Joel Gion - Apple Bonkers

  by Benjamin Howarth

published: 15 / 9 / 2014

---

The totemic figure in the Brian Jonestown Massacre, Joel Gion has spent twenty years striding around the stage adding tambourines and maracas to Anton Newcombe's psychedelic visions. A hipster long before anyone at 'The Guardian' had ever used the word, Gion's presence as a counterpoint to Newcombe has always been a part of BJM's cult appeal – the rolling freakshow in which anything seemed to go. Gion's status as an “ideas man” gave him more creative imput into the BJM than, say, Bez of the Happy Mondays. But, if you were to be more unkind, his 'hanger-on' status is also part of the reason BJM are rarely taken completely seriously. In the documentary film 'Dig!', which showcased the rivalry between BJM and the much richer Dandy Warhols, Gion offered a comic counterpoint to the drug-induced feel of tragedy. But, I remember watching the film and wondering, “What on earth is this guy going to do when the band, inevitably, breaks up?” In fact, the BJM haven't broken up and Gion remains an official member. But, Newcombe has relocated to Berlin, leaving Gion at something of a loose end. He found himself missing, “the album making process” (for which, you might read, "the fun of hanging out in the studio.") Something unexpected then happened - “This feeling of disconnect kick started my own song writing process. No more time for my beloved laziness, I made my own music and it turned out to be a hugely important piece of self discovery.” An entirely self-recorded EP was Gion's first release, in 2011. For his first full length album, he has teamed up with a wide array of BJM members past and present. Any BJM fans worried that the “self discovery” would mean Gion abandoning his devotion to rock and roll can be reassured. This is an album of dense psychedelic rock, fuzzy guitars and plenty of Beatles references. Underneath that, there is a mood of disquiet and loss – the title is a direct reference to how his beloved hometown of San Francisco has changed since the internet and tech start-up generation arrived. In particular, Gion is disturbed by the way that the internet has made making a living from the arts almost impossible, while businesses are “raking it in”. (He also has a particular beef with Apple stealing the Beatles' business name). Though Gion has clearly reached the point where he is a capable guitarist, one of the more fascinating aspects of the album is how much it is defined by his percussion. All those years shaking the tambourine weren't wasted. Each song is built up around a carefully layered bed of percussion. This gives 'Apple Bonkers' a freshness that sets it apart in a crowded genre of psych-influenced bluesy rock. Gion has said on many occasions that his love of music stems from seeing the Beatles' 'Yellow Submarine' film as a child, and that legacy is obvious when the 'Sgt. Pepper' horns kick in on the lopsided rhythms of 'Hairy Flowers'. Meanwhile, on 'Change My Mind', Gion channels Love and the Velvet Underground into a sleepy ballad. 'Apple Bonkers' is one of many albums released this year to faithfully re-create the sounds of 60's psych mixed with 90's shoegaze. The problem I have with much of this music is that it's hard to see why anyone bothers. When Kevin Shields made 'Loveless', it was a voyage of discovery, a search for a wholly new music. Now, it seems like bands only need to turn on the 'Kevin Shields' effect pedal on their guitar. Gion avoids this pitfall by seeming totally, convincingly immersed in the music. He hasn't woken up one day and decided to form a psych band. This music seems like the only kind he could possibly make. 'Apple Bonkers' isn't an album in the style of the late sixties; it turns off the calendar and takes you into an alternative 'rock and roll' world where no other form of music matters or, possibly, even exists. In a recent interview, Gion said, “I think people are going to be really surprised by this album”. He said this in the context of his own understanding that few people, even BJM diehards, ever expected him to write songs and make a record. But it's also a fair reflection of the listening experience – every track offers something new, and repeat plays keep offering up new treats.

Track Listing:-

1 Yes
2 Smile
3 Hairy Flowers
4 Dart
5 Change My Mind
6 Mirage
7 Radio Silence
8 Two Daisies
9 Sail On
10 Don't Let the F*****s Bring You Down

Band Links:-

https://www.facebook.com/joelgionapplebonkers
http://joelgion.com/joelgion/Joel_Gion.html
https://twitter.com/joel_gion?lang=en-gb

Label Links:-

https://instagram.com/levitation/
https://www.facebook.com/austinpsychfest
http://levitation-austin.com/
https://www.youtube.com/user/PsychFestAustin
https://twitter.com/LEVITATION

Post A Comment

---

Comment

Name

your name

Location

ie London, UK

Submit

Check box to submit

Adam Coxon
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson

Dixie Ernill
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart

Malcolm Carter
Marie Hazelwood
Mark Rowland
Nick Dent-Robinson
Nicky Crewe
Nige Nudds
Philamonjaro
Richard Lewis
Shirley Procter
Spencer Robertshaw
Steev Burgess
Steve Kinrade

Steve Miles
Tommy Gunnarsson
Zena Grieg