Is it possible to have been around for more than 50 years and still be relevant? Um, sure. Why do you ask?

The Chocolate Watchband This Is My Voice (Dirty Water)

The Chocolate Watchband is one of those pieces of 60s psychedelia that most folks missed. I wasn't around in the 60s, but I do have some knowledge of history and I will still admit that I was unaware of the band before hearing this set. My first impression of this was "Wow, BJM without the wretched excess." Which is pretty much how I feel now, except to realize that Anton Newcombe, Matt Hollywood and the rest could probably be described as the Chocolate Watchband with more than enough wretched excess.

This does not sound like a 60s album. The feel is very much modern psychedelic ramble, not unlike many bands I've heard out of Austin lately. The Chocolate Watchband chugs through different sounds more than most psychedelic acts, and while I would assume their 60s output would fit nicely into Nuggets, this is not garage music. These guys are assured players.

So, yes. Old folks can still rock. Sometimes they can rock better than most. Apparently, time is still on the side of the Chocolate Watchband. May it remain ever so.

Jon Worley