Listen to Ty Segall’s Cover of The Dils’ “Class War”

Ty Segall has shared a cover of The Dils’ “Class War,” the second single off his forthcoming covers album Fudge Sandwich, out Oct. 26 through In The Red. “Class War” follows the previous single, a cover of Spencer Davis Group’s “I’m A Man.”

While Segall’s version of “I’m A Man” was nearly indistinguishable from the original, his take on “Class War” finds him changing and rearranging quite a bit. The original is a raucous burst of ‘70s proto-punk, but in Segall’s deft hands it becomes an acoustic jam, more protest-folk than speed-punk.

There’s a definite line of cultural heritage tracing from “Class War” to Segall’s output today, which makes his folky update all the more bracing. The Dils were one of the first major bands in L.A.’s burgeoning punk scene, and their popularity was based in large part on the strength of their legendary 1977 split “Class War” / “Mr. Big.” Segall occupies a similar role in the city’s current underground music scene, fostering creative partnerships with fellow California psych-rockers like Thee Oh Sees and Mikal Cronin, as well as ensuring a vital and exciting live music scene through his frequent appearances at iconic all-ages venue The Smell.

His staying power in the city affords him the ability to take a hometown classic like “Class War” and make it wholly his own. Dils frontman Chip Kinman seems to agree: “Ty Segall answers questions that Tony and I never even thought to ask with his version of ‘Class War,’” he said in a statement. “I LOVE it!”

Segall will be embarking on a solo acoustic tour this week. Find a full list of dates further down.

Listen to “Class War” and check out Segall’s 2010 Daytrotter Session below.

Ty Segall Solo Acoustic Tour Dates:

October
20 – Big Sur, Calif. @ Henry Miller Memorial Library *
21 – San Francisco, Calif. @ The Chapel *#
22 – Santa Cruz, Calif. @ Rio Theater *
24 – Portland, Ore. @ Aladdin Theater *
25 – Vancouver, B.C. @ Biltmore Cabaret *
27 – Seattle, Wash. @ Neumos *
28 – Missoula, Mont. @ Monk’s
30 – St. Paul, Minn. @ Turf Club

November
02 – Chicago, Ill. @ Thalia Hall ^
03 – Detroit, Mich. @ Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit ^
04 – Buffalo, N.Y. @ Buffalo Iron Works ^
06 – South Burlington, Vt. @ Higher Ground ^
07 – Portland, Maine @ Port City Music Hall ^
08 – Hamden, Conn. @ The Space Ballroom ^
09 – Brooklyn, N.Y. @ Warsaw ^
12 – Philadelphia, Pa. @ Underground Arts
13 – Washington, D.C. @ 9:30 Club
15 – Asheville, N.C. @ The Grey Eagle!
16 – Atlanta, Ga. @ Terminal West %
17 – New Orleans, La. @ One Eyed Jack’s %
18 – Austin, Texas @ J. Lorraine Ghost Town %

(* = with Shannon Lay)
(# = with Mike Donovan)
(^ = with William Tyler)
(! = with Greg Cartwright)
(% = with Emmett Kelly)