Erik Bluhm on Pat Kilroy's band The New Age

“Some of you may have already picked up the latest Ugly Things magazine in which our pal David Biasotti uncovers the amazing journey of guitar raga-pioneer Pat Kilroy and his short-lived group, The New Age. After Kilroy’s 1966 Light of Day album flew right over the heads of most heads, he re-teamed up with flautist/etc. Susan Graubard as The New Age—palling around with the Fish and performing at S.F.’s Human Be-In and The Jabberwock in Berkeley. RD Records has just released the sessions they did for Warner Brothers in the summer of 1967, “a true groundbreaking adventure of the highest order” replete with “incredible raga-esque acoustic guitar, electric bass, Spanish cowbells, bell tree, silver flute, bamboo flutes, viola, tamboura, conga drums, tables, acoustic and electric bass and tambourine.” Sadly, Kilroy died a few months later of Hodgkin’s disease. Graubard went on to play with Robbie Basho, The Floating Lotus Opera Company, and ex-Mighty Babyers The Habibiya, who word has it, will be the subject of Biasotti’s next musical exploration—Sufi outfits, trips to the Middle East and all. Exciting stuff, people, exciting stuff.”

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About Jay Babcock

I am an independent writer and editor based in Tucson, Arizona. I publish LANDLINE at jaybabcock.substack.com Previously: I co-founded and edited Arthur Magazine (2002-2008, 2012-13) and curated the three Arthur music festival events (Arthurfest, ArthurBall, and Arthur Nights) (2005-6). Prior to that I was a district office staffer for Congressman Henry A. Waxman, a DJ at Silver Lake pirate radio station KBLT, a copy editor at Larry Flynt Publications, an editor at Mean magazine, and a freelance journalist contributing work to LAWeekly, Mojo, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Vibe, Rap Pages, Grand Royal and many other print and online outlets. An extended piece I wrote on Fela Kuti was selected for the Da Capo Best Music Writing 2000 anthology. In 2006, I was somehow listed in the Music section of Los Angeles Magazine's annual "Power" issue. In 2007-8, I produced a blog called "Nature Trumps," about the L.A. River. From 2010 to 2021, I lived in rural wilderness in Joshua Tree, Ca.

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