If you’’re aware of the Jeffrey Lee Pierce Sessions Project you’ll already know the quality of the acts contributing to the ongoing series of musical tributes to the late Gun Club frontman. Here’s another salvo, this time in the shape of a double A-sided seven-inch single pairing a punk rock supergroup of sorts with a super garage rock group from Scotland.Split singles can be dubious offerings but there’s no such qualification here. “Zonar Rose” is a raucous rave-up by Keith Morris (Black Flag, Circle Jerks, OFF!), Ty Segall, John Dwyer (Thee Oh-Sees) and Steven McDonald (Red Kross, OFF!).
It’s devoid of airs or graces, as you’d expect from this pack of storied Bay Area luminaries, with McDonald’s production free of embellishments or studio tweaks.
“Girl It’s Me” is a country-inflected steamroller ride toughened by sharp slide guitar. Garage rockers don’t come much better than the rejuvenated Primevals and they live up to expectations. Michael Rooney’s well-rounded bluesy vocal nestles between the sparking guitars of Tom Rafferty and Martyn Rodger.
The whole shebang was issued in a run of 666 for Record Store Day so you may have to do some searching to avoid the profiteers. Neither song is included on the embarrassment of riches that is the latest volume in the Jeffrey Lee Pierce Sessions Project but they arte available on iTunes.
