darker since we started jamming and writing again and we wanted to share something new with fans as soon as we could.”

Three Leaves / Green Memories will be available to download on April 20th from the band’s Bandcamp as a name your price download. It will also be available on all streaming and digital platforms.

https://www.trippywicked.bandcamp.com
https://open.spotify.com/artist/75eUbiAO7Iee6Vu9T3EtDv

Trippy Wicked are:
Pete Holland – guitar and vocals
Dicky King – bass
Chris West – drums

Trippy Wicked on Thee Facebooks

Trippy Wicked on Instagram

Trippy Wicked and the Cosmic Children of the Knight on Bandcamp