Mark Pickerel and His Praying Hands
Snake in the Radio (Bloodshot)
Those who remember the glory days of grunge might recall Mark Pickerel as the drummer for Screaming Trees. He's traded (in part) his drum kit for guitar and lead microphone and signed with Bloodshot, one of the primo outfits for alt-Americana. But any assumptions that he's "gone country" are swept away on first listen. True, many of the songs have the evocative whine of a pedal-steel guitar, but otherwise, it's pure Western gothic, with flourishes gleaned from Ennio Morricone's spaghetti Westerns (with the parched twang of an electric guitar, tempos are mostly ominous gallops or resigned dirges). Pickerel's velvety baritone, world-weary yet compassionate, recalls Nick Cave (a little), Richard Hawley, and Lee Hazlewood (a lot). The songs are Hazlewood-style elegies for restless souls — characters hoping for redemption, a way out, or just the other shoe to drop. If you're seriously depressed, Snake might push you over the edge — but if you need a soundtrack for that pensive, late-night mood, this is just the thing.
Now Trending
-
Voice Places
Find everything you're looking for in your city
-
Happy Hour App
Find the best happy hour deals in your city
-
Daily Deals
Get today's exclusive deals at savings of anywhere from 50-90%
-
Best Of...
Check out the hottest list of places and things to do around your city
- Profile
- Newsletters
- Mobile
- Logout
-
Publishing:
ONOFF
