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T H E C H E R R Y B L U E S T O R M S
THE CHERRY B LUESTORMS
BIOGRAPHY
Upon the release of their Stukas Over Disneyland mini-album, punk rock legends The
Dickies were about to go on their first U.S. tour since the untimely death of Chuck
Wagon. The band asked Glen Laughlin to tour with them on guitar, vocals and
keyboards. Following the tour Glen returned to Los Angeles to increasing demand as a
session player. He also took the opportunity to begin recording his debut solo album with
famed producer Earle Mankey. Unfortunately, he was involved in a motor vehicle
accident on the way to the studio and crushed his left hand, apparently ending his career
as a musician. As we know, the story didn’t quite end there.
With his hand still in a cast, Glen formed The Skin Trade. Seven months later The Skin
Trade played their first show, featuring Glen on lead vocals and two-fingered bass. Glen
later rejoined The Dickies as bassist and then as guitarist for several years. He also began
to use the many non-standard tunings he developed as a result of his hand injury.
Following The Dickies’ Idjit Savant tour, Glen purchased part of the studio where “Idjit”
was recorded. Since then, in addition to The Cherry Bluestorms, Glen has produced The
Dickies, movie star Heather Graham and tracks for CSI: Las Vegas. He has also
produced indie artists such as Neil Ormandy, Reuben “Big Reub” Vigil and The
Reloaders, The Ben Gunn Society, and The Greatcoats.
Having landed a development deal with A&M which led to collaborations with recording
world luminaries Chris Lord-Alge and Mike Clink, Deborah Gee placed several songs
from her debut solo album “Portal” in TV and films. She was looking for a collaborator
for her next venture. After meeting Glen at a coffeehouse and discovering their mutual
love for ‘60’s guitar-based melodic rock, the two began working on what was to become
The Cherry Bluestorms’ debut album, Transit of Venus. They formed a band and were
spotted at their first show by a promoter, whereupon their second show was before a
festival crowd in New Hampshire. The band has subsequently entertained crowds and
enjoyed critical praise from their hometown Hollywood haunts to Canada and the UK,
including The Cavern, famous home of The Beatles.
The Bluestorms gave Transit of Venus a splendid send-off at Hollywood’s Cinespace,
where they had a genuine Fillmore lightshow and a live string quartet accompanying a
performance of the entire album. TOV was noted as one of the top 100 indie albums of
2007 by IPO’s David Bash. TOV has been critically praised by L.A. Weekly, Glasswerk
UK, Powerpopaholic, Not Lame, Absolute Powerpop and others, many singling out the
bands’ version of the Beatles' "Baby, You're a Rich Man". “Violent Heart” from TOV
and “A True Heart Wears A Thorny Crown” from their upcoming second album were
placed in hit Stephen Cannell television shows.
Speaking of second albums, the band is nearly finished recording their sophomore effort,
an ambitious concept album called Bad Penny Opera. The album is due out later this
year. Meanwhile, Deborah has also begun tracking her second solo album, Geeology,
with Glen co-producing.
REVIEWS
“It's worth tracking down the Cherry Bluestorms' 2007 CD, Transit of Venus
(Roundhouse Recording), starting with a glittery makeover of the Beatles' "Baby,
You're a Rich Man," which is blown up by ex-Dickies guitarist Glen Laughlin's
crunchy, hard-bubblegum production and frosted with Deborah Gee's sweetly
reproachful vocals. The tune sounds fresh again and would probably already be in
television commercials everywhere if the duo had any connections. In their best
original songs, such as "Fear of Gravity," Laughlin surrounds Gee's desperately
yearning vocals with swirling arpeggios and doomy, dramatic descending chords.
On "Daisy Chain," they get away with chanting giddy lyrics like "The moon and all
the stars watch Venus dancing home to Mars" because there is real power in their
power pop…”
Falling James, L.A. Weekly
“Baby, You’re a Rich Man: Urgently kicks in with an unmistakably modern
sounding edge that surely comes from its sharp mix/production quality. Daisy
Chain: It's epic and it’s not just accessible, it’s enticing and by gad it ROCKS! Just
a Kiss Away: A ‘Voice of the Beehive’ sounding track sneakily and delightfully
approaches Jefferson Airplane territory with some kick-ass guitar and voluptuous
vocals that all serve to show yet another dimension to the incredible TCB sound. It
is what we’ve been waiting for! And to enjoy it thoroughly I have to recommend
that you forget your neighbours and crank up the volume! (TCB) have produced
something special here and I’m made grateful once more for my oh so precious,
fully functioning ears! And to TCB too of course!”
Ant Standring, Glasswerk UK
I recently unearthed this "lost" gem of an album from a few years ago, "Transit of
Venus", the debut album from The Cherry Bluestorms, is a modern pop album with
a well placed nod to the classic rock genre (also named one of David Bash's top 100
pop albums of 2007). Starting with a stellar cover of The Beatles' "Baby, You're a
Rich Man," the duo of Deborah Gee and Glen Laughlin (The Dickies) add a nice
psyche-pop touch to a full arena rock sound. They collaborate the style well on
"Daisy Chain" and fans of The Grip Weeds will really flip for this group. The rich
production work and composition of "Here" bring to mind both Chrissie Hynde
and Annie Lennox. The music leans less on the sixties influences by the albums' mid
point and the great guitar work and Gee's smooth vocal approach continues on the
gems "Violent Heart" and "While You Were Away." The male-female duet of Gee
and Laughlin return with the excellent "Fear of Gravity." The songwriting overall
is strong throughout the entire album, so no real filler either. Overall, if you missed
this one -- it's both fresh and accessible, so give it a chance. Fans of Heart and
Jefferson Airplane will also enjoy it thoroughly.
Aaron, Powerpopaholic.com
ALBUMS/CDs
BAD PENNY OPERA
TCBs’ second album chronicles the
adventures of Bad Penny. The story of
her travels south to London are set to a
soundtrack of remarkable music that is
also a love letter to the band’s early
musical influences. Includes The
Bluestorms’ version of Donovan’s
“Wear Your Love Like Heaven”.
Transit of Venus
The Cherry Bluestorms debut is a
garden of unearthly delights for those
who love the vinyl pressed between
1966 and 1970.
PORTAL
Deborah Gee’s debut CD is an intimate
collection of songs featuring the singer-
songwriter’s distinctive vocals and
contributions from luminaries Alan
Myers (Devo), Mike Clink (Guns &
Roses), C.J. De Villar (Gilby Clarke),
Michael Woodrum (Eric Clapton), Jon
Ingoldsby (Elton John, Madonna) and
others. Features Pearl, from the
soundtrack of The Smokers.
VENUES
LOS ANGELES
El Rey Theatre
El Cid
The Knitting Factory
Molly Malone!s
Tangier
The Joint
Fais Do Do
Make Music Pasadena Festival
OTHER
The Rivoli, Toronto Canada
The Cavern, Liverpool UK
O!Connell!s Pub, San Diego
East Village Lounge, Monterey
Half Moon Festival , New Hampshire
LINKS
www.thecherrybluestorms.com
www.myspace.com/thecherrybluestorms
www.youtube.com/thecherrybluestorms
www.reverbnation.com/thecherrybluestorms
www.facebook.com/pages/The-Cherry-Bluestorms/134465680785?ref=ts
