It was only three years ago that the world was introduced to The Third Mind, although the musicians that make up the group are familiar to almost any music snob. Originally started by Dave Alvin of The Blasters ( guitar) and Victor Krummenacher of Camper Van Beethoven (bass), the duo then added Michael Jerome (drums), David Immerglück (guitar), and the final piece to the plan, Jesse Skyes (vocals and acoustic guitar). Each member of the band has had a formidable career of their own, Immerglück coming from Counting Crows, Skyes having an impressive discography with her band Jesse Skyes and The Sweet Hereafter, and Jerome playing drums for Richard Thompson. The concept for The Third Mind was simple, to rediscover their love for classic records from the 1960’s and reconfigure them to fit this all-star arrangement. The kicker is that a lack of arranging is what makes them so unique.
The Third Mind is an improvisational band, disregarding their collective decades of songwriting for a more free-flowing format. Taking note from the greats of jazz, the band doesn’t write new arrangements for their covers rather they hit the studio with nothing but passion and a wealth of experience. Their first album, the self-titled release from 2020, showed the budding creativity of a collection of artists with unquenchable ambition. Only three years later, the band is back with “Groovin’ Is Easy”, the second single to the anticipated sophomore LP The Third Mind 2, which is set to release on October 27. With the exception of “Tall Grass”, the band’s single from earlier this summer written by Alvin and Skyes, their second outing follows the same formula as their first. All arrangements are improvised and all lyrics are lifted from deep cuts of the 1960’s blues and folk scene.
The second single for The Third Mind 2 is lifted from Michael Bloomfield’s Electric Flag and is titled “Groovin’ Is Easy” and is filled with squawling electric guitar solos and rings in at a satisfying eight minutes plus.
“I’ve loved The Electric Flag song, “Groovin’ Is Easy” since I first heard it as a preteen in 1968,” says Dave Alvin on the choice for their second single, “The vocal by Nick Gravenites along with Michael Bloomfield’s lyrical guitar work added up to a sweet combination of 60s optimism with earthy, bluesy R+B toughness. Also, the song’s major to minor chord structure always struck me as an interesting chord progression to improvise on.”
And improvise they did. The Third Mind’s take on this classic song is a mind-altering onslaught of psychedelic-tinged guitars with sweeping vocals that add an extra layer of beauty to this example of poetry in motion.
“With The Third Mind’s version, we’ve tried to create a moodier, darker sonic palette than the original while still keeping the spirit of the Flag’s version,” continues Alvin, “Jesse Sykes’s evocative vocal lends a compelling touch of sadness to the melody and lyrics that transforms it into a more ambiguous, world-wise lullaby.”
Glide is premiering the video for “Groovin’ Is Easy” a trippy production that flashes of technicolored nostalgia that accompanies the band’s take on this classic tune. Check it out below and look out for The Third Mind 2 on October 27.
3 Responses
Love everything Dave Alvin does and their version of this tune is awesome.
Jesse Sykes, not Skyes.
Hi, Is there any way to get info on the video company making these new edits for this band?
I am seeing quite a few negative reactions to the editing, but my take is positive.
As I music film maker myself I would like to find out about the editors and try to connect with them.