by Derric Miller
— Managing Editor —
Paisty Jenny, the hard rocking party band from Lincoln, Neb. has released their new studio effort, 18 Days in Weed. Before you jump to conclusions, one entendre you might not have considered is that the band recorded the new music in Weed, Calif. under the talented eye of multi-platinum producer Sylvia Massey at her studio, Loud Palace. The band’s rabid following has been frothing at the maw for new music, and now they can bite down and maul the hell out of it. Aurally, that is …
You get 48 seconds of a rat-a-tat-tat drum and noise intro before cutting through to a single they released in 2013, “Criminal.” Although an older track, it was more of a batty and didn’t get rolled into a spliff for a proper listening sesh until now. Guitarist Stan Liberty’s style is metallic, and if you had to compare it to Nickelback’s heaviest one-hitters, the styles mesh. Vocalist Gregg Lee always sings like there’s an inside joke only he understands, part snarl and all melody, and the mark of any great singer is one who finds their own voice. When Lee sings, you know it’s him … and he’s damn good. Like any good Arena Rock anthem, this will have you screaming along and raising your shirt up to the band, even if you are a dude.
The new single is “High,” and it’s already garnering praise and airplay all over the nation, as well it should. Not as heavy as “Criminal,” the band went with some vocal effects (megaphone) that work effectively before they open up the chorus to just pure vocals. The chorus is spinny, sort of like Enuff Z’Nuff after a pre-stage smoke meditation, but then they go back to the vocal effects on the verses again. Liberty tears into a bubbly guitar solo and all the effects go up in smoke as your hear Lee singing, “I will take you higher than you’ve ever known … ever known!” It’s a–gulp!–mature song from the band, showing a facet you haven’t tried yet.
If you don’t know the band, they are hilarious. Like, just a bunch of kick ass, honest, and accessible gents. With tattoos and hopefully arrest records. You get all of that and more on, “Let It Go,” with a rap into that is as much a shout-out as it is just a mockery. They get back to bare-knuckles brawling here, no effects needed, and the more pared down the band gets, the better they sound. How many bands can say that?
“Hollywood” is that false oasis so many bands have chased for decades. This song can somehow fit in the ’80s, ’90s, 00s, and today as a hit song. “But it’s alright, the sun’s bright, it’s another day. Yeah it’s alright, the fire light, karma’s had her way.” That’s the tale of 99 percent of bands. It’s odd to hear a group like Paisty Jenny look back with such affection on days gone by, but at some point, whether in a band or not, everyone does it. This one stays with you …
“Run to Me” is a purposefully penned slower composition, and there’s also an acoustic version of the song that is even more sentimental than this full version. Again, when you hear lyrics like, “I’m begging you run to me … I may have failed you once but not twice you’ll see. I know I’m asking a lot but right now that’s all I’ve got … I’m down on my knees, please come back to hear,” you’ll hear a protagonist looking back on his regrets and hoping for that one last chance to make it right. Again, surprisingly mature for a band who just dug themselves out of an 18-day puff puff pass session, no wait, RECORDING session.
The burner “Ashes,” is the penultimate track before the aforementioned acoustic versions of “Run to Me,” and it’s the first time Lee uses his higher range and really his ultra-snarly delivery. After “Run to Me,” you may need another party anthem, and Paisty Jenny is nothing if not consistent. The breakdown kicks all of the asses after the guitar solo, “We all fall down, we all fall down, we get up off the ground and then we do another round,” when suddenly Lee wails into a “Whatcha doing to me!” This is the kind of song the band is known for.
18 Days in Weed is a bittersweet bud at times, for a few reasons. The songs hit and haunt, for sure, and the acceptance that after the long wait it’s not quite a full LP might harsh the buzz as well. The quality, though, is so damn “high” it’s truly hard to find anything of substance wrong here, so don’t bother trying. Just enjoy …
Genre: Hard Rock/Modern Rock
Band:
Gregg Lee – Lead Vocals, Guitars
Stan Liberty – Lead Guitar, Vocals
Gabe Mathews – Bass, Vocals
Tye Lovette – Drums, Vocal
Tracklisting:
1. 18 Days in Weed
2. Criminal
3. High
4. Let It Go
5. Hollywood
6. Run to Me
7. Ashes
8. Run to Me (Acoustic version)
Label: Direct Hit Records
Online:
https://www.facebook.com/paistyjenny
Hardrock Haven rating: 
(8.8 / 10)
