Looking for a new song that will raise your spirits? New to some, but a legendary song to others, “I Can See Clearly Now” from California rockers The Side Deal is a generous helping sing-along sunshine. One would be hard pressed not to have a continuous smile on their face during this roots rock anthem.
Goldie Records artists and Newport Beach-based, The Side Deal is Charlie Colin (former member of Grammy Winning band Train) on bass, drummer Stan Frazier (formerly of Sugar Ray) and brothers, Joel and Scott Owen on guitars (they also make up the duo, PawnShop Kings). The band’s live performances have included an array of covers including Sugar Ray’s “Fly”, Steely Dan’s “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number”, Elvis’ “Suspicious Minds” and Train’s “Drops of Jupiter”. Alternative country rockers PawnShop Kings are known for hits “Love Like Jesus”, “Fall Apart” and more. The band has also been to have special guests like Jeff “Skunk” Baxter of Steely Dan The Doobie Brothers and has toured with a slew of other artists.
What’s evident is the band’s love and passion for not only music, but music that has inspired their own work. Choosing such a well-known song like “I Can See Clearly Now” might seem safe to some listeners, but maybe not so much. Listeners might have an already formulated opinion on how the tune should be played. The Side Deal bring warm harmonies and a bit of a rustic music bed with rock-warped seasoning into the mix.
Lyrically, the song is pretty short and sweet. Originally written (and performed) by Johnny Nash in 1972, the lines “I can see clearly now the rain is gone, I can see all obstacles in my way, gone are the dark clouds that had me blind, it’s going to be a bright, sun shiny day, it’s going to be a bright, bright sun shiny day” are an instant ear worm. The Side Deal’s lyric music video does an excellent job representing the ideology and purveys symbolic photos of families, winning athletes, laughing babies and life’s every day heroes. The lyric video is dedicated to the front line workers and all those that are often overlooked as they continue putting in the extra hours during the pandemic.
APPLE MUSIC: https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-can-see-clearly-now-single/1506660870
The music base for “I Can See Clearly Now” is uniquely The Side Deal. I think the way these artists gel, and the way that the guitar work is a sort of torchbearer for that alternative country so prevalent in California rock, is exciting. The bass work, too, is more noticeable than traditional pop rock tunes. Frazier’s drumming is measured, but you can tell he is feeling the groove. I get the sense there’s a lot of improvisation happening. He’s intuitive. Frazier and Colin’s timing foundation adds a spark to the song. Fans of the Nash-original, as well as the many covers since, will have a soft spot for The Side Deal’s rendition. It’s timely and the synergy happening with The Side Deal is spotlight worthy. No need in keeping this to the side, it’s the main event.
Levi Colston