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Local band rediscovers the art of entertainment
BY JOEL GEHRINGER / Lincoln Journal Star
Friday, Mar 24, 2006 - 12:01:29 am CST

Sometimes musicians, producers, critics and even fans get too caught up in the production and pretension of creating songs and albums.

Fortunately, there are bands such as The Government to remind us music is first and foremost about entertainment.

A local outfit that originally formed in Norfolk, the band drops its first album Saturday in a two-set CD release show at Knickerbockers, 901 O St.

The Government is the joint project of vocalist/guitarist Shaun Sparks, guitarist Liam the Diabolical, bassist Lightnin’ Boy and drummer Matt Mello. It started in 1998 when a few of the guys met in college, but in 2003 the band reformed with its current lineup and a new musical direction.

“Before we got back together, the guitar was pretty straight punk,” Sparks said. “I wasn’t putting a lot into it. But when we added Liam (in 2003), it gave us a lot of flavor as far as roots and blues.”

Those influences come out in the band’s latest release, “Girth Hammer.”

From the opening moments of the album, as an emcee introduces the band before the disc’s first song, it’s apparent this band is out to remind listeners why they listen to music.

“We wanted it to be like a really big, overproduced rock album,” Sparks said.

Whatever the goal, “Girth Hammer” works. The album is all at once epic and engrossing — a full-frontal rock record with a healthy mix of down and dirty drinkin’ songs.

But most importantly, “Girth Hammer,” like the band itself, is all about irreverent fun.

“A few of the songs you can tell have these weird theatrical changes that are obviously kind of humorous,” Liam the Diabolical said. “We were laughing as we wrote them.”

Reach Joel Gehringer at 473-7254 or jgehringer@journalstar.com.