Use Somebody // Scary Pockets – Joanna Magill
LA based group Scary Pockets are a dynamic force in the world of cover bands. The duo produce weekly covers of well-known songs reimagined in a funk style, accompanied by some of the biggest names in the 21st century funk scene: Theo Katzman, Jack Stratton and Bruno Major, to name a few.
Their cover of ‘Use Somebody’ is a great example of their transformative power. The Kings of Leon’s acoustic-heavy power ballad is transformed into a laidback soul-infused funk track. A simple introduction with a 4/4 drum beat, electric piano chords and clean bluesy guitar interjections lead to a first verse with a lazy, confident groove and swung, soulful vocals. An instrumental section between verses sees a build with a simple riff repeated by guitar and bass. This instrumental section returns later in the song; the tension builds further by adding a key change before exploding into the track’s coda, with swelling sustained chords, soulful vocal interjections and a bluesy guitar solo. All in all, this track is a fantastic example of the genius of Scary Pockets.