REVIEW: Candy Whips Teleports To Permanent Records Roadhouse
REVIEW
REVIEW
☆ BY JOEY POVINELLI ☆
THE EARLY SHOW’S COUNTRY CROWD CLEARED OUT— and Permanent Records Roadhouse, LA’s premiere record store/bar/venue hybrid, opened its door for the freaks. Candy Whips, visiting from the Bay Area, were about to take the stage on a bill with dark crooner, Blonde Noble, and the blissfully chaotic, mutant rock of Mirthquake.
I came across Candy Whips through their latest record, Moonlight, which features faithful yet inventive covers of 60s songs, using anachronistic synths. Moonlight creates an alternative reality where early-60s nostalgia rubbed off on 80s New Wave groups. The cuts are a mix of singer/frontman, Wendy Stonehenge’s favorite doo-wop classics and deep cuts, including the closing standout, “My True Story,” which was recommended by Shannon Shaw (of Shannon and the Clams).
Outside the venue, I caught up with Stonehenge, and had to ask about this record: “...a lot of the bands are doing kind of more of a late 70s or the 80s synthy thing,” said Stonehenge, “Whereas for me, I'm like, okay, well, what were those bands listening to that inspired them? So it was kind of just me taking that heritage a few steps further back…I grew up in the oldies...That's in my bones.” Stonehenge plays every instrument on the record, just like on his COVID-era debut, Automation.
The set opened with “The Usher,” which sounds like a ride in your 1987 Corvette against neon sunsets. Stonehenge stood center stage, wearing a grey suit, gloved hands, and a sparkling choker. Stonehenge’s controlled movements resembled a broken robot, playing up the heavily processed synth sound in the Candy Whip’s world. The set contained highlights from Automation (fleshed out with a full band) and its follow-up, Artificial Memories. They also debuted a new track called “Android at the Airport,” which absolutely smacked. “Scent of Leather” was also a highlight; its propulsive, brooding riff had the entire room in a New Wave trance. The set concluded in a moment of pure rock n roll, with Wendy knocking a mini disco ball off the ceiling during the closing track, “I’m A Lizard.”
From classic covers to an energetic live show, Candy Whips is always playing up the unexpected. Stonehenge confirmed he was working on new material on this trip to LA: “Plenty of Candy Whips to come.” We can’t wait.
