New Jersey Stage 2017: Issue 9 | Page 157

scorcher “The Shit That Weighs You Down” and the closing “The Devil Took a Liking to Me,” which can stand alongside “Sympathy for the Devil,” almost like a sequel. I love the beautiful piano intro be- fore all hell breaks loose. As a songwriter, I can relate to how difficult it is to exclude and edit songs. It feels like holding back a child. But as is the case with many self-produced albums released by local bands, more self-editing would have made the impressive “Ichor of Nettle” an even better album. It’s no surprise that the Tom Petty-like radio edit of “Into the Battle” is getting air- play on “Underground Garage,” given what a big fan host Steve Van Zandt is of the late TP. But the album track is another example of Chorba’s self-indulgence, height- ened by the aforementioned pro- motional record that features a three-part version of a song that most effectively clocks in at 3:05. The roots-rockin’ salute to heroic Texan “Sam Houston,” generation- al tug of “Dear Old Dad,” tongue- Watch The Successful Failures perform “Tennessee Boy” NJ STAGE 2017 - Vol. 4 No. 9 INDEX 157