As Australia began a series of flash pandemic lockdowns in early 2021, Melbourne psychedelic fuzz rock band Jack Harlon & The Dead Crows‘ prolific frontman Tim Coutts-Smith began experimenting with home recording some of his favorite old songs. This rabbit-hole deep-dive eventually led him to bring the fans in on the project, with a social media post inviting suggestions of old underground songs they’d like to hear “Harlon-ified”.
The result is ‘Hail to the Underground,’ a collection of renditions by Jack Harlon & The Dead Crows selected for their musical importance and personal meaning, with the general throughline being that none of the original artists are household names. Filtered heavily through the spaced-out psychedelia of Jack Harlon’s inimitable style, this fuzz-drenched, genre-crossing love letter includes songs by under-the-radar icons like Bauhaus, God, Butthole Surfers, Joy Division, The Melvins, and more.
About the cover, guitarist and vocalist Tim Coutts-Smith comments: “The debut cover is a tribute to the Australian band GOD, who formed in 1986 and released the song ‘My Pal’ in 1988. The song is seen as a national treasure by a lot of alternative Aussie bands with it being covered by artists such as Magic Dirt, Violent Soho and Peabody. Our band put a call out to our fans to ask which songs they would like performed in our sound. We received an overwhelming response requesting we cover ‘My Pal’. I’ve always loved this song, so the choice was a no-brainer. There is something so mysterious and strangely emotional about this song which, despite its simplicity, I can never fully put my finger on.”
“Hail to the Underground” will be released worldwide on February 17, 2023 on various vinyl editions, digipack CD and digital, with preorder available now through Blues Funeral Recordings. Preorder the album on the website and Bandcamp.
TOUR DATES
Wednesday, Feb 15: La La Las, Wollongong (With 1000mods)
Thursday, Feb 16: The Lansdowne, Sydney (With 1000mods)
Friday, Feb 24: The Corner Hotel, Melbourne (With 1000mods)
Saturday, Feb 25: Singing Bird Studios, Frankston (Flippin the Bird Festival)
Sunday, March 5: Rosemount Hotel, Perth (Spliffs and Riffs Festival)
Saturday, March 17: The Cranker, Adelaide
Friday, March 31: Oxford Art Factory (Gallery Bar), Sydney
Saturday, April 1:The Tote, Melbourne
