Hump Day Hot Ticket: Luna “Fire in Cairo”

Photo credit: Luz Gallardo

Normally this is more of a metal-based blog, but I love all forms of rock music, so it isn't too uncommon for me to explore other sides of the rock spectrum; such as “alternative” rock, or “indie” rock. I have never been one of those metalheads that subscribed to the notion that grunge rock was “the enemy”, or that I had to dislike one to enjoy the other.

Admittedly, what is considered modern alternative rock is not quite suited to my personal tastes, but the same can be said of most mainstream music. Being on the latter end of Gen-X, I am not exactly young or hip anymore (not that I have ever been—hip, anyway!), and I have always leaned more towards bands that were low on the radar, or stuff that was too “complicated” or “weird” for mass consumption. That being said, I do have a penchant for the alternative rock from the ’80s and ’90s. That distinct sound of those bands gives me a nostalgic, happy feeling, which instantly transports me to the days when I was young (and still un-hip).

So when I hear a band like Luna, who has been around since the days when alternative rock ruled the world—yet managed to stay underground and “low on the radar”—it is like discovering a cool gift left over from my ’90s adolescence. It's like rummaging through the attic of your childhood home and coming across a Christmas present from years past, still wrapped, that somehow got lost in the holiday shuffle and relegated to dusty bins and dark closet corners after being found by a parent under the couch during the next year's spring cleaning, long past the time when giving such a token has passed. Yet when you open the discarded gift all these years later, you find that it has not only retained the innocence and charm of its time, but it has been hidden away for so long that it feels new. It is both familiar and exciting all at once.

Over the years, Luna pressed on through the phases and fads of the different musical cycles, maintaining a strong underground following up until they disbanded in the mid-2000s. For nearly 10 years, the members of Luna went on to do their own things, until reforming once again in 2014. The year 2017 saw the band's first new releases since reuniting: an instrumental EP, and a covers album, A Sentimental Education, where the band pays tribute to everyone from David Bowie and Bob Dylan, to Fleetwood Mac and Yes.

For this week's video feature, Luna pays homage to The Cure, art-rock titans who have long crossed over to such levels of success that they don't need to be labeled. Covering such a legendary band is a tall order to fill, but Luna's take on “Fire in Cairo” is a smooth, mellow contrast to the poppy, new-wave tempo of the original. When bands do cover songs, I tend to like the ones that are done in a different way than the original, yet manages to both convey the unique sound of the band covering it, while also maintaing the integrity of the original.

The video itself is filmed in black-and-white, featuring actress Rose McGowan. It looks like film noir from the ’40s, with soft lighting and striking angles. The video begins with Rose looking at various drawings of herself (sent by fans, perhaps?), pinned to a wall. There are other photos and sketches as well, as she smiles and points to the ones that stand out. The next scene shows Luna, playing at a club called “Gold Digger's”. Rose is admitted through the back entrance while the band performs onstage. Rose stands unobtrusively against a wall, enjoying the show. Before long, she starts to mingle with the crowd, then with the band after the show. Everyone is shown laughing, talking, and drinking. Rose makes a friend, who we see visiting Rose at her house in the next scene. A few more shots of Rose in flattering light, and then the video ends. I am guessing this must be a chronicle of a day in the life of “show-biz” people, but I could be way off!

For more information on Luna, visit their official website.