This multi-talented gent was playing “Sloop John B” when I walked by on my way out of Can Can last Friday afternoon. Quite the fancy lunch, Mrs. YHT and I had. Tasty onion soup, salads, and bread that tasted exactly like Goldfish. So fancy!
The Beach Boys — “Sloop John B” [Spotify/iTunes]
I recently spent an entire afternoon gorging myself on Vitamin String Quartet. Ever heard ’em? You might have without even realizing it. Their classical interpretations of rock and pop songs have been featured on TV shows like The Vampire Diaries, So You Think You Can Dance and Gossip Girl. Don’t watch any of those shows? Well, do you live in Concord, NH? If you did, you’d probably have heard them anyway, as a radio station there played Vitamin String Quartet 24 hours a day this past spring and summer. That’s right, 6 months of one group.
You may be asking yourself, “How is that even possible?”
Who you cover says a lot about you.
A pivotal moment in my Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr obsession occurred when I heard their electro-silken version of The Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows.” What struck me about the cover wasn’t the degree of difficulty (though it’s true that the original is a musical beast that’s said to have taken 23 musicians and 20 takes to bring down). Nor was it the considerable chutzpah it requires to reimagine one of the most revered songs of all time. What drew me in was the sense of adventure I gleaned from Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr’s recording. In context with their elaborate marketing persona and DIY showmanship, it felt like their cover of “God Only Knows” was channeling the creative spirit that The Beach Boys had in droves — a drive that helped them expand the general sandbox in which future pop musicians could play.
I was so excited when I heard Mercies’ cover of The Beach Boys’ “In My Room,” because that same adventurous spirit comes through loud and clear.
You Hear That 