The news that Philadelphia heavy rockers Thunderbird Divine have been picked up by Black Doomba Records for their next album is already a win even before you get to the manner of their delivery, which is with the charm-drenched video below filmed on what seems to have been a day like any other in the rehearsal space until it wasn’t pizza at the door. Good fun, and a Pulp Fiction reference at the end to boot.

Early last year, Thunderbird Divine unveiled standalone covers of The Osmonds‘ “Crazy Horses” (premiered here) and Barry White‘s “I’m Gonna Love You Just a Little More, Babe” (premiered here), following on from their take on The Yardbirds‘ “Happenings Ten Years Time Ago” that featured among the originals on 2020’s The Hand of Man EP (review here). 2024 puts us at five years and at least a partial lineup swap’s remove from their debut full-length, 2019’s Magnasonic (review here), so even seeing mention of “Fall of 2024” as a potential arrival date for their sophomore LP is welcome. I haven’t heard it yet, but I hear good things about it and the stretch after the first has only found them growing funkier, so here’s looking forward.

The PR wire makes it official, but don’t forget to watch the clip as well for a highlight 90 seconds of your day:

THUNDERBIRD DIVINE Rocks the Scene: Signs with Black Doomba Records for Explosive Fall 2024 Album Release

In an electrifying new partnership, the esteemed Philadelphia-based band THUNDERBIRD DIVINE has inked a deal with Black Doomba Records, signaling a bold new chapter in their already illustrious journey. This collaboration promises to unleash an album in the fall of 2024 that will further cement THUNDERBIRD DIVINE’s place in the pantheon of riff-heavy psychedelic/stoner/doom music.

Since their formation in March 2017, THUNDERBIRD DIVINE has captivated audiences with their unique blend of sonic textures and musical experimentation, drawing inspiration from the likes of Monster Magnet, Hawkwind, and The MC5. Their journey has seen them release critically acclaimed albums such as Magnasonic and The Hand of Man, alongside memorable singles and covers that showcase their versatility and creative prowess.

The upcoming album, set for release in the fall of 2024, is eagerly anticipated by fans and critics alike. It promises to be a testament to the band’s relentless pursuit of musical innovation, featuring compositions that are both emotionally compelling and sonically adventurous. This new project will not only highlight THUNDERBIRD DIVINE’s mastery of traditional rock songwriting but will also delve into complex textures and sounds, further pushing the boundaries of their genre.

THUNDERBIRD DIVINE comprises Erik Caplan, Michael Stuart, Joshua Adam Solomon, and Jack Falkenbach – a lineup of multi-instrumentalists known for their musical virtuosity and experimental approach. The band’s dedication to in-house recording and embracing technological advancements in search of the perfect sound has set them apart in the music world.

The partnership with Black Doomba Records, a label renowned for its dedication to the heavy music scene, marks a significant milestone for THUNDERBIRD DIVINE. This alliance is set to amplify the band’s reach and introduce their groundbreaking music to a wider audience.

Stay tuned for more updates on THUNDERBIRD DIVINE’s forthcoming album and their journey with Black Doomba Records. In the meantime, fans can connect with the band through their official social media pages and Bandcamp profile.

https://www.facebook.com/thunderbirddivine
https://www.instagram.com/thunderbird_divine/
https://thunderbirddivine.bandcamp.com/

https://www.blackdoomba.com/
https://blackdoombarecords.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/blackdoombarecords/
https://linktr.ee/BlackDoomba

Thunderbird Divine, Black Doomba Records signing announcement

Look at the blue text below and you know what you’re gonna see? Yes, a whole lot of skull emojis. Like a lot. But it happens that each individual one corresponds to a demonstration of the labor of love and community that is the Maryland Doom Festival. From Abel Blood through Zekiah, Maryland Doom Fest 2024 celebrates its 10th anniversary edition with its standard sans-bullshit glut of heavy. Once more the Frederick-based event looks your square in the eye, drops for absolutely immersive days on you and asks if you’re up for it. Well, are ya?

I’m not sure what my summer travel plans are yet — this and Freak Valley have overlapped the last couple years for me — but it’s been since 2019 that I was last down there and oh I’d be so eager to show up and have the three or four people who recognize me (and thus make it feel like an absolute family experience; love love love everywhere you go down there) quietly think to themselves I’ve gotten older and fatter en route to obliterating myself with volume for about 96 hours straight. Fuck. King. A.

Oh, and I hear Thunderbird Divine have new stuff in the works and it’s amazing. So that’s a thing too.

Social media had it like this:

We are super stoked to share with you the Maryland Doom Fest 2024 rosters, schedules, and lineups!!!

#4daysofdoom

THE MARYLAND DOOM FEST 2024

✝️Thursday June 20

Cafe 611-

💀 Thunderhorse
1115-1230
💀 The Magpie
1010-1055
💀 Born of Plagues
905-950
💀 Stone Nomads
800-845
💀 Pyre Fyre
700-740
💀 Dirt Eater
600-640

Olde Mother Brewery-

💀 Spellbook
920-1000
💀 Strange Highways
820-900
💀 Bailjack
720-800
💀 Stone Brew
620-700
💀 Abel Blood
520-600

✝️Friday June 21

Cafe 611-

💀 Diggeth
1215-120
💀 Shadow Witch
1110-1155
💀 Red Beard Wall
1010-1050
💀 CROP
910-950
💀 Almost Honest
810-850
💀 Cobra Whip
715-750
💀 The Crows Eye
620-655
💀 Stereo Christ
525-600

Olde Mother Brewery-

💀 Ten Ton Slug
915-1000
💀 Thousand Vision Mist
815-855
💀 Crowhunter
715-755
💀 Asthma Castle
615-655
💀 Bonded by Darkness
515-555

✝️Saturday June 22

Cafe 611-

💀 WHORES.
1150-115
💀 AGE/S
1040-1130
💀 Bloodshot
935-1020
💀 O ZORN!
830-915
💀 Double Planet
730-810
💀 Sun Years
630-710
💀 When the Deadbolt Breaks
530-610

Olde Mother Brewery-

💀 Black Water Rising
915-1000
💀 Switchblade Jesus
815-855
💀 Wyndrider
715-755
💀 Indus Valley Kings
615-655
💀 Vermillion Whiskey
515-555
💀 Doctor Smoke
415-455

✝️Sunday June 23

Cafe 611-

💀 Cirith Ungol
1200-110
💀 Mythosphere
1055-1140
💀 Conclave
955-1035
💀 Compression
855-935
💀 Sons of Arrakis
755-835
💀 Curse the Son
655-735
💀 Kulvera
555-635
💀 Old Blood
500-535
💀 Cloud Machine
405-440

Olde Mother Brewery-

💀 Thunderbird Divine
920-1000
💀 Black Manta
820-900
💀 High Noon Kahuna
720-800
💀 Unity Reggae
620-700
💀 King Bastard
520-600
💀 Zekiah
420-500

52 bands over a 4 day weekend at 2 venues across the street from one another!!
#4daysofdoom

WEEKEND PASSES: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-maryland-doom-fest-2024-tickets-732298202637?aff=oddtdtcreator

https://www.facebook.com/MdDoomFest/
www.marylanddoomfest.com

Thunderbird Divine, “I’m Gonna Love You Just a Little More, Babe” (Barry White cover)

With headlining performances slated from a soon-to-retire Cirith Ungol, noise crushers Whores., mostly-local melodic heavy proggers Mythosphere, Switchblade Jesus, Conclave, Ten Ton Slug (from Ireland; I got to see them one time; way burly; they’ll do well in Frederick), and plenty of other returning acts and newcomers alike, the lineup for Maryland Doom Fest 2024 could hardly be more appropriate a celebration of the annual Chesapeake gathering’s 10th anniversary. Based in Frederick, the four-day ultra-consuming sensory assault of volume will once again take place at Cafe 611 and Olde Mother Brewing, and if you’ve never been, I’ll tell you outright there’s nothing quite like it.

I mean that. Maryland Doom Fest goes harder than the average festival. A day might start at 1PM and not end until 2AM. And now more than ever, as the fest has grown with the two venues running alongside each other, the bill is packed. I think this year was 50 bands? Well, they’ve got 52 for 2024, and while next June is a while out, there’s a tradition to uphold of Halloween announcements, and festival honcho JB Matson (Bloodshot, War Injun, Outside Truth, etc.) pays tribute to his regulars — Shadow Witch, Bailjack, Thunderbird Divine, Thousand Vision Mist (congratulations to Danny Kenyon of Thousand Vision Mist on recently kicking cancer’s ass), among others here — while also giving showcase to outfits like Pyre Fyre, O Zorn! (whose very moniker heralds weirdness), WyndRider and more.

Congrats to Matson and all at Maryland Doom Fest on their 10th anniversary. To do something of this scope once is a lot. To do it across 10 years, well, aside from being fucking crazy, it’s also deeply admirable.

The aforementioned announcement — brief as ever; the poster lands heavy enough to cover any lack of verbiage — follows, courtesy of socials. Ticket link is there too:

WE ARE EXTREMELY PLEASED TO PRESENT TO YOU, THE MARYLAND DOOM FEST 2024 LINEUP!!!!!
THIS WILL BE OUR 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION!!
(#128128#)(#129304#)(#128128#)

52 bands over a 4 day weekend at 2 venues across the street from one another!!
#4daysofdoom

WEEKEND PASSES: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-maryland-doom-fest-2024-tickets-732298202637?aff=oddtdtcreator

https://www.facebook.com/MdDoomFest/
www.marylanddoomfest.com

Ten Ton Slug, Live at Red Crust Festival 2022

Yes, Valentine’s Day is commercial schlock that’s taken the pagan love of screwing and the already co-opted Catholic hackery subsequent to it and adding capitalist greed for a final punch of awfulness to create a day that not only isn’t about love so much as making one feel inadequate, lonely and obligated to spend money. As holidays go, it’s pretty high on the bullshit scale. From the price of roses to the gendered performance of obligation, I have a hard time imagining a worse incarnation of a holiday that’s supposed to be about love or one that’s easier to hate in itself. And I lead a life that’s full of love. Every day. So no, I’m not just lonely.

Enter Thunderbird Divine, who stand in persistent and ready contrast to that-which-is-generally-terrible. The Philadelphia heavy psych rockers started off 2023 by unveiling the surprise cover of The Osmonds‘ “Crazy Horses” (premiered here), and in a similarly playful spirit, they offer the below take on Barry White‘s “I’m Gonna Love You Just a Little More, Babe” as a Valentine’s special. The track first appeared on the soul legend’s 1973 debut album, I’ve Got So Much to Give — the cover art above is a port from the album’s less walrusized original — and across its six-plus minutes as interpreted by Thunderbird Divine, the hook and characteristically sultry vibes become fodder for weirdo psych duggery, drifting guitar over a solid underlying rhythm, spoken word obscured by effects, and so on. Thunderbird Divine‘s cover is actually shorter than the original at 6:40, but it is still plenty of time for it to put you in the mood, either for love or maybe a snack, depending on your disposition.

It’s not Thunderbird Divine‘s first engagement either with the ’70s or with a particularly funky psychedelia — if only there was a handy portmanteau for that — but it’s good fun, and anything that injects actual enjoyment into Valentine’s Day is more than welcome as far as I’m concerned. You’ll hear White sampled, and other oddball additions to the foundation of the track, and sure enough, it flows with easy swagger. You’ll recall Thunderbird Divine‘s last studio release — before “Crazy Horses” — was 2020’s The Hand of Man EP (review here). They had been working on new originals as of 2020, but if they’ve shifted their attention toward building a backlog of cover tunes, well, I’m not hearing anything thus far in these two — or their prior jab at The Yardbirds, for that matter — to make me want to argue.

Send it to someone you love. If the response is positive, you know it’s meant to be. However it works out, I wish you more actual love and fewer manufactured celebrations.

Enjoy:

Thunderbird Divine, “I’m Gonna Love You Just a Little More, Babe” (Barry White cover) track premiere

Philly’s Psych Rock Collective, Thunderbird Divine, Releases Barry White Cover for Valentine’s Day

Thunderbird Divine serenades you for Valentine’s Day with a fresh recording of Barry White’s first classic solo tune, “I’m Gonna Love You a Little More, Babe.” The six-plus-minute psych-funk cover might seem an odd choice for any rock band other than Thunderbird Divine.

“Honestly, we all just dig the song,” says Erik Caplan, the band’s vocalist/guitarist/player-player-of-odd instruments. “(Drummer) Mike Stuart fell in love with that funked-up groove, and that opening riff is just too much fun to play.”

Naturally, the biggest challenge in tackling an R&B opus of this stature was the vocal line, which originally featured White’s signature baritone, not to mention his famous narration.

“Not gonna lie, that frankly scared me,” Caplan explains. “I’m not The Love Walrus, and, really, nobody is. Barry White had this ability to deliver a song with sincerity and frank smoothness. Not everyone can do that. My bandmates were encouraging, (Keys player) Jack Falkenbach told me ‘Don’t worry about doing it like Barry. Do it like you.’ And of course he was right. Jack usually is.”

As for the meat of the song itself, there are some notable deviations from the original to match Thunderbird Divine’s sonic sensibilities.

“We had to do our own thing with it,” says Caplan. “That certainly meant honoring the original, but it had to have our stamp on it. So we added some drones, mellotron, electric sitar, backwards stuff, Barry himself, ranting about cutting a spot for Paul Quinn college, a bass VI solo… but the root of the song is anchored by (bassist) Josh Solomon and Mike. Once we had that foundation, we were free to explore and build.”

The tune is available at the price of “Pay what you want” at Thunderbird Divine’s bandcamp page.

Thunderbird Divine is:
Erik Caplan – guitar/lead vocals/theremin/etc.
Jack Falkenback – keyboard/vocals
Josh Solomon – bass/vocals
Mike Stuart – drums/vocals

Thunderbird Divine on Facebook

Thunderbird Divine on Instagram

Thunderbird Divine on Bandcamp

Look, it’s a cool song, alright? And if it sends you, say, on an Osmonds listening bender for some untold period of time, maybe forever, who is anyone to judge? Who among us will stand in judgment of Thunderbird Divine drummer Mike Stuart, guitarist/vocalist Erik Caplan, keyboardist/vocalist Jack Falkenbach or bassist/vocalist Josh Solomon?

Shit, not me. Because I’ve heard the 1972, by-the-Osmonds version of “Crazy Horses,” and that’s a ’70s heavy groover all the way as well as a pop tune you’re going to have stuck in your head into perpetuity. Philly’s Thunderbird Divine take it on with due ceremony — they make it a party because it is one — and with respect to the original. Its spirit of homage, to the song itself and that weird and beautiful moment in the history of rock and roll, is palpable. Chunky riff out front, organ flourish not far behind, and Caplan‘s vocal quick into the verse, and yeah, they’re riding that groove and god damn right to do it. A gang-shout chorus is a nice touch, and various other hey-we’re-all-here-too-having-a-good-time backing lines in the verses reinforce the point, which is this is a blast. So come down off your own horse — high up as it is — and enjoy yourself for about, oh, three minutes flat. Dare you.

There is precedent, if you need it. Eons and eons ago, in 2006, New York’s Puny Human (still miss seeing Jim Starace on stage; he was incredible) took on “Crazy Horses” as part of Small Stone Records‘ compilation Sucking the ’70s: Back in the Saddle Again, sandwiched between the likes of Sasquatch and a Clutch/Five Horse Johnson collaboration, so yes, “Crazy Horses” is legit, however goofy its origins may be. Isn’t that what good art does? Takes what’s been done before and makes something new from it? I doubt the Osmonds new at the time their track would be come beardo-fodder half a century later, but if you can believe it, stranger shit has happened.

Thunderbird Divine, who’ve done some lineup jumbling since last I heard from them, are the perfect band to capture the vibe here — don’t forget, they also did up The Yardbirds that one time, though that’s a little more in-wheelhouse, genre-wise. For more from them, check out their 2020 EP The Hand of Man (review here) and find yourself hoping like I do for more soon. New album reportedly in the works, and apparently they’ve got something special coming for Valentine’s Day. Can you feel the love yet?

This one’s gonna be in your head forever, so you might as well get used to it and enjoy:

“I think ‘Crazy Horses’ is a secret golden ticket for rock musicians,” says Erik Caplan, Thunderbird Divine’s Guitarist/Vocalist/Weird Instrumentalist. “That album is a decoder ring for messages from a group of oddball ’70s superheroes. Folks of a certain age might only remember The Osmonds as a family of Mormons with exceptionally huge smiles who occasionally sang sugary sweet love songs in front of screaming teenage girls in middle America. While this is true, these brothers were also a very legit rock band with the skills to write and perform banger rock tunes. The title track and “Hold Her Tight” sound like Sir Lord Baltimore with horns. These guys could really play, and great stuff can often come from unexpected sources.”

“Musically, the song is a perfect match for us,” Caplan explains, “It’s got a driving groove, a weird synth part and a hook for everyone to yell. Jack (Falkenbach, Keys/Vocals) got into the freaky ribbon synth used to make the ‘horsey’ sounds. He went and found one of these things. Mike (Stuart, Drums/Vocals) became slightly obsessed with the song, and he did a deep dive into The Osmonds’ catalog. He also created the ‘Horse Fink’ illustration. I think he might be an Osmonds historian now. He crushed the drumming on this recording. Josh (Solomon, Bass/Vocals), the newest addition to our collective, took the song by the horns and dug into the production. He’s got a great ear for arrangements and wasn’t afraid to visit some experimental places with the recording.”

“Is our version a slavish reproduction of the original?” Caplan asks. “No. But that’s not what we do. As George Clinton said, ‘Nothing is good unless you play with it.’ We had a lot of fun in the recording process, and I can’t remember laughing so much at a session. And now it’s one of our favorites to perform live. Granted, we don’t have the outfits or the choreography, but, man, it’s a blast.”

Thunderbird Divine is:
Erik Caplan – guitar/lead vocals/theremin/etc.
Jack Falkenback – keyboard/vocals
Josh Solomon – bass/vocals
Mike Stuart – drums/vocals

Thunderbird Divine on Facebook

Thunderbird Divine on Instagram

Thunderbird Divine on Bandcamp

It’s a big ‘un. And if you’re like me, there are a couple names that stick out from the poster below, particularly Earthride and The Skull. Both are tribute sets, of course. The Skull frontman Eric Wagner passed away in 2021 after complications from a covid-19 infection and the loss of Earthride‘s Dave Sherman just a couple months ago continues to be keenly felt in and beyond the confines of the scene he called home. Karl Agell (ex-C.O.C.) will step in for The Skull, while Scott Angelacos of Hollow Leg is set to front a rotating cast of players for Earthride. You would be hard-pressed to find a more fitting occasion for honoring one’s own, except perhaps this gig in a couple weeks.

Plenty of familiar, returning acts as well as newcomers. Hippie Death Cult and will travel from the Pacific Northwest, Switchblade Jesus and Doomstress make an appearance (not the first for either) from Texas, and Red Mesa come straight out of the capital-‘desert’ Desert. Meanwhile, Faith in Jane, Black Lung, Bloodshot, Mangog, Mythosphere, Thonian Horde, Spiral Grave and plenty of others represent the Maryland home team, High Leaf and Thunderbird Divine trip down from Philly, Curse the Son (CT) and Guhts (NY) come from farther north, Hollow Leg make the trip out from Florida, and Lo-Pan, Doctor Smoke and Brimstone Coven head over from the Midwest. That’s just off the top of my head. I’m not sure there’s ever been a MDDF pulling so many bands from different parts of the country, though of course international bands have featured in the past as well.

There are always some shakeup between the first announcement and the final lineup, but so far so good here. Any way it works out, Maryland Doom Fest has nothing to prove at this point. Guaranteed banger.

Here’s the poster (oy) and the lineup, the latter in alphabetical order:

Maryland Doom Fest 2023

June 22-25 – Frederick, MD

We are proud to present to you The Maryland DooM Fest 2023 lineup roster and 2023 promotional art!!!!

We showcase over 50 kickass bands bringing you heavy riffs over these #4daysofdoom!!

The centerpiece art was created by Joshua Adam Hart (Earthride, Unorthodox, Revelation, Chowder, Stout, to name a few).

Josh is a career tattoo artist and is currently scheduling appointments at Triple Crown Towson Tattoo. Schedule to get ink from him at info@triplecrowntowson.com

The incredible flyer layout, coloring, and design is by our very talented Bill Kole (make sure to check out his band Ol’ Time Moonshine)!!

Above the Treachery, Akris, Black Lung, Bloodshot, Bonded by Darkness, Borracho, Brimstone Coven, Cobra Whip, Conclave, Crowhunter, Curse the Son, DeathCAVE, Doctor Smoke, Doomstress, Double Planet, Dust Prophet, Earthride, Faith in Jane, False Gods, Flummox, Fox 45, Future Projektor, Gallowglas, Grim Reefer, Guhts, Helgamite, High Leaf, Hippie Death Cult, Hog, Hollow Leg, Hot Ram, Las Cruces, Leather Lung, Lo-Pan, Mangog, Mythosphere, Orodruin, Red Mesa, Severed Satellites, Shadow Witch, Smoke the Light, Spiral Grave, Switchblade Jesus, The Skull, Thonian Horde, Thousand Vision Mist, Thunderbird Divine, Unity Reggae, VRSA, Weed Coughin, Wizzerd

https://www.facebook.com/MdDoomFest/
www.marylanddoomfest.com

Lo-Pan, “Ascension Day” live at Maryland Doom Fest 2019

Two weeks ago I was at Psycho Las Vegas, and so didn’t get to post the playlist for episode 91. For posterity’s sake and because I plainly love looking at lists of band names, it’s below along with the playlist for the episode airing today, which is #92. The march to 100 continues.

The esteemed Dean Rispler (who also plays in Mighty High and a bunch of other bands) is in charge of putting the shows together on a practical level from the lists I send, and to him I extend my deepest appreciation. I’m constantly late. I suck at this in general, and worse, I know it. So yeah. Dean does a bit of hand-holding and I am thankful. He emailed me this week and asked if I was thinking yet about episode 100 and would I be doing anything special?

Well… yes. I have been. And I’d like to make it a blowout or some such, but you know what the truth is? I’m more about the work. When it comes to something like that, the most honest thing I feel like I can do is keep my head down, do another episode and then do one after that two weeks later. I’d rather feel good about a thing in myself and move on. I’m not sure I can get away with that. So maybe I’ll hit up Tommi Dozer and see if he wants to chat sometime in the next few weeks.

Thanks if you listen and thanks for reading.

The Obelisk Show airs 5PM Eastern today on the Gimme app or at: http://gimmemetal.com.

Full playlist:

The Obelisk Show – 09.02.22 (VT = voice track)

And #91, which was a pretty damn good show:

The Obelisk Show on Gimme Metal airs every Friday 5PM Eastern, with replays Sunday at 7PM Eastern. Next new episode is Sept. 16 (subject to change). Thanks for listening if you do.

Gmme Metal website

The Obelisk on Facebook

This year’s Maryland Doom Fest has already begun. It started last night and will continue through Sunday, packing as much volume as possible between the first switched on amplifier and the final, inevitable broom swept across the floor afterward at Cafe 611 in Frederick, MD, where the fest is held. These shows are jammed. They start early. They go late. There’s nothing else quite like Maryland Doom Fest out there, and when you go, you’re made welcome whether you’re a regular or not. It’s too intimate a space and too cool a crowd for bullshit attitudes to survive. Relax and enjoy the tunes.

I’m sad to say I’m not there this year — let’s call it “family stuff” and leave it there — but the lineup is incredible and I wanted to do at least some tiny measure of tribute to that, so here we are. Some of these bands are MDDF veterans — Apostle of Solitude, Zed, Foghound, Faith in Jane, Caustic Casanova, etc. — but some are new to the event as well — Coven, Great Electric Quest, Formula 400, and others — so it’s a good mix, and you know I’m a sucker for ending epic, so The Age of Truth seemed perfect for that. They’re gonna kill it this weekend playing songs from Resolute and everyone there will know it long before they go on and they’ll still kill it. That’s just how it goes down there. You’re gonna have a good time.

Thanks if you listen, thanks if you’re reading. Thanks in general. And if you’re at the fest this weekend, enjoy it.

The Obelisk Show airs 5PM Eastern today on the Gimme app or at: http://gimmemetal.com.

Full playlist:

The Obelisk Show – 06.24.22 (VT = voice track)

The Obelisk Show on Gimme Metal airs every Friday 5PM Eastern, with replays Sunday at 7PM Eastern. Next new episode is July 8 (subject to change). Thanks for listening if you do.

Gimme Metal website

The Obelisk on Facebook