Bob Dylan in Goofier Glasses

Ezra Furman

I first saw Ezra Furman and the Harpoons while waiting for The Redwalls as described in my last post. He was short, shy, and overall a goofy guy. He was having a beer with his bandmates, paying no attention to the stage awaiting him. He was just having fun. I had known there were several acts before The Redwalls and I patiently waited with my now lukewarm Sprite, watching the club crawlers of Austin’s The Mohawk. Ezra and his bandmates took the stage and surprised me more than any band I have ever seen in my short life. The energy they had during the hour or so show was impeccable. The statement “The next Bob Dylan” is thrown around a lot in the music writing business, but his unique wailing voice + amazing songwriting + great acoustic guitar player + just plain odd characteristics = seriously, the next Bob Dylan. Oh yeah, he plays the harmonica, too.

He showed more honesty and innocence in the writing of his songs than a newborn calf would…if, that is, a newborn calf could write and sport some awesomely cheap sunglasses. The Harpoons, who were formed to nurture and accompany his amazing songwriting ability, perform wonderfully, like a group of great friends, which I think is safe to say, exactly what they are. I sat through the nearly 12 song set bewildered at what was occurring. I was witnessing the early career of what will inevitably be a consistent and important figure in my musical lifetime. His song, “The Faceless Boy”, a song about loneliness and ignoring people and problems, paints a tale of the sad, sad life of a boy who has no face. He runs into conundrums, including the fact that he is sad, but his tears cannot escape. Songs like this are sincere, but have a tinge of humor laced within them to keep from downright emo-poetry rock.

There are so many other songs that deserve recognition (I could really write a 20 page guide to his music there is so much depth here): “Halloween Snow”, the journey of a bride and groom-to-be traveling to Japan to tie the knot, they board a plane to Zaire, thus ending the plan for the wedding in Japan, and with the pain and stress of the flight, ruining their flight. “Little Red Headed Girl”, one of their “catchier” songs, a song of confession of obsession to his love.

Look to their album, “Banging down the Doors” for most of their gems, almost every song here is priceless. (link on iTunes).

Daytrotter.com did an article on Ezra and invited him to record some of his previously unrecorded songs at their studio, and now they are available as a free download here.

Ezra Furman and the Harpoons also just left the studio with producer Brian Deck (of Modest Mouse and Iron and Wine production fame). Expect a great album. It drops in September.