An introduction to the band this week seems wholly unnecessary, so I suppose an anecdote might serve better in its place: around the time I started at Allston Pudding, there was a great, seismic debate occurring. “We might need to lay off Krill coverage a bit,” one writer suggested, referring to a feature in progress on the 10 best diarrhea-related Krill tweets. “The way I see it,” another writer piped in, “we might as well give up the ghost and claim ourselves as the foremost Krill fan page on the inter-webs before any of these other jokers do it.” The meeting then split into two uneasy factions, one side questioning if our love for Krill was perhaps too potent, the other lighting the ceremonial 32 tooth-shaped candles and praying under a Pile poster stained with Steve’s tears for forgiveness.
The matter remained unresolved until last Wednesday when our beloved Krill announced they’d be flushing their turd-shaped vessel of a band to the great sewer system in the sky. Boston’s local scene has a reputation of moving onwards with every passing graduating class, but Krill found that rare spot between “your friend’s band” and iconic over the past five years in a way most bands couldn’t begin to sort out. Their anxieties, nervously philosophical musings, and shit-related tweets resembled our own with a soundtrack of angular, yelping guitar rock that seemed to sound best while riding miserably on the 66. About every other week, I’ve considered showing my dad Krill, but this week, it seemed more imperative than ever to show my dad the glory of “Krill, Krill, Krill forever.”
#12 – Krill’s “Theme From Krill”
Tim: Okay, let’s briefly broach what you thought of Krill. Remember, everyone will be mad at us if you don’t say nice things.
Dad: So, just to reiterate, I look for melody, lyrics, singing, and instrumentation when I look at a song. Looking at this song, I thought the melody was pretty good. The singer was okay; not a very strong singer, but he’s okay. The beat was fantastic! What do you call it between the drums and the bass? The beatline?
Tim: I think that’s the title of a Nick Cannon movie actually.
Dad: The rhythm section?
Tim: Yep, that sounds right!
Dad: Sometimes when I read reviews, [the rhythm section] is the way that the drums and bass work together and keep the beat. Really awesome beat in this case. The way I was looking at it, I was like, “This is a really good song for, like, a local bar.” You said they’re really popular in Allston?
Tim: Yeah, they were like one of the big bands coming from Allston these past few years.
Dad: Okay, ‘cause I could definitely see these guys being good to listen to at a crowded bar with a lot of people drinking. Not sure I’d listen to the song a lot, especially with my criteria of a great song being perfect for driving down the road near the beach to. It was a good song, but it wasn’t like, “I wanna play that song on the beach.”
Tim: Okay, let me get this straight: “Crowded bar” level is a good song, but “driving around the beach” level is, like, a great song in your criteria?
Dad: Right. Yep. I mean, “beach”-level songs are, like, Van Halen’s “Dance The Night Away” and “Jump” as you know. A lot of Eagles songs [would work] as well. Same with Angels and Airwaves. The Krill song was a good song, though; wouldn’t knock it. I thought it was ironic that they’re breaking up, but the song is “Krill forever.”
Tim: Ahh, good observation. This song is from their second album, which they finished right before their drummer moved to London or something. It was a kind of goofy, contradicting song because they understood Krill could’ve broken up soon after then, but they kept going and made a third album before breaking up for real. The song is like their rallying call, even though it’s painfully untrue now.
Dad: Ahh, gotcha. And krill are like the crappy little fish that whales eat too, right?
“I guess Krill was Allston’s Phil Collins.”
Tim: Yep. It fits them though, being the crappy little fish that’s making jokes out of difficult situations.
Dad: In the video, the drummer kept giving rabbit ears to the singer and the singer kept swatting him away… it was like watching you and your brother bicker. And y’know, the singer kinda looks like you too, so it was especially funny to me.
Tim: Yeah, I think the singer, Jonah [Furman], told me I look like his uncle at two different shows. I’m still not sure if that’s a compliment or not. I want to focus the second half on band breakups though. Did you ever have a band breakup really hit you hard?
Dad: As far as one that killed me, that would be Phil Collins. If you recall, Phil Collins was deeply associated with ‘80s music, specifically anything that was “bad” about ‘80s music. People started dissing him and he basically stuck his middle finger up at the music industry. I think he moved to Europe, like Switzerland or somewhere. It got so bad, he had to say, “screw you guys!”, but the guy was awesome! He was a great singer and songwriter! He was all over the place; he did movie soundtracks, he did slow songs, he did doo-wop songs, and even the theme for Miami Vice!*
*Editor’s Note: Phil Collins did not do the theme song for Miami Vice.
Tim: What are some of your favorite songs of his?
Dad: “In The Air Tonight” is a classic. “Both Sides Of The Story”… that album, he played every instrument on the album. That was the other thing: he was talented as all get out. “You’ll Be In My Heart” was a great one from a soundtrack. Oh, he has this one though, “Take Me Home”… your mother and I saw him in upstate New York and, during that song, all he keeps singing is “home, take me home.” It was just like The Beatles on the last part of “Hey Jude”, just so hypnotizing. Everyone got up and started swaying and singing along. It kept going on and on, just “home, take me home.” Phil wrote so many songs I’d drive along the beach to, but that was just such a memorable song.
Tim: And I think that’s where a song like “Theme From Krill” is memorable. Everyone in this scene knows the “Krill, krill, krill forever” part and they’re walking home after the show singing it. Sing alongs can be kinda lame, but some just do it right and Krill does it right for me. You know, just like Phil does it for you.
Dad: Yeah! It’s in every generation or scene.
Tim: Dare I say it, but I guess Krill was Allston’s Phil Collins.
Dad: [laughs] I don’t know if you wanna say that!
Tim: Okay, fine. Final thought: what would say to grieving Krill fans mourning the loss? Like, what do you wish someone told you when Phil Collins stopped making music?
Dad: Hmm… well, maybe they’ll be reincarnated soon? Like, they could rise from the ashes like a phoenix. Who knows?
Tim: You mean like a reunion? Because I don’t think they’re, like, dying soon.
Dad: Yeah, maybe the primary songwriter will get them back together someday. But, if this is it, nothing lasts forever. Enjoy what you had. What else do people say? It’s better to have loved and lost, than to never to love at all?
Tim: And you’ve still got those Phil Collins songs with you just like I have these Krill songs, right?
Dad: Oh yeah, I got six Phil albums. And that’s not even all the albums either because, if you think about it, you can listen to all those Genesis records too.
Tim: No, I meant you’ll always have those songs and memories with you!
Dad: Oh! Okay, yeah, absolutely. And it’s sad, but it’s a part of life. There will be another band that will get you jazzed someday soon.
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Until then, goodnight, sweat princes. Krill forever and ever in my heart.
Father & Son Review Co. will be taking a brief vacation, but will be back in a few weeks.