Jesse Malin Brings His 'War' To Beat Kitchen Sunday

By Casey Moffitt in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 18, 2015 7:00PM

photo credit: Ilaria Conte-Potier

Jesse Malin has spent a long time making rock music in his hometown of New York City, from his teenage years in the hardcore act Heart Attack to the gutter glam punk outfit D Generation to his more recent solo work. On his latest effort, New York Before The War, he attempts to condense these vast experiences into a neat collection of songs.

Malin's goal really isn't to tell a complete story with New York Before The War (his first album in five years), but it certainly examines a wide range of emotions we can all relate to as we try to find a spot in the world's rat race. In Malin's case, he sings about plans that went awry, people that have come and gone (and some who return after long absences) and trying to find friends and partners who can help navigate the way to a better future. There are songs of hope, frustration, confusion and joy that run throughout the album.

Malin also pushes the boundaries of his musical chops on New York Before The War, offering fragile piano ballads, all-out rockers and even a little honky tonk and barstool confessionals—almost as if the songwriting tries to capture some of the diversity of the city it's named for.

The album also has hints of many of the great New York bands that precedes it like The Ramones, Lou Reed and even Paul Simon. But Malin finds a way to make it all work . He is a skilled lyricist using a sort of street-wise poetry to express all the elements of the journey that makes up this album. He explores the past, trying to determine what can be kept and what should be buried. He contemplates the future. He asks about the characters in life who have come and gone, and who he can trust to help along the way.

Malin has always been a well-connected musician, having made lots of friends throughout his career, and some of them have lent a hand on New York Before The War. That's Wayne Kramer dropping a guitar solo on "Freeway." Yep, that Peter Buck contributing a guitar line on "I Would Do It For You." In fact, that is Alejandro Escovedo's voice you hear backing up Malin on The Rolling Stones-infused "Turn Up The Mains."

New York Before The War is highly contemplative, and although Malin draws upon his own experiences to compose it, it works as an easily relatable album, especially for those of us who might be getting on in years. It also doesn't hurt that Malin has written some really good songs to take us along on the journey.

Jesse Malin performs at the Beat Kitchen (2100 W. Belmont) on Sunday April 19 at 8:30 p.m. with The Wans and Trapper Schoepp. $10 advance, $12 at the door. 17 and older.