When discussing
legendary psychedelic garage bands of the 1960s, the Chocolate
Watchband is at the top of the list. The Chocolate Watchband formed in
San Jose in 1965. The band's music was described as “a blend of
1960s-style garage and psychedelic rock with a distinguishable 'Rolling
Stones' San Francisco sound. Produced by Ed Cobb, the group's early
music combined the influences of blues with a psychedelic edge that
featured terse lyrics and instrumental experimentation. The Chocolate
Watchband appeared in the 1967 film “Riot On Sunset Strip” and the 1968
film “The Love Ins.” The band released three highly acclaimed LPs from
1967 to 1969 before disbanding in 1970. In 1999, they reunited at the
San Diego event 66/99 in San Diego, CA, organized by
musician/journalist Mike Stax. They continue to play today at garage
rock festivals in Europe as well as the States with Little Steven, The
Yardbirds, Love, The Zombies, Bo Diddly, Iggy Pop, the Strawberry Alarm
Clock and the Electric Prunes.
Now much to the excitement of the band's fans around the globe, the
Chocolate Watchband are releasing two new singles destined to be
classics! - “Judgment Day” and “Secret Rendezvous”! The tracks were
recorded in 2017 at Kingdom Voice Productions, Santa Clara, CA.
Says lead
vocalist and founding member David Aguilar, “I wrote 'Judgment Day' as
the country was still in recovery after every dollar you might have had
invested suddenly tanked thanks to Wall Street. People were getting laid
off, they were moving backwards in income, homes were being foreclosed
on. Families were living in their cars. It was a terrible time for the
American dream. But this was pure opportunity for those who enjoyed
stratospheric wealth. Wall Street gangsters, bailed out by American
taxpayers, were rewarded for their massive greed and stupidity. They
immediately started buying up everything they could, hotels, new
corporate jets, restaurants chains, radio stations, small businesses,
big businesses, casinos, 300+ acre ranches with 16,000 square foot homes
in compounds near Aspen, on Long Island, or in Florida. Their trophy
wives were pampered like pet poodles….
“It resulted in the anger that put the current president into the White House. And it's ironic, Judgment Day didn't come for the political party that remains the mouthpiece for the fat cats. And now the White House is filled with more Wall Streeters! The Who were wrong, Americans can get fooled again!
“It resulted in the anger that put the current president into the White House. And it's ironic, Judgment Day didn't come for the political party that remains the mouthpiece for the fat cats. And now the White House is filled with more Wall Streeters! The Who were wrong, Americans can get fooled again!
“'Secret
Rendezvous' changed names a few times, lyrics were quick and fast, the
whole song came from the opening riff…I recorded it in about 40 minutes.
I like songs like this-they write themselves as you track it. I
recorded drums and guitar together, added bass, horns, cowbell, (yeah
say it-“more cowbell”) and vocals. When the band got a hold of it, they
ripped it! I can't wait to sing this song on stage!”The Chocolate Watchband:
David Aguilar - Lead Vocals, harmonica, percussion, keyboards, acoustic and electric guitars
Gary Andrijasivich- Drums, backing vocals, percussion
Tim Abbott- Lead guitar, sitar, backing vocals
Derek See- Guitars, backing vocals
Alec Palao- Bass
Judgement Day
Secret Rendezvous
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