Gyasi “Pronounced Jah-See” 2022. Alive Records, limited edition purple translucent vinyl. AMAZING glam rock, my favorite new-to-me band at this past weekend’s Mile of Music Fest in Appleton, Wisconsin. T. Rex/Ziggy Stardust/New York Dolls vibes for days, with dashes of Zeppelin as their nods to the past, infused with modern Ty Segall, Black Keys and White Stripes blues-garage riffs. Despite the very not-glam hour and weather (hotter than fuck at 3:00 p.m. in full sun), Gyasi put on a fantastic show and I was hooked from the first note and strut of sparkles and platform boots.

I’ve had Pronounced Jah-See on repeat since we picked it up at the show on Friday afternoon and I love every single track. The opener “Burn It Down” is an all-out glam rocker, followed by the blues stomper “Tongue Tied“: think Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney dressed in sparkles and heels. “Androgyne” is, I’m guessing, autobiographical and so damn catchy, bendy blues guitar celebrating individuality. “Black Strap” goes big and heavy; “All Messed Up,” the strutting “Fast Love” and “Walk On” go straight-up early 70’s T. Rex/Ziggy era Bowie with shredding guitar. “Little Tramp” feels earlier T. Rex, more psychedelic English folk (there’s flute!). “Feed Your Face” would be comfy hanging out on pretty much any Ty Segall album and “She Don’t Care” on a Jack White LP. (I should reiterate here how much I love Ty Segall and Jack White.) “Kiss Kiss” is so fun, like Zeppelin and New York Dolls had the most fabulous baby ever. “Swordfight” does not appear on the vinyl release but is on the digital version: not only is it a heavy-duty head-banging rocker but it also makes me laugh — there absolutely was air-sword during their performance and it was glorious. The opening lyrics of the closer “Godhead” sum up Gyasi nicely: “Well me and all my friends, we sparkle and we preen, outcasts writing fables…” I cannot wait for Gyasi to swing back through our area; I am utterly smitten with the music, the look, the performance – they are the full package and without irony: just pure straight-up genuine love for glamorous and heavy rock and roll. Including several videos here as they are all too good to miss.