Chop Love Carry Fire, the new project formed by veteran musicians Jeremy Toback and Butch Norton, will be live at Molly Malone’s this Wednesday, August 17th.
I first heard Toback back when I was a wide-eyed intern at LA’s Channel 103.1fm, the now defunct Triple A format radio station that helped set the stage for my love of the singer/songwriter genre. He is most well-known for his solo work (check out “You Make Me Feel”) and as a member of the alternative band Brad he had with Pearl Jam’s Stone Gossard (listen to “The Day Brings.”) Norton is best known for his work with the Eels, along with the likes of Fiona Apple, Tracy Chapman, Aimee Mann, Rufus Wainwright, and Lucinda Williams. Joining them onstage will be guitarist Billy Mohler (Smashing Pumpkins, Macy Gray).
In other words, this show is going to be serious. And it’s all at Molly’s. One of the most intimate rooms you can see a rock show in Los Angeles.
They’ve just released a video for the first single off their self-titled debut album – “Want Nothing” – and it’s currently climbing the charts over at KCSN, LA’s current Triple A station. It also might sound familiar from KROQ’s Locals Only show.
It’s a simultaneously gritty and peaceful track. The song opens with the roar and screech of angonized guitar, to me symbolizing the pain and unhappiness that caused Toback to leave the music industry at the peak of his success. The verse has the throbbing, pulsating need you feel when you finally understand your past choices and feelings, and you are ready to take action. It is the sound of focus. It is the sound of moving forward. And the chorus is the sound of peaceful relinquishment. Toback says of the song:
” ‘Want Nothing’ is a rockification of the age ole wisdom that true feelings of ‘rightness’ or ‘having it all’ come with the taming of desires & expectations, rather than the ceaseless pursuit of their fulfillment. I wrote it when I was just getting back into the music game, and really wanted to make sure I could generate enough humility to balance the sweet but reckless will that burnt me out the first time through; thus, ‘take wish away from me – I don’t want it back – sweet silent symphony – give me a second chance.’ ”
Seeing these veteran musicians in such an intimate venue as Molly Malone’s is a not-to-be-missed. Here are the details:
Chop Love Carry Fire | Wednesday, August 17th | Molly Malone’s | 575 South Fairfax Ave | 8pm
