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Archive for the 'Rockshows' CategoryPage 3 of 7

Indian Jewelry Makes Like Horseshit and Hits the Trail

indianjewelry_new Indian Jewelry Makes Like Horseshit and Hits the Trail

Erika Thrasher’s got a lot to smile about, since Houston-based shamanistic noise psych troubadours Indian Jewelry start a healthy string of tour dates tonight in the most beautiful city’s that’s a bitch to bike, San Francisco. Not sure if this new tour means that a new album is in a the works, but this rather comprehensive jaunt is more than satisfactory in itself. I tried to bring Indian Jewelry to Louisville during this leg, but unfortunately they had to agree to the Cincy date (which is okay since the Art Damage Lodge is awesome). You’ve gotta see these dudes live. I’ll probably make the trip myself. They wear tunics, adorn the stage with animal skulls, tin foil, and a Texas state flag, blast flood-level strobe lights everywhere, and keep things evil at all times. The live show is epileptic madness. Plus, the group has solidified an impressive and eclectic collection of support dates, playing with everyone from Kurt Vile and Faust, to !!! and Celebration, to Sword Haven and Psychic Ills. Insane.

9/26 – San Francisco, CA – Independent
9/27 – Los Angeles, CA – The Troubadour
9/28 – Costa Mesa, CA – The Detroit Bar
9/29 – Phoenix, AZ – The Rhythm Room
9/30 – Tucson, AZ – Hotel Congress
10/02 – Lawrence, KS – The Replay Lounge
10/03 – Grinnell, IA – Grinnell College
10/04 – Chicago, IL – Empty Bottle
10/05 – Bloomington, IN – The Bishop
10/06 – Detroit, MI – Museum of Contemporary Art
10/07 – Cleveland, OH – Now That’s Class
10/08 – Poughkeepsie, NY – Vassar College
10/09 – New York, NY – Cake Shop
10/11 – New Haven, CT – Sundazed at Bar New Haven
10/13 – Brooklyn, NY – Glasslands
10/15 – Baltimore, MD – Load of Fun
10/16 – Gambier, OH – Horn Gallery at Kenyan College
10/17 – Cincinnati, OH – Art Damage Lodge
10/18 – Atlanta, GA – Eyedrum
10/19 – Mobile, AL – Alabama Music Box
10/22 – Austin, TX – Club DeVille
10/23 – Houston, TX – TBA

The boys and girls made a commercial advertising their “Live Music” tour. I think it captures their music well. Especially the clip of the Oregon Trail-style caravan fording the river.

MP3 :::
Indian Jewelry – Nonetheless

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[Bootleg] Lotus Plaza Plays Live in Atlanta

Lotus+Plaza+lockettpundt2 [Bootleg] Lotus Plaza Plays Live in Atlanta

You may remember in our interview with Mr. Lockett Pundt last spring that he said he may play live, and if he did, he would try it in front of friends in Atlanta. Well, he’s done just that. Mucho propso to the Aquarium Drunkard to getting me hip to this recording from Tuesday night (originally posted at ol’ Bradford’s blog – Internet moves fast, ya’llz).

MP3 :::
Lotus Plaza – Live at the Eyedrum in Atlanta

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[Photos + Video] Marmoset and Invaders, 9.18.09, Louisville

marmoset3 [Photos + Video] Marmoset and Invaders, 9.18.09, Louisville

Two quick items notes. First, Invaders were amazing live. While on record, you could sorta pinpoint where they came from and where they’re going – a little shoegaze here, and little stoner metal there. Live, they’re something completely different. Invaders are not really anything. They’re not space rock, they’re not shoegaze… they’re vaguely rock and roll mixed with something sinister. Essentially, they’ve created a new sound. Not only is that a huge compliment, but it’s heartwarming to know that there’s music coming out of Louisville that is truly new. Invaders are a major force in this.

I color saturated the shit out of this video because that’s sort of the visual I have in my head when I hear their music. Plus, I think it looks cool – ya know, Exploding Plastic Inevitable, et al. Another good video shot by Lana-style:

UPDATE 9.21 – The videos have decided to unembed themselves, and I can’t figure out what’s going on. Totally weird and bogus. I have to go to work, so I’ll try to fix this later. In the interim, go to http://www.youtube.com/user/ateasegentlemen to view my videos.

Secondly, as usual, the photos are kinda shitty because our camera is kinda shitty. Lana was able to take a few really good shots of Marmoset, though. But ultimately, I need better tools. So Bloggins is saving up for a good SLR camera as we speak, and additional concert coverage on this blog will improve. I’m goin’ pro, ya’llz. And, best of all, you, the reader, won’t have to hear me bellyache anymore about it! Righteous!

I wasn’t able to get any coverage of The Harlequins because I’m a bad blogger. I was drinking beer during their set and enjoying myself. Sorry. But I will say that they are a good band, the singer wears rowdy stripped trousers, and you should see them. Very early Kinks-ish with a modern flair.

Marmoset played MY FAVORITE SONG off MY FAVORITE ALBUM (Record In Red – which Jorma, I believe, sarcastically described in a quick banter session as a “horrible album”) out of sheer happenstance. I was pumped:

UPDATE 9.21 – The videos have decided to unembed themselves, and I can’t figure out what’s going on. Totally weird and bogus. I have to go to work, so I’ll try to fix this later. In the interim, go to http://www.youtube.com/user/ateasegentlemen to view my videos.

Okay, I think that covers it. Oh, I got to meet Jorma after the show, and that dude’s rad. All the Marmoset dudes are rad, as they were cracking jokes and acting very relaxed and goofy throughout their performance. It was good clean fun. Thanks to everyone who came out! We had a pretty good turnout, and I’ll definitely be doing more shows at Skull Alley. Very nice place indeed…

marmoset1 [Photos + Video] Marmoset and Invaders, 9.18.09, Louisville
marmoset2 [Photos + Video] Marmoset and Invaders, 9.18.09, Louisville
marmoset4 [Photos + Video] Marmoset and Invaders, 9.18.09, Louisville
marmoset5 [Photos + Video] Marmoset and Invaders, 9.18.09, Louisville
marmoset6 [Photos + Video] Marmoset and Invaders, 9.18.09, Louisville

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[Bootleg] Atlas Sound @ All Tomorrows Parties

atlassound [Bootleg] Atlas Sound @ All Tomorrows Parties

Told ya the bootlegs would come fast. Yesterday’s Atlas Sound ATP set is provided below. Lots of new stuff, lots of jammage, lots of Bradford gabbin’ and trying to fix his shit on stage. Enjoy.

Also, my boi Nathaniel from IGIF is at All Tomorrows Parties NY right now (bastard) and he’s reporting that B Cox told the crowd later that night during the Deerhunter set that yesterday’s show will be the last for the group “in quite a while.” This might be disconcerting if you don’t consider the fact that “quite a while” in Deerhunter years probably means “a couple of months.” I’m sure attention will turn to Atlas Sound, Lotus Plaza, and whatever other side projects the dudes are instituting in the interim. Fear not (hopefully).

Logos is still set to come out on October 20, which will be a super Tuesday (new Tickley Feather and Do Make Say Think also drop that day), courtesy of muhfuckin’ Kranky. Considering how much free shit Bradford gives you, buy it when it’s out. Seriously, guys.

MP3 :::
Atlas Sound – All Tomorrows Parties, Kutscher’s, Monticello, NY, 9.12.09

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Maserati Coming to Louisville, Like, Next Week

l_0c4913b7a1b90da02f7b76c5afea4eac Maserati Coming to Louisville, Like, Next Week

Have ya’llz voted yet in LEO’s Readers Choice? You should. That way, you can vote for this site for best music blog, and you can vote for Joel Hunt for best concert promoter. Jesus Lord, dude just brought the noise and the funk again with a last minute confirmation from the oft-reclusive Maserati!

A lot of so-called “post rock” that came about after its late ’90s heyday is rather boring drivel. Maserati is one of the few that keep the genre intriguing and amazing. While Mogwai sort of fell off after Mr. Beast, Maserati keep things fresh with a driving force by amalgamating everything from kraut and psych, to eastern mysticism, intense rhythms, and just plain well-crafted rock and roll. It’s not just the same tension-and-release song and dance that put instrumental psych rock on the map, Maserati have chops and an entrepreneurial spirit rarely employed these days. Maserati tour in support of their latest compilation Passages.

Louisville-based loud-as-fuck collective and recent Temporary Residence inductees Young Windows and The Gentialmen open.

Maserati with Young Window and The Gentialmen
Tuesday, September 15
Doors 9 p.m. / Show 10 p.m.
Zanzabar, Louisville (map that shizz)
21+

MP3 :::
Maserati – Join Us, Mystic Sister / No More Sages

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[Photos + Video] Oblisk, R Keenan Lawler, and Softcheque – 8.19.09, DCE, Louisville

 [Photos + Video] Oblisk, R Keenan Lawler, and Softcheque - 8.19.09, DCE, Louisville

Last Wednesday was a beautiful evening of music. The most significant testament to the show was how well three somewhat disparate genres meshed in an aesthetically sensible way. Many thanks to everyone who came out!

 [Photos + Video] Oblisk, R Keenan Lawler, and Softcheque - 8.19.09, DCE, Louisville

The evening kicked off in a dream state thanks to Softcheque. This was my first time seeing them (I missed them when they opened for Phantom Family Halo), and I was extremely impressed. Though they were missing a member due to a last minute work conflict, the group sounded thick and tight. Though Softcheque is often known as a group of Sapat members, Sapat in no way overshadows what Softcheque brings to the table. While Softcheque toggles between many genres, the soft, pointed vocals of Dane Waters over slow-tempo, orante instrumentation evokes a serious Broadcast and/or Pram vibe, minus some of the retro kitsch. I’ll let the video speak for itself:

 [Photos + Video] Oblisk, R Keenan Lawler, and Softcheque - 8.19.09, DCE, Louisville

R Keenan Lawler was up next, and killed it as usual. Lawler is a one-man act, using hollow-body guitar, a bottle neck, a mixer, and effects pedals to create Martian mountain folk. Lawler plays it claustrophobic and intense – you don’t need visuals or distractions to keep your attention focused on the man sitting on the stool noodling away.

 [Photos + Video] Oblisk, R Keenan Lawler, and Softcheque - 8.19.09, DCE, Louisville
 [Photos + Video] Oblisk, R Keenan Lawler, and Softcheque - 8.19.09, DCE, Louisville

Detroit’s Oblisk closed the evening with the loudest performance. Walls shook, the strobe light blinked, and there was lots of smiling before a few faces melted off. Super resonant Big Muff distortion makes me emotional. I almost cried. I’ll be reviewing the group’s latest, Weather Patterns, later this week. So good. Enjoy a couple of minute-long nuggets (I wish the video was longer, but alas, camera fail):

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Sapat, Crazy Dreams Band and Jana Hunter are Playing at Swan Dive on My Birthday and I Can’t Go

l_d0bce1c2e33949faa9a777154328efb7 Sapat, Crazy Dreams Band and Jana Hunter are Playing at Swan Dive on My Birthday and I Cant Go

1390104664_l Sapat, Crazy Dreams Band and Jana Hunter are Playing at Swan Dive on My Birthday and I Cant Go

And it’s bullshit! I’m off to a family reunion. I like and love my family of course (that’s an important distinction). Fam hang time is definitely a great style. But ooooh goddammit, I want to be here for this. No doubt that if you’re within a 100-mile radius of where I’m currently typing, you probably know about Siltbreeze’s Sapat, but I’ll go on and give you the skinny on all three acts, in an effort to admonish you to spend your Friday evening – this Friday evening – at Germantown’s Swan Dive.

Sapat is a local collective that features between eight and one million people (depending on the type of show), all of whom have a like-minded approach to fringe music. Sapat is a pulsating orb of eclecticism and mysticism – never cateogorizable, but always freaky, funky, and brain splattering. Sapat’s expansive beauty and unwavering experimentation is what makes Louisville amazing. They are truly a breath of fresh air. Remember that part in Amistad when they’re in the court room and the bro is all ike “give us… free!”? Sapat gives you free with every show.

The mighty Holy Mountain writes up Crazy Dreams Band better than I could, so I’ll let them do the talking. All I’ll say is that the first thing I noticed in the press photo above is Lexie Mountain sporting the infamous “hand diamond,” first utilized by the WCW’s Diamond Dallas Page right before his opponent was bested by the “Diamond Cutter,” then reappropriated by former University of Kentucky point guard Ramel Bradley when court ownage was about to commence. You know this show is going to be fuckin’ treated.

Grooves that confuse? Crazy Dreams Band is an outfit that presents its guitar free “thug pop” of dirge rather than drone with creeping crooning and brassless horn blasts [note: Crazy Dreams Band will actually have a guitarist in tow at this show --ed.]. Like the best of Giallo films you’ll be as turned on as you are terrified. As tender as Coco Rosie, as brutal as Magik Markers and as cool as Royal Trux “Radio/ Video” vibe. Imagine if Bruce Springsteen and Martin Rev collaborated on songs for Patti Smith or Catherine Ribeiro. Channeled inner voices are expelled as cave anthems into neon text in Linear A while bones poke through the skin atop a witch’s brew of venomous sludge. This is the urban tribal music that survives whatever “end is nigh” theory you choose. They’re jamming this music outside the thunder dome, beneath the planet of the apes and the day after tomorrow. CRAZY DREAMS BAND has released one self-titled album on Holy Mountain, and features members of Lexie Mountain Band, Harrius, Religious Knives, and Mouthus.

If Jana Hunter isn’t a name you heretofore recognize, now’s the time to change that. Jana Hunter has been a callaborator with groups like Indian Jewelry and Castanets, and has toured with flawless hometown hero Tara Jane O’Neil and Cocorosie. To quote Walter Sobchak, this young lady is “not exactly a lightweight.” Her goregous, sparse, midtempo dusty rides through dark deserts lit by twilight should enthrall fans of Grouper who wish she would give caffeiene a try every now and again.

If you go, and take photos/videos, please send them my way. I will give you the credit, a link, and a high five. Send ‘em to kb [at] thedecibeltolls (dot) com, playa.

Sapat, Crazy Dreams Band, and Jana Hunter
Friday, August 28
Doors at 9 p.m. / $5 / 21+
Swan Dive, Louisville (map that shizz)

MP3 :::
Crazy Dreams Band – Separate Ways
Jana Hunter – Completely Golden
Sapat – Dark Silver

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[Bootleg] Deerhunter – Annandale Hotel, Sydney

3798764688_b22d6a51fb [Bootleg] Deerhunter - Annandale Hotel, Sydney

Another bangin’ Deerhunter bootleg. This is a high-quality audience recording, taken from June of this year in Sydney. It comes to you courtesy of the groovy blog down under Bastard Squad (via Fuck Yeah, Deerhunter), which has an array of bootlegs from other great groups, as well as photos of pandas and other radness.

ZIP :::
Deerhunter – Annadale Hotel, Sydney (approx. 136 MB)

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The Decibel Tolls presents… OBLISK with R. KEENAN LAWLER and SOFTCHEQUE

oblisk_flier The Decibel Tolls presents... OBLISK with R. KEENAN LAWLER and SOFTCHEQUE

Totally stoked to bring in Detroit’s psych/shoegaze/kraut machine Oblisk with visionary freak folk noodler R. Keenan Lawler and Louisville’s Softcheque, featuring members of Sapat. This is an all ages show at the funky Derby City Espresso. See you there, dorks!

MP3 :::
Oblisk – Beirut
R Keenan Lawler – Live on ‘Phoning It In,’ WELH Providence

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[Photos + Video] Deerhunter, Dan Deacon, and No Age with White Rainbow and More – 8.4.09 – Southgate House, Newport

3798764688_b22d6a51fb [Photos + Video] Deerhunter, Dan Deacon, and No Age with White Rainbow and More - 8.4.09 - Southgate House, Newport

It’s worth noting immediately that the Round Robin Tour – Deerhunter, No Age, and Dan Deacon performing “in the round,” as it’s called – was one of the best times I’ve had at a show in recent memory. The show was intense yet lighthearted, and loud as hell throughout. The music, in all aspects, was simply impeccable. Case in point: I walked into the show more or less liking No Age and Dan Deacon, but not really feeling either way about them. As far as I was concerned, I was there for Deerhunter and that’s that. However, with solid, incredible performances by every act, my attitude was altered about 15 minutes into the show.

Of course, the comfortable nature of Newport’s historic Southgate House, with its balcony seating, cheap drinks, good air circulation, and general professional level of production played no small part in this as well. There were four opening acts for the headlining threesome (zomg! unintentional pr0nz). So, by my arithmetic, seven different artists played – all of whom had varying instrumentation that was probably challenging to mic and mix. Yet there was absolutely no change-over time. You were treated to music non-stop from 8 p.m. doors to 1 a.m. curfew. Tickets for this show were $10. That’s value you don’t get much too often in these economic times. So bravo to Southgate House for keeping the tickets low and the music rolling without a hitch. I love this venue.

The first act was already performing on the ballroom floor by the time we made it in (the line slithered all the way up to York Street). It was a mostly-female noise group whose name I did not catch, and were not terribly remarkable anyway. But I hadn’t had a highball in me yet, so maybe I was just being Grouchy Jones.

3798760104_f7382d487c [Photos + Video] Deerhunter, Dan Deacon, and No Age with White Rainbow and More - 8.4.09 - Southgate House, Newport
White Rainbow
played next, and he was the best of the four openers. A menacing one-man sound machine, White Rainbow plays it just like I like it – simple drones building up to loud washes of gentle oscillations. Then he rips a funky guitar line, loops it, and builds a technicolor wall of sound. It was very reminiscent of Growing, whom I oft spring chub for. I wish his set was longer than the alloted 15 or 20 minutes he played. He’s got a new club banger coming out on Kranky in October called New Clouds. No doubt that shit will be tight.

The crowd was really into one-man act Ed Schrader. I still can’t figure out how I feel about him. I guess that’s challenging performance art in practice? And if that’s the case, does that mean he’s “good” or “artistically relevant” (cue Hipster Runoff)? Dressed in his Heavens Gate best (all white), Schrader banged on a tom and throatily sang surreal lyrics in rockabilly fashion. And that was it – drum, voice, and inter-song banter and antics. I felt like I had a confundus charm cast upon me during the jam. I dunno, maybe it was cool. I went and grabbed a cocktail in the middle of it. Shit confused Bloggins.

Infinite Body, in theory, was good, but very taxing to listen to at the height of anticipation for “No Deachunter.” After two rather excitable openers and the funky fresh brain rape from White Rainbow, it was very difficult for me to enjoy light space drone that seemingly went nowhere (though L-Train said she enjoyed him the most of the four openers). His lights were cool, though.

3792891622_29cc3946bc [Photos + Video] Deerhunter, Dan Deacon, and No Age with White Rainbow and More - 8.4.09 - Southgate House, Newport

At this point, it was already 10:30 p.m., but we did not wait long for Deuce D to appear first, then the ‘Hunters, then the two Bro Agers. The show began with a three act collaboration on Deerhunter’s “Cyrptograms.” It didn’t sound terribly different with the others’ input, but it was certainly fuller. No Age added extra drums and guitar to the song’s climaxes, and Deacon sprinkled electronic flourishes where applicable. After “Cryptograms,” the three acts began to take turns playing their songs in order -  No Age, then Deacon, then back to Deerhunter. Most of the show operated in this fashion, and that was just fine with us.

3798761240_501bc06739 [Photos + Video] Deerhunter, Dan Deacon, and No Age with White Rainbow and More - 8.4.09 - Southgate House, Newport

No Age was impressive. As mentioned, I liked No Age going in, but never found them anything to write home about – ya know, on record, the collective act as a general noisy punk group who ocassionally throw in ambient tracks for continuity. Live, they’re a different beast; a firey, snarky acid punk juggernaut. The band, as a duo, was chunky, full, and clear. It’s amazing what a little reverberation and amplication on the drum kit will do to up the ante. Each song they played was compact and succinct, ripping though much of Nouns, and keeping it all punk as fuck. They catalyzed a lot of crowd surfing, which is rather unusual at most of the shows I go to. You could cut the intensity with a knife. I see now why No Age is not overrated.

3792078065_082f45d938 [Photos + Video] Deerhunter, Dan Deacon, and No Age with White Rainbow and More - 8.4.09 - Southgate House, Newport
3792890444_6cd04e7419 [Photos + Video] Deerhunter, Dan Deacon, and No Age with White Rainbow and More - 8.4.09 - Southgate House, Newport

Deerhunter definitely delivered the goods. They kept the improvisation to a minimum compared with other bootlegs I’ve listened to, but hey, they were sharing the show. No time for dickin’ around with effects pedals. More importantly, Deerhunter has developed into a tighter entity over the years. The group certainly isn’t just a collection of studio dudes, they’ve got chops, too, and hearing the zenith of “Nothing Ever Happened” over thousands of watts was boisterous and Biblical. The band kept their set pretty Microcastle heavy, delivering the aforemtnioned, as well as “Cover Me/Agoraphobia,” and “Never Stops.” Though I would’ve enjoyed some deeper cuts – anything off of Turn It Up, Faggot or the latest Rainwater Cassette Exchange, it was awesome hearing the bombastic rendition of the title track off Fluorescent Grey:

Dan Deacon, perhaps unsurprisingly, was the showman of the evening. A veritable PT Barnum, Deacon decorated the stage with his various contraband – party lights, battery-powered flood lamps (for passing around the crowd), a trippy green skull staring into your soul – and ripped right in to his Future Shock synth assault, including the infamous “The Crystal Cat.” Antics abounded, including ample audience participation and human architecture experiments… like the one below. Unfortunately, the camera’s memory card was full during the song’s climax so the video cuts off. But you get the jist – a Dan Deacon show is basically a carnival (or a carnivale):

The show ended the way it began, with a everybody-gather-’round performance of No Age’s “Everybody’s Down.” If you’re familiar with the song, you know about its quite-loud dynamic. When the song kicked in after a minute and a half, six guitars, two drummers, and a madman behind a green skull and various analogue equipment extended the four-chord progression for over five minutes, with guitarist Randy Randall handing over his divining rod to the audience to let everyone else get a strum in. The bands were noticably having a blast, the crowd was ecstatic, vibes were good… I couldn’t think of a complaint if I was paid to… except maybe for being unable to figure out what Ed Schrader’s all about.

3798759360_1b4e7b0a1e [Photos + Video] Deerhunter, Dan Deacon, and No Age with White Rainbow and More - 8.4.09 - Southgate House, Newport
3797939731_60ab83c3ed [Photos + Video] Deerhunter, Dan Deacon, and No Age with White Rainbow and More - 8.4.09 - Southgate House, Newport

The seven date Round Robin tour ends tonight in Milwaukee, so if you’re in the SoWisc/Chicagoland area, make haste. It will be worth a scalper’s price if ya gotta.

Major industrial-sized props are due in the direction of mah boi Jim Lerza and Emily Crothers, who, after hearing about my recent camera issues and lack of funds, donated one for us to use. Secondly, Lana again came correct on the photo tip and snapped some of the best of the set, which are included below. If you like her stuff, visit her Flickr – dissonantobjective.

More photos after the jump. Continue reading ‘[Photos + Video] Deerhunter, Dan Deacon, and No Age with White Rainbow and More – 8.4.09 – Southgate House, Newport’

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