Backed by his “dream band,” by then well-seasoned from months on the road, Mulholland entered the Los Angeles’ American Voodoo Studios last year to create Midnight Carnival, an album that puts his and the group’s new-found maturity, confidence and swagger on full display. As Luke puts it, the album “shows my development as a musician and a human being. I’ve had some chance to really get a taste of the real world the last couple years, and these songs are my take on life, love, hope, but also the darker side of it all as well.” Taking a page out of The Band’s book, Luke likened the last whirlwind couple years to a “carnival,” creating a song cycle that reflected his meditations on his new life. Inspired by new-found influences such as The Beatles and The Brian Jonestown Massacre, the material shows a melodic and harmonic sophistication with inventive, intricate arrangements coupled with a modern rock approach that really separates Mulholland from the pack as a distinguished, singular artist.
Nowhere is this more evident than “If I Only Knew,” a breezy rocker that finds the guitarist exploring new chordal territory that shows both the impact of Berklee and Beatles on this new, improved Mulholland. Reeling from an unrequited love gone bad, Luke wrote this intriguing, spiraling tune in remembrance. “It was the first time that I realized how you can really get burned on the road to love,” says Luke. “I had a friend turn on me once things were about to turn romantic, and I was just left with the feeling I put into the song – you know, ‘if I only knew, I never would have went there.’” On the track, the songwriter chides, “Don’t ask me to find/the love you’re missing/The answer lies in you.” “Love” finds Luke revamping and updating an older song into a mantra-like rocker. “I wasn’t sure about the song at first, but Shiva said, ‘You know, that’s a riff that’s on par with the best of Zeppelin.’” Over a Bonham-like funk beat, Mulholland defiantly sings, “Love ain’t strong enough to bring me down/She said, love is all around to feel/She said, love is all that’s here.”
Single “The Truth” finds Luke integrating his hard rock versatility with pure pop sense, again, taking a page out of the Beatles’ book. “Before I got into them, ‘pop’ was a bad thing to me. Only now do I realize you can write a great pop song that really has an impact.” Kicking off with an unstoppable riff, Luke crows, “Now the truth has been revealed/But you refuse to see what’s real.” Elsewhere, the instrumental “Cow Trippin’” pays homage to the time spent on the road with Dickey Betts, a nod to the country-fied guitar harmonies and dazzling solos of the seminal 70s outfit that shows Luke and co. have learned a thing or two traveling with rock masters on the road.
The result is an product of a musical mind capabale of counting on the past for inspiration while looking forward to a new day in music, where classic rock education becomes pure modern rock majesty. And it won’t stop here. More turbo-charged gigs, inspired albums and pure rock and roll are well on the way, as Mulholland would have it – “I can’t imagine doing anything else.” (read less)
Luke Mulholland’s name is beginning to resonate more and more throughout the corners of the rock music world today. He’s the hotshot guitarist who was sneaking into bars to wow club audiences at the tender age of 14; the dynamic frontman and bandleader whose talents landed him an opening slot for Bon Jovi at 17; the prolific recording artist who completed four full-length albums before his 20st birthday; or the road warrior who has toured alongside legends such as The Yardbirds, Blue Oyster... (read more)
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