September 8, 2018 - Gonn - Blackout of Gretely (1966)

The universe is permeated with the odor of kerosene. With that comforting thought, we're back in the good ol US of A for the time being, specifically in little Keokuk, Iowa, home of Gonn. We'll get back to that opening line in a minute.

Blackout of Gretely is a fabulously deranged garage rock song, created by a bunch of kids who ranged in age from 16 to 19. The narrator is walking down the street at night, thinking in my mind that my life was right. He soon realizes that his surroundings are a bit unusual. It is so dark. (How dark is it?) It is so dark a deep sea diver could not see. It is so dark you couldn't even tell if Mr. Clean was clean. When the guy gets home he realizes that he's been wearing sunglasses on my eyes. ba-dum. (Pause for laughter).

Accompanying the singer throughout the song is an absolutely monster guitar riff. It pounces after the opening line and assails our ears. At certain times during the song, the narrator takes a breather from his story and the music gathers itself in for a few moments... but then the riff shatters the silence. Listen at 1:15, when the riff is isolated from the other instruments. Other than a short solo at 2:20, the riff is a constant companion.

So, now to the big question: how could this guy not know he had sunglasses on? Remember that opening line? Sure...it must have been the kerosene. Not only were the toxic fumes messing with his head, but there was probably some smoke blowing around as well...finally, since he is shouting every sentence like we're deaf, it must have affected his hearing as well. A complete multi-sensory distortion.

You may ask, what is Gretely? It's taken from a book by J.B. Priestley called Blackout in Gretley. They put a little twist on it, see. Gonn is, I believe, officially spelled GONN. They took their name from another group that called itself MADD (years before that other MADD was formed).