Joe Hertler and the Rainbow Seekers
Photo: Jake-Mulka
When we saw that the new single from Joe Hertler and the Rainbow Seekers was classified as funk, we were not quite expecting to be carried away on such a euphoric and emotional ride. And though there are definitely some funky elements in “The Last Ovation,” you can check your Sly and the Family Stone at the door. It’s quite possible that we are just completely out of touch with modern funk, but failing to feature this track on the blog would only serve as an injustice to all lovers of music. This song is very good, so let us attempt to tell you why.
“The Last Ovation” begins with an old recording, possibly from some funky film that only the truly funky people know about, but in it lies the foreshadowing of the song’s subject matter. Contrary to the sweet groove, this song is moderately melancholy, and as we’ve listened to it several times to write this review, be prepared for some reasonably heavy introspection should you choose to listen– and you should. The electronic beat at the song’s beginning would generally put us off, but once the full band comes in, this track is rich and vibrant and on the verge of becoming one of our most cherished finds of the year– which we were not expecting. And while the music is honestly fantastic, one of the greatest treasures is found in the lyrical content, in such lines as “Maybe love is also knowing when you should let go, just like a tree will shed its leaves.” And this is just the tip of the emotional iceberg; this song could relate to anything that ultimately comes to an end, so each listener is bound to be completely moved, for completely different reasons.
We usually try to trim these artist quotes down a bit, but everything Hertler adds about “The Last Ovation” belongs here: “It’s about stepping down from one’s identity. I watched both my dad and my stepdad struggle with retirement, when your job is your everything. Someday I’ll play my last show, you know? It’s the brevity of things that make them worthwhile and have always been able to find the romanticism and magic of impermanence. Anyhow, this particular song is about a Formula One driver, semi-inspired by the story of François Cevert, who is at the end of the career line, but ultimately pushes on past his prime towards his untimely death.”
Be sure to check out the official video for “The Last Ovation,” animated by Paul Zito. Joe Hertler and the Rainbow Seekers are also going on tour– the dates are posted below.
Mar 17 – Indianapolis, IN @ Hi-Fi
Mar 18 – Davenport, IA @ Raccoon Motel
Mar 19 – Omaha, NE @ Slowdown
Mar 22 – Great Falls, MT @ The Newberry
Mar 23 – Bozeman, MT @ Filling Station
Mar 25 – Boise, ID @ Treefort Music Festival
Mar 26 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Soundwell
Mar 29 – Denver, CO @ Meow Wolf
Mar 31 – St. Louis, MO @ Central Stage
Apr 1 – Nashville, TN @ Yee-Haw Brewing
Apr 5 – State College, PA @ Champs Downtown
Apr 6 – Philadelphia, PA @ Milkboy
Apr 7 – Brooklyn, NY @ Elswhere
Apr 8 – Portland, ME @ Portland House of Music
Apr 10 – Boston, MA @ Sonia
Apr 11 – Hamden, CT @ Space Ballroom
Apr 12 – Burlington, VT @ Nectar’s
Apr 14 – Buffalo, NY @ Buffalo Iron Works
Apr 15 – Ferndale, MI @ The Loving Touch
-TM