“Seven Years, and Counting”

c. 2007 Rod Ice
All rights reserved
(10-07)




Seven years ago, I mail-ordered compact discs from an address in California. They were recordings by guitarist Davie Allan.

Allan and his group, The Arrows, were featured in many youth films from the 1960’s. In particular, their fuzz-drenched sound became synonymous with rebellious motorcycle culture.

For a member of any other profession, the simple act of buying CDs might have yielded no more than a small collection of recorded music. But being a wordsmith made me opportunistic by nature. And, a bit of magic transpired as my order was filled… because Allan handled the transaction himself!

I had included a brief letter with the request. It spoke of my lifelong affinity for Harley-Davidson, and the ‘Arrow-Dynamic’ sound. I mentioned how Allan had inspired my own six-string aspirations.

The result was a package of frenetic new tracks for my personal library. But when I opened the parcel, there was more inside – a personal response from the artist, himself.

This was the beginning of my unexpected friendship with a true hero of instrumental Rock.

As weeks passed, I began to write about the experience for readers here in Geauga County. When I sent copies of my work to Allan, he share them with others from the music industry. I penned letters on his behalf to organizations such as CURB Records and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame.

Somewhere in this reverberating mix of ideas was a tantalizing offer. King Fuzz mentioned a desire for ‘liner notes’ as part of a future release. He thought it would be a logical contribution for a writer to make.

I was stunned by his suggestion.

Later, I mentioned the opportunity to Alan Bezozi, a cohort from my days studying in New York. He reflected that writing such comments was a typical way to begin reviewing music professionally. The assessment sounded intriguing. Yet I felt more jazzed by the thought of working with the Fuzzmaster General!

Months passed into years as other projects were developed. They included a live show, a new studio release, compilations of classic recordings and a collection of holiday compositions. Finally, Allan revealed his plan to release a second volume of Yuletide tunes.

He sent a pre-release copy of the disc with a straightforward request for scribbled verbiage.

THE MOMENT HAD ARRIVED!

With a cup of coffee and my reporter’s notepad, I began to write:


FUZZ FOR THE HOLIDAYS 2 – Liner Notes
By Rod Ice

Davie Allan is a flesh-and-blood, six-string, artistic conundrum. He represents a past legacy of heroic proportions, yet has the passion and vitality of an artist who's best days lay ahead. He has proven able to channel electric fire like a wizard, yet can still speak with the subtle tones of a visionary. He is a troubadour, iconoclast, rebel, sorcerer, and plectrum-meister. One need only sample his vast body of work to realize that history will someday certify his prowess and magical ability. Though often victimized by fate, Davie has surpassed better-known guitarists by wielding a catalog of incredible compositions. He is an inspiration for anyone who would take up the electric guitar in a quest for authentic self-realization. The expressive story of this instrument can't be told without analyzing his portfolio. He is an immortal Pharaoh of fuzz, and a shaman of tonal distortion. Gifted and strong, he has soared beyond the limits of mortal musicians, and returned with a taste of oblivion for those too innocent to know the expansive nature of universal art.

I am speechless when listening to this recording. Quality work, very much an artistic statement - one that that transcends Davie’s fuzzirific legacy. I defy anyone to listen to FFTH + FFTH 2 and be unaffected. Davie has created a timeless masterpiece (or two) here! I mean that honestly.

You know, many 'Christmas' albums are lame and basically just an excuse to get more sales without much effort. But this one STANDS OUT. What a creative burst of artistry...!

Here’s a track-by-track overview of FFTH 2:


1. FROSTY THE SNOWMAN – Leaping across snowflakes while melodies meet in the white-draped forest. Sax and keyboards ride the sleigh. Frosty holds a conductor’s baton, swinging like a metronome. Elves dance to the beat. King Fuzz gifts the children with electric treats!

2. JINGLE BELLS – A bit of Yuletide bikerdom played out with winter’s glare off the snowbanks. Spinning tires melt the frost. Kick start prods boost the beasts to life! Off and away into the cold breath of day. A tease of The Wild Angels. Ride on, ye merry gentlemen!

3. BLUE CHRISTMAS – Malaguena! Strings rattle and hum. Rhythmic bursts prefigure T. Rex with a playful grin of musical mockery. The Earth trembles in 4/4 time. Elvis is laughing in his grave. Fuzz Daddy, make the reindeer dance!

4. I’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS – A promise made via satellite. Strutting through the snow. The Beautiful Loser is on his way with Heavenly Blues. Warbling doves sing to the heavens. Prayers offered through a fuzzbox. Sunset transpires at the glacier.

5. A WINTER SONG – Garage band experimentation. George Harrison whispers into the listener’s ear through a Silvertone amplifier. The tree is trimmed with a gnome’s pipe from Jethro Tull, and holly leaves left from an Everly Brothers romp. Squawk horns, squawk!

6. O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL – Charge on, merry travelers! Parade and sing. The time for celebration is nigh. Pluck the tones of a breaking day, full with hope. The chorus is pleading for you to play!

7. SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN – A classic sonata, rendered in choppy waves of distortion. Skis slippery with ice. Faces ruddy with cold. The whammy bar steers through skies of frosted hues. A jazz backbeat bait-and-switch. The jolly old elf is riding high on sonic energy and the smiles of faithful children.

8. JINGLE BELL ROCK - Timeless, ageless, forevermore and again. The right time /is the night time / by the fire / with my electric lyre. In the game, lost in flames, reflected on the snow, all a-glow with the chime of inverted silver goblets echoing sound. Boots on the ground. A fist to the sky! Here’s crystallized mud in your eye.

9. DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR – Quietly the jesters skip into view. A quizzical verse on their lips. Do you, can you, will you? Flutes and fifes march to the drumbeat of history. Violas play. Pipers pipe. The King is plugged in and ready to wield his amplified sword. Be aware, he is mighty and gifted. His countenance kisses the horizon with cautious affinity. And then, he is gone from the throne.

10. SANTA ON THE RUN – Beach Boys, Christmas toys, the countdown has begun. Prepare for winter fun. Saint Nicholas has his chopper-trike loaded with presents. On a keyboard highway, Rudolph rides shotgun. Not a single kid shall know disappointment. Today is the moment when everyone will receive gifts and feel the embrace of love.

11. HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS – An invocation fit for mighty souls and humble folks, alike. Good cheer to you, kind neighbor! May the winter sun reflect peacefully through your windowpane, translucent with slush-drops from the wind. I am with you, again.

12. SEASONED GREETINGS - Flasks tipped toward the cosmos. A sassy retort to tidings of good cheer, given loosely. Reshaped through a vacuum tube pre-amp, boosted gain and quarter notes in flame. A gearshift kick, heel-and-toe. Punt the snowball into tomorrow. Eggnog with spiced rum and a snifter of old Noel. Highway lanes open through the muck. One notch down, and Santa is around a slow-moving pickup truck. This sled can rock!


When the CD appeared in my mailbox, I was overwhelmed. It felt surreal to hold the disc. Yet the prize glistened with authenticity.

An average guy from Geauga had made his contribution to Rock ‘n’ Roll.

Comments about Thoughts At Large may be sent to: icewritesforyou@gmail.com