As white people it's particularly difficult to pull off soul and the blues, to a point it can be downright dangerous. One one side you have Levek, who wrote the 2010 version of Johnny Nash's “I Can See Clearly” and on the opposite end is Jamie Lidell crafting songs for VH1's morning lineup. Save for Mayer Hawthorne, who's earned the right to use his vocal cords, I'm truly relieved this influx of white boys with soul has been relegated to session bands and not whimsical frontmen.
I've got a serious brain boner for session musicians as of late. Their nerdy appreciation for the most endearing nuances of soul music is stirring a long overdue revival. That said, Grillade is rapidly climbing the ranks of the soul crackers that include the Uptown Sound, The Clubhouse (some black people, I know) and the Expressions. Please keep in mind, I'm speaking strictly on the rhythm section known as The Park. Grillade's latest video for “Dream Of You” features the band at its most relaxed, at home in San Francisco, chilling with the dudes from Tanya Morgan.
Grillade – “Dream of You (Emotionally Yours)” from French Press Films on Vimeo.
The only negative comment I care to make, is showing someone reading On The Road. There literally is nothing more offensively cliche one could put in a video based in SF. This minor offense definitely won't prevent me from checking out Grillade's upcoming record with Big K.R.I.T. though.
