Friday, January 27, 2012: Living Colour - Type (Live)

Muso's are funny people. They are usually very snobby and condescending about most music. Well, obviously, that's what makes them muso's. (That's pronounces meu-zos, btw.)

Think Jack Black in High Fidelity, and you're pretty close.

But what's really interesting about muso's is that they almost universally have the same reaction when someone mentions certain bands. Their eyes light up, sometimes they will even tilt their head back and do something with their arms at a mere mention of a very highly technically proficient but criminally underrated band that most people do not bring up in general conversation.

Living Colour is one of those bands.

The mere mention of Living Colour to a muso will put the biggest smile on their face since they last put King Crimson's “Larks’ Tongues in Aspic” on their turntable.

Record aficiondaos Wilson and Alroy give a pretty succinct into: "Living Colour happened when avant-garde guitar virtuoso Vernon Reid decided to make some popular music, and while he was at it, to break down the color barrier that had reasserted itself in rock and roll shortly after the death of Jimi Hendrix. He put together an excellent band, scrambled around trying to get a record contract, got one, shot to fame, then broke up the band six years later."

Living Colour brought the rock like very, very few bands have done before or since. Yes, Vernon Reid is a guitar god, no question - but he also knows how to groove. And party. And inject some powerful social commentary into a genre that is, sadly, pretty barren of it.

Living Colour is one of those bands that can be listened to on all levels - from muso's obessing over complicated rhythms and riffs to party people in the house who just want to crank up a rockin', funky groove.

Here's to both of you this Friday

Enjoy.