Band: The Morning Benders Release: 3/2010 Label: Rough Trade
1. “Excuses” – B+ 2. “Promises” – B+ 3. “Wet Cement” – B- 4. “Cold War” – B 5. “Pleasure Sighs” – B 6. “Hand Me Downs” – B- 7. “Mason Jar” – C 8. “All Day Day Light” – B
9. “Stitches” – A- 10. “Sleepin’ In” – B
Comments: Let’s get some shit straight: bands from California are pretty fun. I’ve said it a bunch of times, but it’s refreshing for a kid in Boston to hear some warm weather music. Don’t get me wrong though, The Morning Benders put together just an okay record. My favorite is “Stitches” so try checking that one out.
Bands: Forest Fire, The Married Men, The Growlers Venue: TT The Bears (Cambridge, MA) Date: February 16, 2010
Act One – Forest Fire –Unlike most of the bands that we see, the singer actually had an amazing voice to back up an amazing band. He also did a few song solo acoustic set which was pretty sweet. Campfire folk songs mainly, both of the depressing and uplifting variety.
Act Two – The Married Men – Picture like five dudes and one lone female who just got of work, but really didn’t. Dressed up for the junior prom or some shit like that and ready to kick some ass, they banged out a lengthy six song set that admittedly had some decent points, particularly the instrumentals. The music was a bit drawn out and stuff. The only thing they seemed excited about was their CD coming out that day.
Act Three – The Growlers – Oh shit The Growlers!!! The second Brooks Nielsen made it on stage, I could tell we were in for an experience. He was a genuinely funny man during set up, asking for one of his mics to be “wet as hell” and jokingly requesting if one of the guitarists could get some piss in his monitors, because he really had to go to pee. At any rate, the band performed two songs under your average white lights: “Sea Lion Goth Blues” and “Acid Rain.” These songs were among my pre-show favorites and it was just great to see them performed. Brooks then said “I know why people aren’t getting into us. It’s because of the lights. Turn them to fucking red or something.” And just like that Brooks was “stoked” and so wasn’t the rest of the audience and groupies/band members (hard to tell because they outnumbered the hoi polloi). Their fifty minute set had a bunch of other fun psychedelic numbers that entranced us all quite easily like “Stranger’s Road” and “Something Someone Junior.” The cross-dressing percussionist is a pretty damn random member, but he gets the job done well.
Final Grade:B+ – In terms of performance, persona, stage antics, and attitude, The Growlers definitely will long be remembered. I had an enjoyable time and I’m glad I found out about them so if they ever do come back (this was their first time in Boston) I’ll definitely attend.
In our modern age, or at least since the twentieth century, art has been defined on broad terms. Interpretations of what art really is supposed to be are, for sure, more than what is necessary for a subject that seems to have endless bounds. Putting limits on what one perceives as “art” is as comparably and fundamentally fraudulent as putting limits to free speech. To even remark on art, be it performance, drawing, or anything really, is to endeavor to repress whatever the original author intends to convey even if the critic speaks of the work in an affirmative manner. A simple introductory example would be noise music. Continue reading REPRODUCTION ET AL→
Comments: Beat Happening is very much a garage pop band. That might sound a little messed up, but what really makes that statement somewhat valid are the simple “punk” drum beats and the feedback heavy guitars. As far as vocals, that’s where Beat Happening is classically “twee” as Calvin and Heather both sound pretty indifferent and “outsider” in their singing. This album is extremely influential for me. There a bunch of songs that I just discovered that are really awesome on here.
The shit you market and call boneless chicken wings…yeah that shit’s just chicken nuggets with sauce on top. That’s wack. At least get the little party motherfuckas and use those.
Band: Waylon Thornton and the Heavy Hands Release: 1/2010 Label: White Moon Recordings
1. “Yours Truly” – A-
2. “Meet Me By The Garbage Can” – A 3.”I See Evil” – A 4.”Color TV” – A 5. “Walking With The Wicked” – A- 6. “I Slayed The Hydra” – B+ 7. “Men Don’t Cry” – A-
8. “Teenage Gluehead” – A
9. “Coca Cola Rock ‘N Roll” – A- 10. “Wolf Wagon” – B- 11. “The Man With The Golden Arm” – B+ 12. “Tuned Out” –A+
13. “Black Fur” – A- 14. “Manson Halloween” – N/A [Funny, though]
Comment: Ding Dong! First came Waylon Thornton then came the Ding Dongs, I know. As far as a point of reference go I’m thinking three parts Bloodshot Bill and two parts Mark Sultan on this one. Bill’s instrumentation and Mark’s singing. This psychobilly filled mother father was released on cassette! How 1995 of Waylon! The best song on here is “Tuned Out.” It’s a quickie, clocking in @ 1:38. Definitely give this crazy thing a listen if you are into Ding Dong kind of tomfoolery.
Band: High Places Release: 3/2010 Label: Thrill Jockey
1. “On Giving Up” – C+ 2. “She’s A Wild Horse” – B- 3. “The Channon” – C- 4. “Canada” – C 5. “Constant Winter” – B 6. “On a Hill in a Bed on a Road in a House – C
7. “Drift Slayer” – C
8. “The Most Beautiful Name” – C+ 9. “When It Comes” – B
Comments: I can’t believe I’m listening to the same High Places that I saw in concert back in July 2008! “On Giving Up” would make you think they are a electronic dance music duo from way back. The next song and beyond sort of proves that was just a one time deal. They are an experimental group after all. When Ben’s girl Mary doesn’t sing the result is kind of meh. When she does sing, the result can be anywhere from pretty good to pretty average. The dream/electro-pop of “Constant Winter” is where I think the band excels the most…in general in that style of music. “On A Hill” is pretty damn eclectic. “Put me down in the earth” sings Mary on the last track, which is, to no one’s surprise, about the end of life. High Places is a pretty tolerable experimental band for me and for that I applaud them.
My memory isn’t that good, but sometimes I can remember some pretty crazy stuff. Like on Halloween night in 2007, I was listening to the song “The Chills” by Peter Bjorn and John and heard a shitload of helicopters and military air vehicles making rounds in the sky. I remember telling Chris, but I’m not sure if he’ll recall this.
Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM) 