“Power Tripper”
by The Seeds
2008 song
There must have been something in the water that day. "Power Tripper" finds the so-called Seeds of 2008 (here, Sky Saxon and Daryl Hooper with guitarist Michael Oak and drummer Patrick McCarthy) rocking out. It’s far more energetic than most of the Back To The Garden CD and one of that album’s three tracks to feature original Seed Hooper, who contributes piano on this rollicking good-time blast of guitar heaviness.
If the main guitar riff reminds you of The Beatles’ “Day Tripper”, that must be on purpose: note this song’s title. Different enough to avoid litigation but similar enough to be an homage, that sixties-ish riff is what really drives "Power Tripper" along. Sky Saxon is double-tracked at times, chatting with and catcalling to himself, while during the verses he is single-tracked and turns in a classic garage rock performance, the kind he always loved – impassioned and throaty even as he neared the age of 70 like he was here.
Daryl’s classic-rock piano pounding give a Little Richard feel to "Power Tripper" – or, closer to the truth, maybe more of a 1970s Bachman-Turner Overdrive boogie-rawk sound. All but Daryl add backing harmonies and aahs. It isn’t psychedelic but "Power Tripper" lives near garage rock’s neighborhood. The exhilarating tune enlivens Back To The Garden considerably.
