NOTES
February ’22, back on tour in the first moments of feeling like there might actually be life out there post-covid, the band, based in Montana, sort of, hit some of their usual spots… The Roughed up Duck in Laramie, Lion’s Lair in Denver, Albuquerque, Sacramento, Butte, The Mine Shaft in Madrid, Flagstaff, Joshua Tree, L.A., the usual mix of dive bars rock clubs and roadhouses…. and stopped for a layover at Kyle Mularkey’s County Line Recording Studio in the Malibu Hills, (Allah Las, Babe Rainbow, Growlers). Three days later we drove away with a mostly complete album. 9 songs. Lightening. A flash of effervescence caught in the blink of an eye.
That trip, and recording session, was the first, (and maybe last), time we’d had this particular lineup.
Dave Hollier is at the core. Hollier is the songwriter, singer, frontman, leader of the voyage, and mildly proficient guitar player… Born at the Naval Hospital in Bremerton, WA, he grew up in SW Montana, where his family is now in it’s fifth generation, Hollier spent much of his adult life in New York, with stints in L.A, Honolulu, and Portland; all of which were key in broadening his musical world.
Ben Roth is Hollier’s longest running collaborator. Born and raised in Tacoma, WA, and spent a lot of time in Seattle, Joshua Tree, LA, and New York.. Ben plays guitar in King Ropes, but is also wildly proficient on keyboards, (see the song Sure, of King Ropes album Supernatural). Ben has also recorded and mixed a LOT of King Ropes’ music, including playing all over and mixing this album, Idaho.
Jeff Jensen, longtime drummer in King Ropes, and current guitar player in the phenomenal Montana Glam/Garage band The Love Darts, is master of grooves and good vibes. Jeff grew up in St. Regis, MT, a tiny town on the Montana/Idaho border, where he had to play every school sport, because there were so few kids in his high school everyone had to play. He learned to play drums locking himself in the barn and playing along with Metalica blaring. The cows didn’t mind.
Jimi Kehoe guitar phenom, driving force behind the forementioned Love Darts. Jimi, (who’’s dad is the music director of the local college station KGLT, and who’s mom played in high school/college bands with both Hollier’s brother and sister), grew up, like from when he was in diapers, steeped in rock and roll. When aging rock dudes need a boost they come to Jimi for a blood transfusion. Works every time. Jimi’s electric stage presence is undeniable.
Adam Wolcott grew up feral in the backwoods of western Virginia, later bounced between Seattle and New York, and has had a hand in beautiful heavy dark weird music every step of the way. Adam brought a baritone guitar on this tour, (accounting for the luscious bass tones on this records), and sat down at some keyboard or another as we recording, adding just that right tasty little bit we needed.
LYRICS
KING ROPES, IDAHO
Two Shoes
I’ve got a better design it’s all in my mind
It’s a really good sign they come three at a time
I got some time in the woods I got some time on the line Light a fire and we’ll cook I brought a bottle of wine
Delilah thinks she’s pretty funny honey Head in the clouds and goody two shoes
Impractical shoes in inclement weather
I’m light on my feet man I feel so much better
It’s a little bit cold I wish I’d brought me a sweater Still I’m bouncing around man I’m light as a feather
Delilah thinks she’s pretty funny honey Head in the clouds and goody two shoes
La la la la la, etc...
Radio Jane
I’ve got a box a box of little cars in a suitcase tiny plastic stars Love darts in a milk crate sun bones it’s what for dinner
Bang bang we’re little kids bang bang we’re old men
Bang bang it’s almost over bang bang we do it again
Radio Jane on the radio Radio Jane in your car Radio Jane on the dance floor Radio Jane at the bar
Hey hey I keep on moving that’s how I do it sometimes I mumble I stir up trouble sometimes I stumble it’s not subtle but it’s obtuse
Radio Jane on the radio Radio Jane in your car
Radio Jane on the dance floor Radio Jane at the bar
Radio Jane she’s in your headphones Radio Jane she took it way too far Radio Jane in your head now Radio Jane on the radio
Radio Jane.......
Way Too High
The promise of passion I’m afraid of the dark and I’m crying inside
Running in circles I’m frozen in place behind a thick red line
A beekeeper’s promise a trip to the sun I’m running in circles standing still in the dark Moonlight walks in her kingdom the slipstream’s what we get this time
Half the time everything’s off you’ve got your way of leaving
Oh clever boy you’re funny in real life my little flower all these kids are way too high
Your vibrations have me almost persuaded it’s been so long I’ve been so jaded There’s a kid in the ditch at the side of the road just needs a push and off he goes There’s a beast in the garden with the one that I love how much is enough There’s a beast in the garden with the one that I love how much is enough
Half the time everything’s off you’ve got your way of leaving
Oh clever boy you’re funny in real life my little flower all these kids are way too high
Broken Cup
I’m standing in the kitchen with a family I don’t know
I’m feeling right at home here Al Green is singing on the radio
There’s a moon in the sky and lot’s of stars there too
A broken cup on the counter and leftover food
You might find it presumptuous to assume that’s all here for us
Either way yes or no you know they light my way yes they light my way
The fire across the river makes me miss you more
There I go riding across the horizon there I go down a deep dark hole There I go again talking about who knows what nobody seems to know
I woke up last night to a baby crying panic and joy hanging in the air These days they go everywhere together Jesus Christ what have we done
The fire across the river makes me miss you more The fire across the river makes me want you more
Live Like An Animal
I want to live like an animal turn it up and flip it around
I know you think I”m a clown I want to live like an animal
I want to live like an animal Nodad and Chloe
Hoody up eyes down I want to live like an animal
I want to live like an animal I want to live in the woods alone No service no stupid phone gnawing on savaged bones
Ride In Your Car
I want to ride in your car
I think we could go pretty far
‘Cause there’s something we’ve both been thinking about we ought to talk about it We could talk in the car
Sometimes I’m sure but lately I don’t know
I think about the time we broke down in Idaho
I should have stayed but I left you there like a jerk I didn’t care
Sometimes I’m sure but lately I don’t know
The king of fools fought the king of rope a dope Face tattoos and squeaky shoes
Now no-one knows what we should do
We bummed around this town it really brought me down
I thought maybe we could turn it around
You come walking down the hall you’re so cool you don’t care at all We bummed around this town it really brought me down
You’re shooting rockets into space I’m just a basket case..... I want to ride in your car
International Shortwave
We put him in a small pine box a little pine box that we knew could never hold him One pine box made by hand could never hope to hold the life of one man International short-wave flashing neon green and blue
Sign say truckers always welcome bikers too
Cowboy church on Wednesdays in the church behind the bar Bottomless cup of coffee and salvation’s not so far
She said it’s already broken let’s build it back together better than before
She said it’s already broken let’s build it back together better than before
I climbed up from the valley I wandered around there like a lost a broken child I climbed above the rabble above the treeline I could see for miles and miles She said it’s already broken let’s build it back together better than before
I climbed up from the valley above the treeline I could see for miles and miles
Succulent Thief
The succulent thief she’s got a real bad habit
She always think’s she’s got to take a piece oh the succulent thief I knew her before the very first leaf
She’s a little bit empty mostly sweet overgrown and still incomplete Now there’s nothing left to lose
You know her blacks and white’s have turned to greens and blues Insatiable sickness this evergreen will
She’s got a hole too much can never fill
Look in her eyes there’s nothing there
She gets everything from the very air she breathes.
Idaho
We light a fire It’s too damn cold here
Too cold just getting started
Just getting started and we’re still here in Idaho Still here in Idaho with miles to go
It’s cold it’s really cold here Too cold we light a fire
Still cold and getting colder With miles to go
It’s cold really cold here
Too cold we light a fire
Real cold here east of Couer d’Alaine With miles to go
A lady standing in the parking lot smoking
In the parking lot smoking like it’s all she’s got left All she’s got left and she’s hanging on tight Hanging on tight before that long dark night
All she’s got left and she’s hanging on tight Hanging on tight before that long dark night
It’s cold it’s really cold here Too cold we light a fire
Still cold and getting colder With miles to go