By Scott Roberts
“It was like having two Ferraris on
stage. You knew what they could do; why stare at ‘em? They’re not a painting.”
This is one of the descriptions guitarist extraordinaire Richard Lloyd, founder
of legendary ‘70s New York
the twin guitar attack of himself and fellow Ferrari Tom Verlaine. And though
the days of Television are long over (at least as far as Lloyd is concerned),
the description certainly still holds true for Lloyd’s half a dozen solo
records he’s released over the years, the last being The Radiant Monkey from 2006, which features the anticipatory
tension of jaw-dropping guitar breaks on every cut and elevates
straightforward, three-chord rock fare like “There She Goes Again” (NOT the VU
song) to something magical and often spiritual.
The 57-year-old Lloyd actually ups the guitar-hero ante on his upcoming
release, The Jamie Neverts Story, a
collection of reverent Jimi Hendrix covers that provides a perfect vehicle for
Lloyd’s technically brilliant yet always melodic and soulful guitar virtuosity,
especially on the beautiful “May This Be Love.” The album’s unusual title comes
from a made-up name for Hendrix concocted by a teenage Lloyd and his friend
(and only known Hendrix guitar student) Velvert Turner to throw off would-be
hangers-on when they hung out with the legendary musician in New York
The CD, on
Parasol Records, won’t officially be available until September, but fans will be able to buy the record at Lloyd’s upcoming gig at The EARL on April 26, where he will be
joined by his band The Sufimonkey Trio — Keith Hartel on bass and Television
drummer Billy Ficca. Lloyd says to expect a mixture of songs from his solo
records, Hendrix covers, and a few Television classics. Also, expect to be awed
by one of the most distinctive and amazing guitarists alive.
Richard
Lloyd and The Sufimonkey Trio, with opening act The Seventh Ring of Saturn, at
The EARL, Sunday, April 26. Tickets are $12 and doors open at 8 p.m. Get your tickets here now.
