Freds Variety Group – Bells And Buzzers
Named for the old house band at Fred Boettchers Music Lounge in South St. Louis which has, under the ownership of Boettchers son, Fred Friction, become a favorite alt-country venue Freds Variety Group started out as a lark between guitarist Mark Stephens, singer Sunyatta Marshall and bassist Sherman S. Sherman, but has, with the blossoming of Marshalls singing and Shermans song-writing, become one of the citys most inspired if decidedly lo-fi bands.
Their second album surrounds enigmatic, occasionally childlike (full of a childs unself-conscious aggression and joy) lyrics and melodies with Stephens darkly distorted guitar, Shermans pumping acoustic bass, and Marshalls torchy, twangy voice.
The albums best song, Max Potts, is also its best performance and arrangement. Written years ago on the passing of an obscure St. Louis musician, the song begins with trembling acoustic guitar and Marshall intoning the lines, Point a yellow finger at the God you believe in/The one who still answers when you call, cling to him fast, and then builds into an intricate guitar suite, with odd, intricate harmonies lifting the chorus. Fans of the rawer side of folk rock like self-medicated demo sessions from the Handsome Family or Tom Waits may want to hear this one.