Thunders of Wrath

NEHI STRIPES SEATTLE

HOBOSEXUAL AND THUNDERS OF WRATH UNLEASH VINYL RELEASE PARTY AT THE ALMA MATER

by KurtClarkPhoto

DEC 08 2018

For old guys like me, the resurgence of vinyl albums is a nice change.

There is something tactile and honest about interacting with a record – taking it out of the sleeve, placing it on the turntable, and dropping the needle. I have this partnership with many records – some which I’ve owned for 40 years or more. The act of “putting on a record” is truly different from playing an MP3 on a device – because listening from turntable forces a person to slow down and savor the music differently, rather than just having a sound filling headphones or car speakers.

The experience would compare to seeing a photo of the most amazing cheeseburger in the world, and EATING the most amazing cheeseburger in the world.

In an era when digital anything reigns supreme, a record album augments the relationship you can have with your favorite music in a simple tactile way.

That’s why I was so excited to hear that Hobosexual, Thunders Of Wrath and Dirty Rugs were teaming up for a Vinyl Release Event at the Alma Mater in Tacoma on 9 November! This was a venue I’d never visited before so I was interested to see it first hand. The South Sound is coming into its own for music and venues, so it’s nice to see places where people can play regularly.

Tucked in the back of the building was a full-on music hall – complete with bar and fantastic lighting.

The stage was roughly four feet above the ample floor space and was rimmed with angled panels that not only looked terrific but also helped with sound delivery. Before the show, I got to catch up with Mason Flippin – bassist for Thunders Of Wrath – and his sidekick One-Eyed Sal (Sally Cardone).

“It’s been a long road to this show,” Mason told me. “The Tacoma scene wasn’t anything like it is now, back when we started. We always felt like the underdogs. But lately, things have finally turned in our favor. We’ve had a busy year, with Hempfest, the record, this show, and later on we’ll be on KISW’s Loud & Local December 16th. 2018 feels like a new beginning in some ways.”

The Thunders Of Wrath genre mixes many influences – Stoner, Metal, Blues, 70s Rock – and blends them with the band members’ love for sci-fi and psychedelic culture. “We’re all storytellers,” Mason continued. “These are songs of adventure and freedom, and we want to share our music a certain way. Detail takes time. The journey has been worth the effort. We love the record, and we’re pretty proud of it. It’s good to be where we’re at, right here and right now.”

Their album was pressed to a limited 500 copies and was available for sale at the show. “We pressed it in heavy 180-gram vinyl,” Mason said. “It’s analog – end to end.” The band produced a video for their song “Danger Dank” on their own, in part using the drummer’s Trans Am and the band’s van as props. “I got to play a whole line of clones in the video,” Sal said smiling.

The music and the magic couldn’t wait any longer!

Along with Mason, the band includes Thomas Vekakis on Vocals, Joe Papen on Guitar, Jake Fouts on Keyboards, and Cooper Farris on Drums.

Thomas’ vocals have a signature mix of power and vulnerability – a high register and enunciation that – to me – sounds like only one person. His stature on stage is moody and confident. The storytellers channel well through him; Thomas moves conservatively with theatrical hand and eye movements – while focusing his attention on getting the story out over the mic.

Mason formed a solid bottom layer to their sound with his bass line, animating with fret surprises and headbanging. Joe was the quintessential lead guitarist, embellishing his style with riffs and ample stage movement; he’s truly an under-sung ax man from the South Sound. Cooper’s percussion was highly technical, with choice moments of fast runs and hard hits. Jake’s keyboards brought a 60s element to their sound. His runs and solid supporting melodies blended well with Mason, as they worked in unison to support the storytelling. It’s an experience to stand and watch as all the separate parts come together to create something special.

And the band simply throws down like a heavy-handed fine-tuned squad. - NeHi Stripes Seattle