The band keeps the tempo at a simmering pace while Frank's sweet accordion runs curl and swoop as he sings with the exhortations of a musical preacher. There's something a little ridiculous about being in a rock band. There are only so many poses that can be struck with a guitar, only so many emotions that can be conveyed over three chords and only so many things that haven't been done to death by the millions of rock bands that have come before. Verbena proves that power trios can still matter. Not in a super-revolutionary way, but just enough to point out that part of the beauty of rock and roll is making old sounds seem vital.
Passion means a lot.
Into the Pink delivers the kind of sweet, bludgeoning rock that results from owning a deep record collection and relying on songwriting instinct. Verbena owes a debt to Nirvana's metallic pop, but there's more to the band than that. Yes, Verbena sings about anger, liquor, sex and confusion, but any rocking alternative band is going to show signs of owning Nevermind . And at the chorus, drummer Les Nuby's flailing is a dead ringer for Grohl's straightforward pulsing kick drum and loose-limbed cymbal bashing. If anything, the group owes as much to the Sex Pistols as the Nband.