Breathers
IN THE KINGDOM of the MAGIC CITY MUSIC Again

Straight from the introductory Paperback Byrdsian chimes of “Did You Think,” 
our very own Breathers remind us just how the defiantly jangle-jingle 
territory they laid stake to twenty years ago sounds as fresh and entirely riveting 
today as it must’ve back in those dank, dark years before the words “power 
pop” became a subterranean household pigeonhole.

And it’s truly been that way ever since the faithful day original NRBQ 
drummist Tom Staley hooked his lot up to that most hook-laden of Louisville 
strummers Rick Harper (he fresh from Kentucky Fried gigs alongside no less than Jerry 
Reed and Billy Swan). Their mighty musical mission? To forge a 
four-to-the-bar alliance that just never would settle for anything less than sounds and 
styles conjured by the Holy Trinity of Sixties B-Bands -- as in Beatles, Beach 
Boys, and those above-referenced Byrds –- yet whilst boldly carving brave new 
paths towards what in retrospect can be identified as most presciently Pop-wor
thy in every solitary sense of the claim.

Soon enough joined by Erich Overhultz’s keyboards and finally the late, very 
great guitarist Bob Zohn, Tom readily admits “we were a recording unit 
primarily, and it served as an outlet for our individual creations. But by far Rick 
was the most prolific songwriter, and he was the motivating factor in the 
band.” Indeed, even passing listens to “Got A Woman” (wherein Rockpile chance 
upon Augie Meyers in some Dade County back alley) and especially “Coffee Table” 
(have you EVER heard a more pointedly cinematic attention to detail, 
lyrically especially, within a mere two-minutes-fifty-six?!!) demonstrate the 
uncannily gentle genre-leaps a Harper composition can take …whilst somehow making it 
all seem and sound so utterly, hum-along-ably easy! 

Elsewhere along similarly vocal veins, how is it Dave and Ansell Collins can 
cross the Four Tops (“Won’t Somebody Tell Me”), John Lennon spreads “Mind 
Games” all over stray Harmonicats (“Don’t It Make You Feel”) and Tom’s ol’ Rh
ythm and Blues Quartet can take on the not-so young Rascals (“Doctor Doctor”) 
and in the process have this all –- and THEN some! – somehow sound so 
ridiculously, righteously …RIGHT? I mean, didn’t Man quit making such effortlessly 
wreckless records ‘way back in the latter reaches of the L. B. Johnson 
administration?!!

But these here Breathers deftly cooked ‘n’ cranked it all up again 
throughout their just-too-brief Floridian reign beneath Reagan’s watch, presidentially 
still speaking that is. And NOW, just in our nick of times you bet, this 
fearless foursome return to the current digi-age with every single inch of their 
sly, sonic sheen intact and their Message of Melody as wickedly inspiring as 
ever. Honestly, they -- whoever “they” are! -- just don’t, won’t, or more 
likely CAN’T construct two and a half minutes as wholly, poignantly perfect as, 
say, “Love Is Together” anyway anyhow anywhere any more. Really! 

So, with the keys to the Magic City wide open once more, how could one simply 
not refuse a nice long visit to its beatifically breath-taking environs? 

Just be sure to save me a coffee table therein then;
coz I’ll shortly be on my way too,

Gary Pig Gold
(en route from the Jersey City Heights, June of 04)