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Monday, March 12, 2018
Music Monday March 12: Goodbye, Eli
Posted By Randy Harward on March 12, 2018, 12:30 PM
In the current issue of City Weekly, the music feature is about punk-rock boogie band Wey. The story was meant to be an exit interview for Eli Morrison, one of local music’s most important and prolific figures—a veritable rebellious jukebox, and one great guy. The guitarist—known for his work with Red Bennies, The Wolfs, Ether, The Moths, Purr-Bats and a slew of other projects—plans to retire after he finishes helping Wey play a set of shows (scroll for details) promoting their killer self-titled debut (weymusic.bandcamp.com).
Morrison requested that the article not focus on him, but rather the band. They’d been working on the record since 2016, and they’ll continue without him. So instead of highlighting his departure from music, Morrison wanted to help give his bandmates—his friends—a boost on his way out.
If you recall the Spanish lesson included in the Wey feature, and if you know how much Eli is synonymous with music, you might respond to this with a hearty, “Ya, wey!” Which, roughly translated, means “Enough already, dude” or “Yeah right, dude.” To be sure, it’s difficult to imagine Morrison not making music.
But that’s why he’s unplugging: After devoting three decades of his time on this mortal coil to music, Morrison wants to try other things. Obviously, we won’t begrudge him seeking room to live. What’s life for, if not to experience all that it offers?
Notwithstanding this, Wey’s show Saturday night at the Urban Lounge was still a little sad. Wey—issued on spiffy red vinyl manufactured by Pirate’s Press—is a thrilling collection of tight, well-written tunes that blend together Stooge-y snarl, Stones-y garage rock, X-y intensity and Dead Kennedy(-y?) mania. If, in fact, it would be Morrison’s final recording, it’d be a fitting exclamation point punctuating a distinguished career. However, in spite of it being a creative victory for Wey, Morrison and fans alike, it’s also a reminder that one of local music’s most reliable sources of true notes is about to go silent.
Although Morrison is steadfast in his decision, whether it’s forever or not remains to be seen. He has at least one more album coming out, an electronic project due this year. And as we’ve seen from so many acts over the years (Ozzy Osbourne, Guided by Voices, Kiss), the end isn’t always the end. But if it is, Eli: Thank you. And I wish you the best of luck in whatever you end up doing. CW
Wey
w/ Magda-Vega
Friday, Mar. 16, 9 p.m.
Brewski’s
244 Historic 25th St., Ogden
801-394-1713
$5
21+
brewskisonline.net
Wey (Bohemian Tap Takeover/Aprés Ski Party)
Friday, Mar. 30, 3 p.m.
Molly Green’s @ Brighton Resort
8302 S. Brighton Loop Road
801-532-4731
free
21+
Morrison requested that the article not focus on him, but rather the band. They’d been working on the record since 2016, and they’ll continue without him. So instead of highlighting his departure from music, Morrison wanted to help give his bandmates—his friends—a boost on his way out.
If you recall the Spanish lesson included in the Wey feature, and if you know how much Eli is synonymous with music, you might respond to this with a hearty, “Ya, wey!” Which, roughly translated, means “Enough already, dude” or “Yeah right, dude.” To be sure, it’s difficult to imagine Morrison not making music.
But that’s why he’s unplugging: After devoting three decades of his time on this mortal coil to music, Morrison wants to try other things. Obviously, we won’t begrudge him seeking room to live. What’s life for, if not to experience all that it offers?
Notwithstanding this, Wey’s show Saturday night at the Urban Lounge was still a little sad. Wey—issued on spiffy red vinyl manufactured by Pirate’s Press—is a thrilling collection of tight, well-written tunes that blend together Stooge-y snarl, Stones-y garage rock, X-y intensity and Dead Kennedy(-y?) mania. If, in fact, it would be Morrison’s final recording, it’d be a fitting exclamation point punctuating a distinguished career. However, in spite of it being a creative victory for Wey, Morrison and fans alike, it’s also a reminder that one of local music’s most reliable sources of true notes is about to go silent.
Although Morrison is steadfast in his decision, whether it’s forever or not remains to be seen. He has at least one more album coming out, an electronic project due this year. And as we’ve seen from so many acts over the years (Ozzy Osbourne, Guided by Voices, Kiss), the end isn’t always the end. But if it is, Eli: Thank you. And I wish you the best of luck in whatever you end up doing. CW
Wey
w/ Magda-Vega
Friday, Mar. 16, 9 p.m.
Brewski’s
244 Historic 25th St., Ogden
801-394-1713
$5
21+
brewskisonline.net
Wey (Bohemian Tap Takeover/Aprés Ski Party)
Friday, Mar. 30, 3 p.m.
Molly Green’s @ Brighton Resort
8302 S. Brighton Loop Road
801-532-4731
free
21+
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