No guitars here. LA trio, Crash Kings, could be the next big thing on the rock scene.
Rock music without guitars. It’s like saying, “I want a cheeseburger, but hold the meat.”
“Give me a gin and tonic, but just the tonic please.”
“I said NO cheese on my pizza.”
It’s hard to argue with the facts. For more than half a century, rock music has depended on, evolved with and fed off of one constant: the electric guitar. The guitar is a symbol, and the rock guitarist the propelling force. After all, where would music be without a Brian May solo or images of Hendrix writhing on the floor in eternal bliss, guitar in hands?
What would AC/DC be without Angus? Guns N’ Roses without Slash? Led without Jimmy Page?
Analyzed within the context of history, Crash Kings are blasphemy. Straight out of Los Angeles, they are a rock band that “rocks hard without guitars,” self-aware that their bass, drums and keyboard ensemble can be an affront to logic.
But then you listen to the band’s self-titled debut album and it starts to make a little sense. You watch their videos like The Evolution of Guitar Rock–Without Guitars and you begin to understand a little more. Finally you take note of the artistry of singer and keyboard player, Tony Beliveau, as his tattoo-stained fingers turn the ivories into a canvas, and it all comes together.
Crash Kings have done the impossible: they’ve developed a brand of guitarless Rock and Roll.
Consisting of brothers Tony and Michael as well as drummer Jason Morris, Crash Kings are a modern throwback. Their aggressive tendencies are borne out of the influence of bands from Black Sabbath to Queen. Yet they have the pop sensibility to be able to pull of a piano-laiden ballad complete with bright, catchy choruses. The key is that they have verve to do it all, to switch from the confrontational “Mountain Man”–which is Jack White-esque–to the the smile-inducing, made-for-radio “Raincoat.”
But if you’re still aching for the traditional guitar fix, look no further than Tony’s clavinet, complete with customized whammy bar. Moving one hand intricately over the keys while the other controls the tremolo, the keyboardist makes his instrument an adequate substitute for the real thing, even if he can’t roll on the floor or traverse the stage while playing.
Regardless, it’s still a spectacle and sound is not sacrificed in the absence of axes. Crash Kings have something going from them here, adventuring into uncharted territory in rock music. And they’ve left their guitars at home for good.
Crash Kings- Mountain Man (download)
Crash Kings- Raincoat (download)
Crash Kings- You Got Me (download)
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Saw them last night…and what was so awesome about the no-guitar thing was that it allowed the WHOLE band to perform equally. The drummer wasn’t being blocked by 3 people running around in front of him, so it was so much easier to appreciate what he was contributing; the bass player got to rock out (do pop-out solos) and get plenty of love from the audience, and with Tony on the side, facing slightly to the left, it was like he was playing WITH a band rather than in front of them. It made for amazing energy…we, the fanz, LOVED it. Crash Kings=PWN Rock-n-Roll Tradition
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Blasphemy ! !
Big deal..Us Guitar players have been playing without keyboards for many of years..
But,ELP is a great old band with mostly no guitars..And,Lee Michaels..I’m sure there are more,that just don’t come to me right now..
So it’s definitely not a new thing.. 🙂