Razzle Blaster and the Canoga Park Adventure Squad

If you had tuned in to the San Francisco installment of gogoray.net you might remember a little band called The Brockly Tacos. Though now defunct, the Tacos are remain one of my favorite cartoon metal bands, as well as an awesome bunch of guys. Tommy “P-dubs” Meehan, Luis, and Gaelon have run off to LA in pursuit of music and girls in bikinis, leaving Seany-poo and Kool-aid all alone in the North Bay. Now Tommy has drawn three new characters into his musical comic strip in the form of LA’s Razzle Blaster.

Razzle Blaster can only be described as new. They blend death metal screams and grunts, energetic driving drums, melodic bass, and adventurous, intricate guitar with techno beats and sampling. The music can loosely be described as metal, but that genre robs Razzle Blaster of their uniqueness in style and fundamental execution. I can honestly say that I’ve never heard anything like this.

Now, I’d like to qualify that by saying that I don’t really listen to metal at all. It’s just not my style of music, sorry dudes! But I will say that it takes an enormous amount of talent to play any style of metal well. Any asshole with an acoustic guitar and a set of bongos can start a band. But to really play drums, guitar, and bass in a metal band takes artistry. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Tommy is an artist. He’s a buddy, I used to boss him around at work, but I’m still in awe of that kid when he has a guitar in his hands.

I hadn’t seen Tommy in about 2 years since we had moved away from each other, both gradually relocating to Southern California. MySpace, the world’s largest high school reunion, brought us back together and introduced me to his brand spankin’ new band. So, being the good friend that I am, I decided to surprise him at The Cobalt Café in Canoga Park. By the way, the valley sucks dick. I spent most of the night driving aimlessly up and down Sherman Way, having mistakenly entered the address for Darby’s Restaurant into Mapquest (don’t ask me how that happened). Eventually my friend and I found the venue, illegally parked in a pizza parking lot, and gladly paid the $8 cover to get in. The room was totally empty. I’m not kidding, there was NOBODY there. Even some of the band members had gone missing. This might be a good time to mention that the Cobalt Café is an all ages and alcohol free venue with a dive bar located right next door. Brilliant. Nevertheless I found Tommy tuning his guitar in the back room and scared the shit out of him just by saying hi. I’ve never had anyone see me, drop their guitar, and pounce off of a couch screaming “Oh my God!” I just don’t usually get that reaction.

Though the turnout was lackluster, 20 people total, five of whom were only there to pass out flyers for their show later that month, the performance was great. Every band member was dressed in white jeans and hot pink t-shirts. With music like theirs stage presence is a must. Bass player Drew Scott and singer Greg Bayliss were meandering all over the stage, and even mingling with audience members on the floor. Tommy alternately screamed back up into the microphone and dove to the floor for powerful guitar solos. And keeping the tentacles of this musical squid in harmony was drummer Greg Atria. I loved it, the audience loved it, and at one point there was a three person mosh pit. In my opinion it’s not a rock show without a three person mosh pit.

All in all I think that Razzle Blaster’s impressive sound is something to look out for. They’re new, they’re different, they’re what’s next. It’s not every day that I get to experience or be a part of something in its infancy. Usually I’m about a decade late. I feel blessed to know these guys, delighted to have experienced their sound and energy in person, and I can’t wait to hear more.