The Grip Weeds, those psychedelic pop/rock superstars from New Jersey, have given us such marvelous albums as How I Won The War, Trip Around The Sun, and DiG, their incredible collection of 1960s covers, released in 2021. The group has a new single out on JEM Records, and it’s a song that has quite a long history with the band.
“Strange Bird,” is a sparkling, effervescent track, which is strongly reminiscent of The Byrds, yet also stays true to the band’s masterful psyche/pop grooves. The song features the band’s trademark top-notch musicianship and tightly-knit harmonies, showcasing the incredible work of Kurt Reil on drums and vocals, Kristin Pinell Reil on lead vocals and guitar, Rick Reil on keyboards, guitar and vocals, and Dave DeSantis on bass.
“Strange Bird,” was originally composed and performed during the band’s early days. In fact, it was the first original song the group performed live as they worked their way through the New Jersey club scene in the late 1980s. The Grip Weeds first recorded the tune in the 1990s, and the song was released as a single in 1993 on Twang Records in Germany, though it later went out of print. The group then cut the track a second time for The Sound Is In You, their second full-length album, issued in 1998. Until recently, that was the end of the “Strange Bird” story.
Fast forward to the present day: The Grip Weeds added “Strange Bird” back into their live set, and discovered they really enjoyed playing the song. The resulting positive vibes inspired the group to record a new version of the tune during the sessions for their upcoming album, which is due for release next year.
The sound of The Grip Weeds is a unique combination of psychedelic rock, power pop, and modern rock, and “Strange Bird” is a perfect illustration of their fabulous music, which is imbued with a great deal of heart and soul. If you dig The Byrds, Big Star, and the melodic alternative rock of the 1980s and 1990s, this fantastic song will definitely resonate with you. “Strange Bird” is available for digital download here, where you can also get more information about this terrific band.
-John Visconti
Photo: The Grip Weeds (publicity photo)
John, thanks for turning me on to the Grip Weeds. In addition to the sonically glorious “Strange Bird,” I’ve been checking out DiG and feel that some of their covers add new power to the originals. Great band.
Glad you’re enjoying their music! Thanks for reading!