On “Stuck on Nothing,” the debut from Free Energy, the band plays the type of rock that you’d imagine stoned teens in the ‘70s crashing out to on huge clamshell headphones. Twin guitars gush into each ear separately, grounded by a rhythm section that sounds like a T. Rex stomp, as singer Paul Sprangers espouses lyrics that could talk anybody down from a bad trip.
“I see as an ideal that everybody should be happy, and that that’s a possibility,” says Sprangers. “But I’m aware of how the world is, and I’ve been through my share, so I guess that positivity is kind of a reaction.”
The 1970s aren’t the only decade echoed in Free Energy’s debut though. It’s hard not to notice a little bit of the melodic savvy of a ‘90s band like Third Eye Blind.
“Those songs were on all the time when I was growing up,” says Sprangers. “I remember I was ‘too cool’ for them [back then], but now I think they’re genius pop songs. So, sure, that’s probably buried in there.”
With a name like Free Energy, do the band get confused for hippies?
“We kind of are,” Sprangers muses. “I don’t know what a contemporary definition of ‘hippie’ is but I imagine we’re pretty close.”
His worldview does seem to be pretty groovy.
“You try to leave your space in the world as best you can,” he says. “You try to add to the world in a constructive way, and we see [that] as valuable and hope people will get it.”
Free Energy
with Foxy Shazam and Hollerado
Tuesday, Nov. 23, 8 p.m.
The Paradise
967 Comm. Ave., Boston
$14, 800-745-3000
www.livenation.com
Other shows
Bob Dylan & His Band
Nov. 20
Tsongas Center, UMass Lowell
A recent ad we saw for this show had the tag line, “Don’t you dare miss it!!” In a world where everything in advertising should be taken with more than just one grain of salt, no words have rang truer. Yes, he’s been looking a lot like Mr. Howell from “Gilligan’s Island” lately, and yes, his voice isn’t what it used to be. But what his voice used to be was never that great anyway. Who cares? He’s the guy whose poetry basically redefined rock ‘n’ roll and helped make it credible. And we pass along the message to you. Seriously, don’t you dare miss it!
Jim Gaffigan
Saturday, 7 p.m.
Citi Performing Arts Center
The popularity of this Indiana native feels healthy — someone needs to balance out the hyperactive Dane Cooks and caustic David Crosses of the world with some laid-back jokes about bacon. Gaffigan has little to say about politics, but beneath his jokes runs a nudging critique of America as easily amused, underachieving and gleefully gorging on mystery meat. Hot Pocket!
