Pat Regan (who attends USC) is a guy who knows how to win over a crowd and write some damn fine simple folk/blues songs that will get in your head. He’s like Paul Baribeau with a sense of humor, or Shakey Bones but not as drunk. Humorous comparisons aside, Pat Regan wants to play for you and your friends and has a lot of great gems to offer.

“I Don’t Understand” is potential hit-making material. A song about the awkwardness of burgeoning sexuality and society’s obsession with it, Pat Regan knows that he doesn’t know, but finds solace in that it just has to be this way. He understands that it is a natural part of growing up and all the live journals and myspaces and magazines are going about it the wrong way.

The single strum electric guitar song might be a sub-genre all on its own, but I’m moved every time. “In The Shade” even features a lonesome, perfectly accented harmonica that kills you when it echoes in after the choruses. I haven’t listened to it enough yet to get the lyrics, but I’m already moved beyond comprehension.

Pat Regan drove up to Santa Barbara to play at my (Existential Hero’s) farewell show and I requested “People Who Never Played For The Chicago Bulls” because it’s hilarious. Pat with his amazing stage presence started asking people to shout out other people who haven’t “played for the Chicago Bulls.” He did some impromptu rhyming to Prince and Shaq and in general kept everyone dancing and smiling.

A newer song, “We Got The Science,” contains the great line, “Natural causes aren’t causes worth dying for.” It is a satire on our society’s obsession with youth to the point that eventually we will cure death. It’s a Vonnegut-like waltz that is more prophetic than we’d all like to believe.

Pat Regan has an amazing infectious presence that I saw unfold before me in my old apartment and I think it carries over extremely well to his recorded music as well. You’ll be moved and moving at the same time.

Pat Regan-“We Got The Science”

Links:
Pat Regan on myspace