by Dave Schaefer

I first heard “Paint It Red” unrefined and coursing out of beat-up car speakers in a parking lot.  Jason Matthew, lead singer of The Nuclear Children, caught me as I was leaving an opening party for a new recording studio and asked if I’d spare a minute to take a listen to a new song.  I was anxious to hear where the band was going with the new CD that I’d heard they’d been working on, so I found myself sitting in Jason’s car listening to their latest tune.

Even though the song was what Jason called “rough,” I saw immediate potential in “Paint It Red.”  It doesn’t redefine the band, that unique Nuclear Children sound -- with it’s backdrop of prog doo-wop, crisp backup vocals, and Jason’s nicotine-dipped voice -- is still happily evident -- but it takes the band on a more sophisticated musical bent.  They took the best of their first CD, added more good stuff and pushed out a song that may well get this band noticed outside of the world of Central Ohio. 

If it doesn’t happen, it will be no fault of the quality of the single.  Nor will it be the fault of The Nuclear Children who’ve sent press kits that include the single to over a hundred media outlets across the country -- mostly college radio stations -- in hopes of getting some attention.

Some local attention will be assured with their single release party at Skully’s on Tuesday, May 13th, where they’ll play not only “Paint It Red,” but the other songs they’re currently recording and mixing in hopes for a full CD release in the fall.  Pay particular attention to a new favorite of mine, “Another Mick Jagger Love Song.”  Sheer brilliance in a mere three-and-a-half minutes.

Also on the bill are other bands on the Champions of the Arts label: Marvin the Robot, Ghengis Green, The Lost Revival, and Marseille Marseille. 

Of these bands, The Lost Revival are of particular note.  A massive band that barely fits on the stage, they swap instruments like kids in a school lunch cafeteria swap Hostess snacks.  Exhibiting musicianship that rivals the best in the city, The Lost Revival are one of those rare bands that have to be experienced rather than simply heard.

I’m personally anxious to see Ghengis Green.  A band that mixes genres like greens in a salad, it’s tough to tag them in a specific musical niche.  They have a jam-band sensibility, while musically shunning the tag at the same time.  I’ve never heard them live, but I’m interested in where they take their performance as compared to their recorded music.

Marseille Marseille will likely play tracks that are being recorded near the end of this month at Sonic Lounge.  Word is their hoping for a late summer EP release.