Caught Cult Mind again on Friday. Their releases on Bandcamp don't really grab me as much as the live show does. A solid 15-20 minute chain punk set.
Live show reporting, Town Crier to the www masses.
17 days later
Glyders in Chicago:
Have yet to spend time with the recordings but this band is so great live, just can't stress it enough. They have this tap into Chicago blues, and a swagger all their own. Sort of a restrained rock n roll formalism that just hits. Seems like every head in Chicago knows but I haven't heard much buzz in the meantime. Drummer was in cctv and big zit and is fantastic, but this is a far cry from that. The couple at the helm are both captivating players/people. unique guitar and driving finger plucked bass that don't quit. Songs range from Dr Feelgood tough struttin, to crazy horse hazy groovin, great rythm, use of feedback, riffs and yeah, swagger is the operative word.
11th hour stubble one of the best
I finally got to see Michael Monroe last week. Having been a huge Hanoi Rocks fan since I was a kid, this was a huge deal for me. The gig took place in this crappy venue that unfortunately still practices the "pay to play" formula. So the two opening bands were absolute dog shit. Michael Monroe, on the other hand, delivered the goods. Covered different eras of his solo career, Demolition 23 and Jerusalem Slim. And then he dove right into five or six Hanoi songs. It was fucking mind blowing! For an encore, being in Ohio he namedropped Dead Boys(he was roommates with Stiv in Paris) and did Ain't Nothin' To Do. The closer was I Feel Alright(The Stooges). Killer set! If this is your thing and you have a chance to catch it, DON'T THINK TWICE!
5 days later
Caught Bria Salmena in SF. Not a total punk thing. She & her bandmates played in Toronto's Frigs and later in Orville Peck's touring band. On Sub Pop now. I love the first Cuntry Covers EP and the new LP. Show was weird. Early on a Saturday. 50 people max in the audience (great venue though). Took some good photos.
Last week caught a Melvins / Napalm Death show. I've seen the Melvins before but it's been a while. Never seen Napalm Death. Opening bands (Weedeater) and someone else were good if you're into that thing. Fine, good. Melvins were great, I didn't recognize a lot of what they played but I haven't kept up on them since 00 really. Napalm Death were surprisingly (to me) hella fun. Had low expectations tbh but they came out raging. Glad I went.
Also caught open mic stand up comedy after seeing Stop Making Sense again at the art house theater. Hit and miss as those things tend to be. Overall fun & recommended. Host was really funny.
Oh, as the Melvins / Napalm Death show let out these kids rolled up in a rental truck, rolled up the gate and played a street show in front of the venue. Still trying to find out who it was. Thrash stuff but a welcome surprise on a Tuesday night. Cops didn't show up. Clever.
Saw an incredible band last night. Garden of Love, was their first show in a newly tooled lineup. Used to be Jane Harm's Love Triangle and had a different bass player. New version was just stun gun level whip to the head. It's a trio with synth guitar, bass and drums. Operating on a homosexuals paradigm of quick pop spurts spliced with jagged edges. Where necessary guitar heroics intervene. Singing is like Kevin Ayers dry guy finds grace slick soaring all with warbling and wavering pitch. everyone playing at max capacity so tightly composed finds its way to off the rails. Probably my fave band in Montreal. They got a song coming on a comp i put together that is as focused and well executed as anything off stands for decibels.
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Saw AC/DC at the Rose Bowl on Friday. They played a great set, punctuated by a big fireworks display. Angus played something like a 12 minute guitar solo. Brian struggled a little bit but hey, he's 77! Last night I went to the Casbah in San Diego to check out Mike and Anja Stax of Ugly Things DJing between sets by The Lords of Altamont and The Creepy Creeps. I'd never seen or really heard the Lords and this was their penultimate show (ever?). I was pretty impressed, high energy and some great farfisa action. Cool double header weekend.
23 days later
Neisha told me she wanted to go see this lady whistle for Mother's Day. Who was I to argue with that? It's hard to know what to expect when someone tells you we have to go see this lady whistle. I mean whistling obviously but there's got to be more to it than that! Apparently not. She (Molly Lewis) came out onto the stage in a giant coat, told us to get ready for some whistling then dropped the coat to reveal she was wearing a long black sequined evening dress and got to work. She whistled for about an hour. THere were lots of hand movements, some awkward yet charming stage banter, corny jokes, and some simple yet effective projections on the red curtain she had placed behind her. She even did a small commercial , involving an audience plant, for her branded lip gloss between songs. The set consisted of three covers 'The Crying Game', 'Prelude in E Minor' and 'The Swan' and then a bunch of songs off her three albums which are mostly bossa nova. She played at Polaris and there were probably 200 people there to see her. It would have never been on my radar but was actually very enthralling.
Randall I saw the same act open for Wyes Blood a couple years back. It was cool. Dug it more than the headliner. I thought it would be elevated by live cocktail band. My reaction was even less premeditated cause I had no idea who she was and hadn't looked her up .was pleasantly surprised to see something different and in a big packed house venue.
5 days later
Caught the Durty Whyte Boots (with Russel Quan), Geros & Circulators last night. You folks at the Retreat are in for a treat. Circulators did a blown out Teengenerate cover (great) and a cover of a Detroit band, which, I won't ruin the surprise.
9 days later
Meant to post this sooner, but was in PDX retreatin'
Saw 75 Dollar Bill one week ago yesterday. It was fantastic. Small 100 cap room, sorta uptight crowd except one guy who was much too loose. His dancing culminated in a stomp-clap that couldn't be ignored. The crossed armed frowners around him didn't seem to faze him. The band was mesmerizing though. Sorta circular riffs and propulsive/occasionally broken beats that pulsate in the stoned mind. Could be Saharan guit, could be Irish folk, could be cultural transcendence at different times. Inspiring stuff.
Missed the Retreat this year but plan to return next year (assuming there will be one).
Was in Indianapolis for the Indy 500. With 249,999 of my closest friends. Pretty crazy.
Caught Mr. Phylzzz (Chicago, AmRep records) and Mr. Clit and the Pink Cigarettes at the Melody Inn (Indy) last week. Mr Phylzzz was pretty rockin'. I think Mr. Clit and co. put on a better show that night. Anyway, was a ripping good show. Would see both again if I have the chance.
I had to miss the retreat as well. Couldn't get the work off. I did see a pretty chill show at the Spot Tavern in Lafayette, IN last weekend though. Holt Bodish (of Mordecai) opened the show with a solo set. He did a few songs from his Petty Bunco tape and a few new ones that he says will be on an upcoming album. Really great stuff. Can't wait to hear more, from either Holt solo, or Mordecai. Hopefully both. Next was Drew Davis of Crazy Doberman fame doing a solo set as well. He did some trombone with bespoke mutes and sheet metal accompaniment. quick and to the point. Then SHARE did a set. They have a tape out. It is Jordan Allen and Mark Testor in a trio. Some dub feelings, some Sonic Youth in there. I like this band the more I see them. Net up was Kyle Flanagan, frequent crazy Doberman collaborator, doing a noise electronics piece. It was loud. Finally it was the Free Download band, which was SHare and local cyber punkers Data Unknown doing a collaborative set. basically Data Unknown songs with about 8 people . It was loud, psychedelic and even rockin. A great time all around. Check out both SHARE and Data Unknown if unfamiliar. both great local Indy bands.
Holt/Mordecai/Spats ought to play around Indy more- would like to see Share and have heard good stuff about Data Unknown.
Hello, summertime shows…
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Wade T Oberlin Holt lives in IL and I (the other mordecai brother) am moving with Miranda Spatula to Bloomington, IN in August. Expect much more activity sometime soon, but not immediately.
paperhose AW-RIGHT!!