All posts by G. Gordon Gritty
Recollecting BUFU: The Jellyfish Brothers (4/26)
Oh did Miami FLA’s Jellyfish Brothers ever bring their twisted surf sludge to the Elks on Saturday night. I had spent the previous few days listening to them on YouTube and Bandcamp and yeah, you bet I was excited. Perched on top of one of the platforms in the room, I got a nice view of the band rocking out as well as the crowd going crazy. Jellyfish’s attack crashes into you with more force than your typical surf group and for this I salute them because they are rip roaring off the chain. Can’t wait to see them again as soon as possible — I’m going to listen to “Ordinary Kidnapping” non-stop now.
The Orwells Live On KEXP
By the way, I read about how Orwells ‘criticized’ Arctic Monkeys live show and how that became big online news in England. How a puny little opening band ACTUALLY spoke legit (http://www.gigwise.com/newmusic/90254/the-orwells-on-repetitive-arctic-monkeys-live-shows) about how wack arena performances can be and how a band can choose not to be robots every night.
Kal Marks On Serious Business
Some interview, tunes, and LIFE IS MURDER. Seriously pounding rock ‘n roll. I gave it away. Check it out!!!!!
Tape Memo: Jane La Onde – “Elegance”
Artist: Jane La Onde
Release: 2014 (Re-release on Feeding Tube Records, soon)
Comments: Jane La Onde’s tape here, Elegance, is a combo meditative/exercise tape, translating across the excesses of time to this sweet handheld stereo cassette player that I now own. I’ve listened to this in a few different locations – outside and inside – for extra measure in convincing myself that this is really happening. I do not know much about workout style jams, but I can tell you this collection is fairly nontraditional. Elegance is exceptional in its solo-y spirit, I can envision these songs being the sole work of Jane, whose button pushing I can sometimes hear. She triggers drum machines, keyboards, and a host of effects but it is her vocals that stand out the most. Mesmerizing, repetitive. Kinda like a Colleen Green and Tobacco fusion for really brief spans – other than that I am at a loss of words for comparison…something like ‘Miss Information’ is futuristic (if this is the ’90s), spacey, and duh catchy, but really unlike anything I’ve heard nowadays in the psychedelic pop spectrum. This is the quintessential punk jogging record of our time and I hope there’s more!!
A1. Boy Trouble
A2. TV Do Tell
A3. Glow Girls
A4. I See You
B1. Memorize
B2. Livin’ In America
B3. Miss Information
Recollecting BUFU: Fat Creeps (4/26)
Fat Creeps have been the KLYAM band for about two years – yes of course you might have noticed with our countless posts, releasing their debut on wax, going to and reviewing as any many shows of theirs as we can. We’re enthralled by the music of Gracie and Mariam, which is groovy and harmonious and noisy and heavy and light and dark. On this very night, they play a set of oldies and newbies gems, ranging from the dance inducing “Secrets” and “Daydreaming” to some 2014-era material like “Comes In Loudly” and a couple others I don’t even know the names of! Gonna have to wait for their Gnar Tapes release. I feel like I hadn’t seen the Creeps (live, I mean, and for the first time with new dawg Travis Hagan) for a long long while so it was quite the pleasure to take it all in, notably these newer tunes that have a more MAJESTIC feel than the more immediate pop luster of times past. So that’s pretty sick! Also, the spirited background dancing of Noah of ACLU Benefit that hilariously accompanied the Creeps set made me grin big during “Loudly” as he would chill for just occasional seconds before going ape shit flailing around, half naked, just like everyone should during a celebratory Fat Creeps occasion.
Recollecting BUFU: The Lentils (4/26)
BUFU Fest 2014 was quite a time in the history of modern rock ‘n roll. In a time of Bonaroos and Coachellas and the masses that flock to those large events of questionable entertainment, there is no need to kid ourselves by understating the importance of a community nurturing weekend of artistry and rocking out. One need only navigate in the crypts of Bishop Allen Drive in Cambridge to take part in the elation of live music that goes down on a daily basis and is supported by truly dedicated bands, fans, and advocacy groups like sites, labels, bookers, spaces, newspapers, organizations, zines, and etc. It was really amazing to see hundreds of people having fun so be sure to thank BUFU – psychedelic gangstas as Frank Hurricane might put it – who made it happen.
The Lentils is a band I was real real pumped to witness. For one, I never got the great chance to see Happy Jawbone while they were in existence. I don’t know how that happened and I’m not particularly well endowed to admit such a thing. Their quirky pop orientation is something I’ve dug hard from bands across the rock N roll spectrum for years and if I had to say their 2013 LP kinda proves the point that good sounding things can be really demented at their core. With all this in mind of course I’m giddy upon hearing in-the-know-bro Chris Collins tell me that The Lentils rise from Happy Jawbone mastermind Luke Csehak. I knew good things were to come from this guy who looked familiar from way back when we were patiently waiting in the Gentlemen’s Room section of the Lodge. And ya a superb performance followed from the three Brattleboro Vermont based Lentils. Luke is an interactive frontman, moosying his way into the crowd, you know, sorta erupting twangs from his guitar with real ease and character. The tunes feel a half a century old in the best way, but what draws me hooked is Lou Reed would be smiling just the same. Being bizarre is being endearing and The Lentils could try anything out, give it their own Lentil spin, and well who knows as far as I am aware they don’t have any recordings up, so we gotta wait and see! Soon I hope, I’m ready!!!!
Louder Than War Black Lips Interview!
The most informative and interesting Black Lips interview I’ve ever read! Carrie Quartly, who we had the fine pleasure of meeting at last month’s Nobunny show, asks Jared about all sorts of fun – past, present, and future.
Must read!
http://louderthanwar.com/black-lips-interview-by-carrie-quartly/
Album Review: Free Pizza – “BOSTON, MA”
Release: 3/2014
Label: BUFU Records
George Moshington, the former front man of the Casa Blanca himself, is right there on the cover of Free Pizza‘s latest release: BOSTON, MA. Not to be confused with Washington, the tru capital (in spirit, nurture, and commitment) of underground music is right here where Free Pizza resides and sings about. The trio of Jesus Vio (bass/vocals), Santiago Cardenas (guitar), and Nick Rasmussen (drums) have spent approximately the last year playing several shows in Boston, in surrounding areas, and beyond. For those in tune with what’s good around these parts, this tape has been highly anticipated!
Free Pizza have been ruling for about three years; they released their debut 5 songer in 2011. All five of these songs make a return on BOSTON, MA in bigger, juicier style, credit to the dudes recording in a studio (Mystic Valley) for this go around. When I listen to Free Pizza, more than half of the time I kinda do this thing where I slowly move my head from left to right, shake it up and down, and flex my shoulders. Some songs call for a quicker variation like finale “Boston, MA,” all swirlin’ guitar, bass, unforgettable lyrics and “Net Babes,” which has an equally sweet rhythm plus an instrumental towards the end that is like flowers blooming or several women dancing around you.
What I hear from the getgo is Jesus’ ultra memorable singing voice positively ranging from sweet and tender to immediate and demanding. The guy’s always convincing, but ‘specially so on the more relaxing numbers “Come Close To Me” and “Baby Girl”. One thing that’s challenging for me to do in this space is to remark on how Free Pizza comes through with their sound! They’re a funky band (if you recall my movements from earlier) so be prepared to move. I’ll throw out [early] Abe Vigoda and The Minutemen, both bands that got that BOUNCE to ’em. Punk rock not how ya expect it to sound and they’re better off for that! BOSTON, MA is an urban record for all kinds. “Forward” packs the most pleasure for me in its mere 78 seconds. In fact, all of these tunes clock in at under 3 so if you’ve got an hour to spare, you’ve got three full listens in order!
Get yourself over to their BC and spend some alone time: http://freepizzarocks.bandcamp.com/album/boston-ma and they are on tour! to SXSW.
Liquor Store Hustle Meets Muscle US Tour
We personally didn’t get to see Liquor Store play on Friday night cuz of the po, but all you East Coast / Texans check out them on tour/at SXSW starting tonight.
Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM) 