Song of the Day: 'After the Flood' by Lone Jusitce

For some reason, this classic from Maria McKee and the boys' debut album has been going through my head all day ...

  

Maria McKee @ Joe's Pub

Last night Michael and I saw the insanely talented Maria McKee (and when I say insane, I mean insane!) perform live at Joe's Pub. The set was short but wonderful and very dramatic (it runs in the family, after all). I've adored Maria since the early days of Lone Justice and it always makes me happy to see her alive and well and writing new music. Although her last few solo albums have been a rather huge departure from the Maria I fell in love with back in high school, with what seems to be so many unusual thoughts and ideas constantly racing through her head at once I can't help but thinking that a big Broadway score is in her future. And can the girl still sing ...

My two favorite moments were when she did the old Lone Justice song "Wheels" off of "Shelter":



Wheels (Written by Maria McKee)
I wish you never even loved me
It makes it so hard to live without love now
I know you're often thinking of me
Sometimes I feel you so close by
That it takes all my might to keeep from trying to track you down

I can surely keep you out of sight
Forget about the way you look, your smile, the way you speak
But I've heard in the dead of night outside my window silence breaking
With the solid destination of your lonesome speed

I know the sound of your wheels
Yeah, yeah, yeah
I know the sound of your wheels
Yeah, yeah, yeah
I know the sound of your wheels

I had a handle on my sorrow
My composure was in order if not sufficiently intact
But every reminiscent echo brings a blow to chill my senses
And my heart quakes and tenses 'til those moments pass

I know the sound of your wheels
Yeah, yeah, yeah
I know the sound of your wheels
Yeah, yeah, yeah
I know the sound of your wheels

Ev'ry trace, ev'ry vision
Brings my emotions to collision
Past love's lost tokens
Ev'ry cherished thought once spoken
False hope of reconciliation

And the incomparable "Breathe" off her eponymous solo debut, which Maria mentioned was a song her late brother, Bryan MacLean, really loved. Just a wonderful night with a wonderful performer.


Breathe (Written by Maria McKee)
At first I was scared when I opened up my head
And the motor that was runnin’ was the mind of you
I was scared when I looked at my reflection and the shine I saw were the eyes of you
I was scared when you touched my lips
And the breath I took was a breath that shook me with a shock
Like a flame as eternal as a song and the song is you and I
I will let you breathe through me
I will let you be with me

Whenever I’m alone and you’re lost out there
I can feel you breathe ‘cause our lungs we share
Whenever I’m alone anytime anywhere
I can feel your heart beat ‘cause our blood we share

I was scared when you came into my room
The walls became the sea, your voice was the moon
Oh when you rocked me in your arms
Like a song, a wave on the tide of you and I
I will let you breathe through me
I will let you be with me

My heart beats your blood
Your breath fills my lungs
Your heart beats my blood
My breath fills your lungs

I was scared when you came into my room
The walls became the sea, your voice was the moon
Oh when you rocked me in your arms
Be with me...

I will let you breathe through me
I will let you...
I will let you...
I will let you...

Off the top of my head here are the songs I can remember her doing:

Sullen Soul
Shelter
High Dive
Life Is Sweet /After Life
My First Night Without You
Breathe
Blessed Salvation
Wheels
Absolute Barking Stars
Be My Joy
Late December

The Second Coming of Maria McKee

Former Lone Justice singer and all-around (212) fave Maria McKee has a new album out called "Late December" (I'm still waiting for mine from Amazon). There's a great interview with her here. and the new disc can be ordered here. You may recall that Lone Justice's 1985 debut ranks as one of my all-time favorite albums (read more here).

If you have never experienced the ultimate drama queen herself, you're really missing out. Even without the huge voice and songwriting talent, her life would still be fascinating. Her brother is the late Bryan MacLean of the groundbreaking psychedlic group Love, her involvement in the L.A. club scene dated back to her infancy; at the age of 3, she joined MacLean at a performance at the famed Whisky-a-Go-Go and was befriended by Frank Zappa and members of the Doors; she went to Beverly Hills High School (on which West Beverly was based) with Lenny Kravitz and Slash. She was playing in her first band at 15 on the Sunset Strip, and was signed to Geffen by the time she was 18 at Linda Ronstadt's recommendation. (How could she not be a riot?)

Here are a couple little flashbacks (was it really 22 years ago???) that might help you understand how I managed to fall so deeply in love ...

Music Box: Lone Justice

Lone Justice by Lone Justice

This album sounds as fresh and novel as it did 20 years ago when it was released. Maria McKee's powerful voice and the band's punkabilly sound were truly one-of-a-kind. (And boy was she cute.)

Especially: "East of Eden," "Pass It On," "Sweet, Sweet Baby (I'm Falling)"