Seattle Subsonic - July, 2010
Golden Triangle, Turbo Fruits At The Crocodile
I love it when I hit gold with a show. I was impressed with all three bands that played the Crocodile Tuesday night (read about Chain & the Gang’s headlining set here), none of which I had seen live before, and two of which I had minimal exposure to beforehand. These two were Brooklyn’s fashionable trashcan punkers Golden Triangle and Nashville’s 50s-era boogie rockers Turbo Fruits.
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A quick Google search of “Golden Triangle” reveals this to be the nickname for one of Southeast Asia’s opium production hotbeds. Whether the band took this as their name for that reason or not doesn’t detract from the fact that their hazy, haunting garage punk might induce a similar effect as such illicit narcotics. And without any real frills or gimmicks, too—aside from maybe the notion that the sextet is one good-looking bunch. Carly Rabalais and Vashti Windish are the two kindred spirits working the vocals for GT, and their tones and interplay recall at one time the dual femme new-wave vox pioneered by the B-52′s (“Cinco de Mayo”, “Cold Bones”) and at another the tough, insistent wail of riot grrrl bands Bikini Kill and Sleater-Kinney (“Jinx”, “Red Coat”). Their tambourine-bangin’ tumult was fun to watch, as Rabalais threw herself to the floor often. The guitar work from O.J. San Felipe and Cameron Michel wasn’t easy to separate, but mostly it was just some odd, rockabilly-tinged goth-punk muddled together with bass and drums to create a frenetic and spooky good time. Good for fright night OR dance night (kind of like the Cramps or Thee Oh Sees, I say). “Neon Noose”, a dark, driving post punk tune, seems to be one of their pinnacles:
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You can watch another video I took here.
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Jonas Stein seems to be the creative force behind the relentless bubblegum punk that Turbo Fruits blitzes with (the liner notes in Echo Kids says “Thanks to Wes, Zack, John, and Max for helping me make this record happen”). I had no idea what he was singing about because his lyrics were unintelligible and he spoke rapidly with a cartoon-y Southern drawl. They looked like Seattle kids, though, and played like a Chuck Berry/Joe Strummer/Buddy Holly super group. Poised, brash, well-rehearsed, and not afraid to utilize their pipes for some surf side harmonies (Astro Coast by Florida’s Surfer Blood comes to mind as well). They had some sludgy moments, too, lending a not-too-straightforward-ness to their set. I like it when things get bent out of shape and weird. Also, Stein executed the first well done scissor kick I’d seen in awhile. I was pretty taken with their set that I ended up buying their latest album, Echo Kids (Fat Possum), afterward.
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Lots more photos here. Success!
Political Punks Chain & the Gang Just Want To Party
In my preview for this show, I mentioned how Chain & the Gang chief Ian Svenovius was a “a sharp-dressed street corner evangelist, proselytizing on the cultural ills of Liberty, Freedom, [and] the Pursuit of Happiness”. And while his sing-along set aptly contained those crucial convictions, it became apparent that the wild-eyed, rubber-legged stage jumper was in town to kick it rock n’ roll style. Party first, politics second, people.
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The D.C. band opened with what could’ve been a real chain gang chant back in the day, “Cemetery Map”, and the performance proceeded to (d)evolve into some sort of rowdy Rock Club Revival. Svenonius continually implored the gawkers to learn his lyrics and help him solidify his sassy sermons. Lots of “yeeeeeaaah” responses from the crowd, which was average in size, but fully committed to a silly, sardonic baptism on a Tuesday night at the Croc. After “Reparations” and the “Chain Gang Theme (I See Progress)” warmed us up with some gyrating garage rock, we all sang along with this chorus: “It’s a hard, hard job / keepin’ everyone high”. The word ‘high’ would be subsequently substituted with ‘stoned’ and ‘lit’. Party first, dudes, party first. Svenonius does a lot of talking during his sets, and most of it’s pretty entertaining. One notable bit lamented on how “youth is wasted on the young” and the cultural conundrum of a newborn baby sporting a Ramones-emblazoned onesie. “That baby doesn’t even know who the Ramones are!”
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The Gang boasted a drummer and an unidentifiable bassist who served as Chain’s right hand woman, backing him up with vocals on every song, deep purplish bass, and coy smiles. Brian Weber, formerly of the Saturday Knights and Dub Narcotic Soundsystem, provided a naaasty blues organ backdrop, along with the requisite guitar shanks he churned out on an old beat up Rickenbacker 360. Whenever Svenonius told him to solo, he did! One weird thought I had during the campy, anti-Capitalist “What is a Dollar?” was that it totally could’ve been a Wailers song. Not ‘Bob Marley and the Wailers’, but the original Wailers with Bunny and Peter and Bob. Must’ve been the bass and organ. Quite a few songs not found on their lone record were played, which was both surprising and neat (i.e., “(I’ve Got) Privilege”, “Livin’ Rough”, “Why Not, Who Cares Anymore?”, and the lackluster closer “Detroit Music”). Here’s a pretty sweet vid of “Reparations”, featuring one of many trips from stage to floor to rile us cowards up:
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More still photos here. Separate write up on openers Turbo Fruits and Golden Triangle coming forthwith.
DUDES, THE NEW THERMALS SINGLE KICKS ASS
Have you guys heard it?!? It came out last week and it definitely has re-piqued my interest in one of the best bands to come out of the aughts (and Portland, to boot!). I’ll admit, right here and now, that I never bought Now We Can See. I gave it a few spins on the ol’ myspace player, but for whatever reason, I couldn’t get into it like their other records. Truthfully, it didn’t sound that much different from The Body, The Blood, The Machine, but the attitude and lyrics were such a 180 degree difference (GEE THANKS, BARACK), that it was a predictable let down.
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But now that Hutch Harris has his politics a bit more figgered out, he and his bandmates have written a razor sharp, oh-oh-oh power punk masterpiece. That intro is killer.
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Listen!
The Thermals – I Don’t Believe You
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The new record, Personal Life, purports to be a bit more introspective than past albums, but we shall see. Kill Rock Stars press release with album details and tour dates after the jump/cut/fold/whatever. Bumbershoot Broad St. Stage September 6th!
Witchburn at El Corazon, The Pleasures of the Damned, Goodbye Snowball
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I’d just run over a cat, a little white cat, Snowball I imagine. Really. It was rather depressing and to top it off I got a ticket for expired tags. I did the only thing I could do then. I drove home, opened a Blue Moon, and plugged in the bass. I played a lament for the cat, a Black Sabbath song, Hand of Doom. The bass line is most excellent and I needed something of the sort to take my mind off the cat as I was supposed to go out later to see Witchburn at El Corazon. Witchburn is a very Sabbathy band, heavy riffs, some plodding, some driving, all worthy of a good head bang or two. Thinking about little Snowball, I cranked the Trace Elliot up to 5 and it boomed a warm beautiful tone, Hand of Doom. That morphed into Basically and then Into the Void. There was Heaven and Hell, Die Young, Time Machine, and lastly one called Air Dance. Geezer knew a thing or two. I finished my beer and headed off, expired tags and all, to El Corazon.
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When I arrived, I went into the MTV-like bar. No alcohol allowed in the music room so there were TVs in the bar. You can drink and watch the band up there on the screen and feel right at home. I always feel odd going there but duty calls, the riffs call, as does the word. I brought a notebook of course for my observations, scribblings, and ramblings, but I’d also brought some Bukowski, The Pleasures of the Damned. It seemed a fitting title to read in the odd moments before a Witchburn show, and well I’d killed little Snowball so I must myself be one of the damned. I ordered a beer and saw the singer, Jamie Nova, sitting at the bar talking to someone. I went over and introduced myself and thanked her for putting me on the list at the last moment. On stage, Nova has an unexpected power in her small frame, but sitting at the bar one never would have guessed, just another babe out to catch the gig. I asked her if she could give me a copy of the set list after the show, she agreed.
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“No problem. Find me later.”
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“I will.”
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“Enjoy your night.”
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“I will.” We shook hands, and I walked off with my Blue Moon to write a few things down and read a poem or two as the last of the opening bands was whiling there time away there up on the TVs. They weren’t even that loud. People conversed easily. They smiled and joked and occassionally looked up at the TV. I read a few poems and occasionally looked up at the TV. I noticed one of the guitar players, Mischa Kianne, walk up to the bar and order a drink. She was wearing a black tank top, the eternal blank tank top. I’ve never seen her in anything else, though admitedly, I’d only seen the band once before and only met Kianne once at a KISW function a year ago. I asked her then what instrument she played, “Guitar and violin,” she replied. A rock band with violin. It made me think of The Dambuilders. I like the Dambuilders. And sure enough, the one song Witchburn played last time that had violin was my favorite. It was supposed to be in a movie but as Nova pointed out in a pre-gig email, the movie thing turned out to be “just an LA guy blowing a LOT of smoke up our skirt.” Too bad for the movie, but the song was most excellent. I hoped they’d play it again.
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Stream People Eating People’s S/T Debut
Just a quick one here. If you weren’t able to snatch up a copy of Nouela Johnston‘s debut self-titled record last year, People Eating People (creeeeeeepy!), then get a full, week-long sneak preview of it’s re-release (via The Control Group) over on Spinner. ACT SWIFTLY, DIEHARDS.
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Not familiar? Well, Regina Spektor comes to mind, and really many other piano singer/songwriters that I won’t name here. But Johnston is nothing if not completely honest and heartfelt; and quirky, too, given her spider-fingered catchy cabaret confessionals. Fun Facts: Johnston’s former band, Mon Frere, won EMP’s Sound Off! competition back in 2004. Also, local skin-tamer extraordinaire Mark Gajadhar performs drums on the record. He’s a majestic pounder who refuses to overshadow here.
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Some upcoming tour dates for People Eating People:
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Jul 8 2010, 7:00PM, Seattle Center
Aug 10 2010, 8:00PM, The Fremont Abbey
Sep 6 2010, 12:00PM, Bumbershoot @ EMP Skychurch
Chain & the Gang Might Satisfy Your Anti-Capitalist Hangover TONIGHT
Chain & the Gang has been on my list to see for awhile now, and tonight I think I might head down to the Crocodile to check ‘em out. Word has it that the K Records collective’s live show is pretty righteous. On the band’s sole LP, Down With Liberty…Up With Chains!, chain gang chief Ian Svenonius posits himself as a sharp-dressed street corner evangelist, proselytizing on the cultural ills of Liberty, Freedom, the Pursuit of Happiness and every other “democratic” ideal you probably just celebrated this past Independence Day. Really, he’s just griping about money, greed, the government, and celebrity culture like the rest of us. Only, his gripes come swathed in hokey, hair-raising gospel (“Cemetery Map”), anti-Capitalist beatnik blues (“What Is A Dollar?”), feet-shuffling garage slop (“Reparations”), and swaggering don’t-give-a-fuck guitar funk (“Interview with the Chain Gang”). Not to mention the soulful piano pop of “Room 19″ and the 60s-beset conspiratorial delirium of “Deathbed Confession”, where he cryptically “outs” the mythical culprits of the JFK, MLK, and Malcom X assassinations.
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The sonic palette might be varied, but the message certainly isn’t. Of course, hyper-cynicism is dripping from his every word. Can ya dig? Produced by masterful misfit Calvin Johnson, Svenonius (aptly hailing from D.C.) surrounds himself with a cavalry of Olympian musicians including Johnson, Faustine Hudson (formerly of the Curious Mystery), Karl Blau and Arrington de Dionyso, among others. Hey, I can listen to a well-tuned Socialist argument any day of the week.
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Hardly Art’s Golden Triangle will also be on stage tonight. I wasn’t completely taken upon first listen, but upon more recent inspection, I suspect their hazy trashcan rock will make for a fine opening act. They sound not dissimilar to Sub Pop’s Dum Dum Girls, but with a bit more bratty angst and less discontented cool. You can download a bunch of .mp3′s here.
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$8 adv
8pm
21 & over
Hot Bodies In Motion @ High Dive Tonight [7/3]
Why I’m promoting this show: I found this band playing a block party, on a closed off street, in Wallingford; I was just walking by and stopped to check them out for 2 straight hours, because they never stopped playing. They had set up on their front lawn with amps and proceeded to entertain a handful of neighbors (and kids). Points for that! Plus, they were really damn good; Ben Carson was friendly with the crowd and had a solid voice, as did Zach Fleury. Hot Bodies In Motion played a strong set of original danceable indie blues rock material, then switched it up with cover songs for the neighbors, some jamming, and finally struggled through a hilarious rock version of Alladin’s, “A Whole New World” by request for the kids.
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It was a strange way to come upon a new band and, sadly, their posted tracks on Myspace/Facebook don’t yet do them any justice. I recommend checking these guys out tonight. And to keep watching them. For a better feel, watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDnjQgJIfJk
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I might request Disney songs.
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High Dive -Sat. 7/3 – 9:30 PM – $7
Hot Bodies In Motion
Cornerstate
The Throwbax
Portland Bike Punks In New “Drunk Girls” Remix Video!
In my Quest To Ingest all things LCD Soundsystem (true, my James Murphy mancrush has become quite fierce), here’s a new schlo-mo video for the Holy Ghost remix of “Drunk Girls”. I’m actually not that big a fan of remixes in general, but I like this one. Portland (apparently) bike punks take to a rousing match of back-alley jousting. Yee-haw!
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Interesting interview with Murphy here.
ggnzla Crew To Pre-Funk The Fourth @ The Greenhouse
I’ve been listening to a lot of the ggnzla Crew lately: Butts, Partman Parthorse, Stephanie, Spurm. It’s good, dirty fun and the ramshackle DIY miscellany that each group pours into both their performances and records is quite charming, quite fascinating, and, frankly, quite arousing (git yer mind outta the gutter; or not). It’s really easy for me to get hip to the unbridled cleverness and the audacious proficiency that these “underground” punks continually churn out. Different is better!
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Central District house venue stalwart The Greenhouse has oft been rumored to be on its way to unfortunate extinction, but before it goes the way of the Dodo you can still find quality shows being lined up over there. And what better place to pre-funk the Fourth than The Greenhouse? (Don’t say ‘the grotto’.) Nothing says ‘America’ like waking up blasted and hung over on Independence Day. Check out the insouciant, melodramatic art-pop of Stephanie, the hilarious antics of Butts, the trainwrecked carnival glam-punk of Spurm, and, of course, the lewd, lascivious diss-punk of town party brats Partman Parthorse. PMPH’s new album, Emerald City Dummies, has a few covers embedded within the original tunes, not the least of which are:
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Feets Don’t Fail Me (The Lights cover)
World is a Drag (The Intelligence cover)
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This will undoubtedly be a rager.
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Sat, July 3rd
Doors @ 8pm
Show @ 9pm
ALL-AGES! (I know, I made a reference to drinking; you get the idea — wink, wink)
$5 suggested donation
Black Mountain’s “Old Fangs”
Wooooo, where did the week go? I’ve been stuck in treacherous places (treacherous WORK places) all week, and have found some welcome respite in this new throwback video from Vancouver, B.C.’s Black Mountain. That’s local, right? The sludge-heavy riff-ramming druganauts have a new album coming out September 14th on the most awesomely named label around, Jagjaguwar (pretty sure someone tried to coin a name for some Tolkien-sired beast on that one). It’s called Wilderness Heart and Pitchfork spooged all over it’s shark-infested album cover a few weeks ago. I mean, it’s cool, sure, but it’s not the end-all, be-all of album covers. Is it?
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In any event, the first single/video is for “Old Fangs” and it’s got me excited for the aforementioned new record. Muscle car? Check. Trippy, low-budget visual effects? Check. Witchy Women? Check. I thought In The Future was a nice album, but it didn’t blow me away like Druganaut did. One reason was that co-vocalist Amber Webber, who possesses one of the most magnetic and tantalizing voices in rock today, wasn’t featured very prominently on that second LP. Stephen McBean did most of the talking. This song recaptures that beautiful eerie essence largely responsible for distinguishing Black Mountain from the rest of the pack. Because, let’s be honest, it ain’t the guitars (which are awesome, yes, but they ain’t inventin’ anything). The keys on this new track are pretty bad ass, too.
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Here’s the .mp3, which you probably could’ve Googled yourself!
Night Beats, Chain & the Gang at Black Lodge
| Monday, July 5, 2010 | ||
| 9:00 pm |
West Seattle Summerfest – July 9-11
| Friday, July 9, 2010 | ||
| 5:45 pm | ||
| Saturday, July 10, 2010 | ||
| 11:00 am | ||
| Sunday, July 11, 2010 | ||
| 12:45 pm |
The long-running music and arts festival in West Seattle happens the 2nd weekend in July. Some pretty good music acts are booked, such as Whalebones, Kristen Ward, Memphis Radio Kings, Massy Ferguson, Mark Pickerel & His Praying Hands, and Jesse Sykes & the Sweet Hereafter. See the full lineup with set times here.
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Friday July 9th:
Hell’s Belles, Midnight Idols, The Tom Price Desert Classic, The Fixers, Kim Virant, Trombone Cake, and a special, secret, surprise band announced later…
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Saturday July 10th:
Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter, Mark Pickerel & His Praying Hands, Caspar Babypants, Massy Ferguson, Whalebones, Curtains For You, Kristen Ward, Marc Olsen, Memphis Radio Kings, Gunn & The Damage Done, Bend, Rat City Brass
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Saturday July 10th evening Family Street Dance:
Cherry Cherry (a 10 piece Neil Diamond tribute band)
All Mixed Up (a Cars tribute band)
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Sunday July 11th:
Billie Joe & The Dusty 45′s, Kris Orlowski, Shelby Earl, Capping Day, The School Of Rock All Stars (performing Live Aid Remade, with songs by David Bowie, Queen, Judas Priest, U2 and more)
