Definitely not strangers to sharing the stage with each other, friends Steve Kilbey and Ricky Maymi have played together in acts ranging from Steve’s solo stuff, to Gb3, to The Church. Several gigs and several adventures later, they decided to release an album together, entitled ‘The Wilderness Years’, by David Neil. By channeling their brainchild David Neil, (an ‘imaginary dead rock star from the past’), these men have put together an album entirely outside each of their comfort zones. Although having slight echoes of both of their focal bands, this is a strong piece of work that stands entirely solitary.
Hollywood Ending – David Neil by Blank Generation
In Hollywood Ending, Ricky Maymi’s guitar reigns supreme, creating swirls of shimmering sound that intertwines with Kilbey’s vocals perfectly. Kilbey’s vocals have an edge of desperation to them, evoking David Neil’s melancholy ghost out of the ether. Brian Jonestown Massacre fans will be pleased to hear that there is definitely a Jonestown-esque ring to the tune, though it is only minor, as if anything, this tune proves that Maymi is not only a brilliant touring guitarist, but also has a creative mind of his own which isn’t to be underestimated. His and Kilbey’s collaborative songwriting seems to be stumbling across something a bit special, and one can only hope that the imaginary ‘David Neil’ has left enough material for a second album to be released.
