Slaughter Beach, Dog
"At the Moonbase"
(Lame-O ***)
The last song on the fourth album by Slaughter Beach, Dog is called “Notes From A Brief Engagement (At The Boot & Saddle).”
Yes, the song is in part an ode to the South Philly club that became the most prominent Philadelphia venue lost amid COVID-19 shutdowns when it closed permanently in November.
But the poignant spoken-word-with-beats piece by Jake Ewald evokes more than just the Broad Street rock room the songwriter played so often in Lame-O Records showcases.
The song also captures the nervous energy at a hometown gig as it circles back on itself. “It’s hard to sing when I’m holding my breath,” Ewald talk-sings on the track. “I look at the drums, I look at the crowd, adjust my frames and they slide back down. It’s hard to sing when I’m holding my breath.”
It conjures the vibe of being out among friends, too — a simple pleasure long taken for granted and now so distant.
"At the Moonbase" is the best Slaughter Beach, Dog album yet, with closely observed songs of quarantine couplings like “My Girl” and “Are You There.” There’s also a nod to another Philly dive bar, in “Song For Oscar’s.”
Ewald plays most of the instruments himself, but the arrangements are more filled out and self confident, with saxophone player Will Schade classing up the proceedings and providing wistful grace notes that make the songs stick. — Dan DeLuca
Slaughter Beach, Dog will celebrate this release of "At the Moonbase" with livestream performances at 9 p.m. Feb. 13 and 14, details at noonchorus.com/slaughter-beach-dog.
