Soylent Green is People!
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Indie List Digest!
June 16, 1994
Volume 3 Number 38
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Blaise Pascal and Pavement tour diary, the conclusion
NoMeansNo/Tsunami/Eggs/Rodan
Tree, Clutch, and Sam Black Church
Tsunami, Day In The Park compilation
Blood Oranges, Go To Blazes, Wade
Fudge
Crying Out Louds, Cynics; Daddy Longhead, Steel Pole Bathtub
ANNOUNCE: Envelope Tour Dates
ANNOUNCE: Karate Tour Dates
ANNOUNCE: Schwa va Name Change
This issue is out a day early, as az and I have some obligations
that take us away for a couple days. But it's a fact-packed issue,
including a little taste of the "concert surplus" that the NYT has
been talking about (albeit on a human scale). We finish Marcel's
tour diary (send compliments and coffee beans to him, eh?).
Look for the next issue of IL on Tuesday.
On a personal note, az and I will be in Olympia for that yoyofest.
If anyone has interests in hooking up, or lodging leads, let us know!
-es
------------------------------
From: marcelf@wimsey.bc.ca (Marcel Feldmar)
Blaise Pascal and Pavement tour diary, the conclusion
SASKATOON LOUIS' SAT 30 1994
Tonight it's just us & Pavement. We go on at 10:45- i was kinda
hopin to play w/ this band, Grand Theft Canoe, but they hop on the
bill in Winnipeg. Never heard them, but the name is great.
9pm & the place is still pretty empty. yer typical collegiate
semi-hip crowd. Hope it packs up a bit... wanna end this tour w/ a
blast... evidently we get free beer all nite, so i guess the crowd is
secondary now.
okay, i'm psyched. the crowd is lame, but it's a crowd. Bob & Dave
are sitting up against the wall at the back of the pit, everyone else
is sitting at their tables.... it's like the alternative lounge,
y'know? Ah well.... we played, and we sounded fine, but it was one of
those nights where the audience just sat and sucked up all the energy.
i remember hearing a couple of catcalls and hisses at the beginning,
but they were all cheers and whistles at the end, so i guess we kinda
won the crowd over..... sorta. Pavement played, it all sounded good,
everything went alright, need i mention the bouncing? They did a
straighter set than Calgary.... pulled out all their hits and rocked
them out, but nothing too strange or 'out there,' there was just this
aura of lameness emanating from the floor... all the kids wandering
dazed preferring to pull disco moves against pumped beats. fun.
anyhowz, after the show, packing up & all... we said our farewells to
those wonderful Pavement folk, i managed to score a couple of t-shirts
& well put compliments from both Steves (Malkmus & West) & we walked
out of the Lounge, into the next buildin where we found the Grad TV
Room... the place we were offered to crash in fer the nite. We all
claimed our own vinyl couches, watched late nite movies on a large
screen TV, & all passed out before we found out who the killer was.
The next mornin, we drop Scott off at the bus station, he's heading on
to Winnipeg, the lucky bastard. We're tired, worn out, feeling colds
coming on.... & kinda wishing this trip wasn't over.... so we drive
home, Saskatoon to Vancouver..... in about nineteen hours. Sleep.
It's over......... for now.
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
marcelf@wimsey.com creative consultation textual manipulation
drummer poet
coffee addict
=================================================================
"only cappuccino for you, baby" - Dwight Gardiner
=================================================================
------------------------------
From: James Nash <CCX020@raven.coventry.ac.uk>
NoMeansNo/Tsunami/Eggs/Rodan Live
Two Leicester gigs...
Tsunami/Eggs/Rodan @ Leicester Princess Charlotte, 26 May 1994
A very promising lineup provided a very enjoyable night. Rodan were
excellent. Really heavily intense; they played for an hour and were
overpowering. I found myself thinking "oh shut up!" and "way cool!"
in alternating patterns. They, like 96.3% of the American
underground, have been listening to far too much Slint. Which can
only be a good thing.
With Rodan over-running, Eggs didn't have long to impress and their
set sort of drifted by. Nice on the ears (more trumpets in music,
indie people, please) and fun, but lacking something. I would like to
see them again.
Tsunami played well and everything, but they bored me stiff.
Overall a nice evening.
NoMeansNo/Tsunami @ Leicester University, 4 June 1994
Did the guest list thang for the first time in a while so we made sure
we turned up late; got to do these things properly. This meant we
missed Rodan. Damn! Hoisted by our own petard.
Tsunami had just started and were a whole lot better than the previous
week. Certainly, the largeness of the venue seemed to suit them, and
there were more places you could escape to if you got bored, which is
the case at times with Tsunami's thrashy sound. The lead singer wore
her Rodan pants and everyone was happilly grooving along. 'Be Like
That' was the highlight. I still won't buy the new album, but
devotees should love it.
NoMeansNo were brilliance encapsulated. I'd had to wait five years to
see them again, and it was worth it for every adrenalin-pumped minute.
And the bruises. 'Everyday I Start to Ooze', 'Oh No! Bruno!' (my
friend Bruno particularly enjoyed that one), 'Kill Everyone Now!' and
the final encore '2 Lips...' - pure magic. And there were two
drummers.
One chill-out pint, lots of "omigawd they were amazing" dribble chat,
one party and one heavy 'session' later, the light was creeping
through the curtains and... yeah, it was one of THOSE nights. :)
Only it's 2 days later now and I just wish the hangover would go away.
HELP MEEEeeeeee!
--James Nash <ccx020@cov.ac.uk>
You can lead a horse to water but a pencil must be lead, mate.
------------------------------
From: Drelb@aol.com
Tree, Clutch, and Sam Black Church
On Sunday, June 5, at Venus de Milo in Boston, three masters of
hardcore music poured forth an aural performance that outdid any show
prior it. This is mostly a Clutch review though, since they are the
touring band in the bunch (Tree and SBC are locals to Boston) and
therefore much harder to find in Boston. Also, since they're touring,
they're the most likely of the three that Indie-List readers across
the country will find.
Venus de Milo is a pretty cool club; it has a chill-out area where you
can rest, as well as about four bars and a large main area facing the
stage. The bouncers were pretty cool, they allowed stage diving as
long as you dove off as soon as you got on and you didn't touch the
performers.
Tree started off with a 45-minute set. I didn't pay too much
attention since I'm not a big Tree fan, but they display influence Sam
Black Church in the way they perform.
Clutch, one of my all-time favorite bands, also played for 45 minutes.
They were incredible, though I think the vocals were mixed too low.
They played a variety of their music, from "Passive Restraints" and
"Impetus" to songs off the LP (Transnational Speedway League) like
"Shogun named Marcus" and some new stuff, including a song called
"Galaxy 4" or something (I missed the name) which was almost entirely
no guitar but nonstop bass playing. They finished off the set with
one of their coolest and easily moshed-to songs, "Binge and Purge"
(Metallica seems to like this song enough to rip it off for the name
of their new album), which starts off slow and at the end breaks into
a fury of vocals and harmonic noise with a high dose of anger and
profanity. That's enough to make everyone in the club start moving.
During Clutch I was right up in front with Neil Fallon, vocalist,
spitting in my face and some big asshole next to me shoving me all the
time. You had to watch your head for careless crowd-surfers; one of
them landed on my head and threw my neck backwards, which resulted in
him getting a nicely aimed kidney punch. But I was able to see the
band clearly. During slow songs, Clutch's drummer would lay on the
drums and seem to sleep, and the bassist played facing the rear wall
so I was unable to see what or how he played :-( but oh well.
The only disappointing thing about the band was that they didn't play
a song called "Piledriver." It's not on any of their releases that
I've ever seen, but my friend has an Earache sampler with this song on
it and it one kickass song. If I get a chance to talk with the band
again, I'll bring this up. I kicked myself for forgetting to ask
about this when I met the vocalist (Fallon).
Sam Black Church delivered its usual high-energy intensity show; they
are absolutely one of the greatest live bands you can ever see, and if
you have the opportunity (they are ALWAYS playing in Boston), see
them. Toward the end there were so many stage divers that there were
two onstage at all times (if not for longer than two seconds). After
they had started packing up at the end, the audience cried for more,
so they mercifully granted one more song -- definitely a very
audience-aware band.
It was great being able to see Clutch, and I would recommend them to
anyone... Their mockery of redneck/"American" culture is really cool,
and you can feel it in their music. Next time they come to Boston,
you can bet your bollocks I'll be there.
------------------------------
From: Doug Watson <dwatson@hpb.hwc.ca>
Tsunami, Day In The Park
Tsunami _The Heart's Tremolo_ (Simple Machines)
In 1993, Tsunami/Simple Machines made significant contributions to the
indie scene, including the Working Holiday Singles Series, the _Deep
End_ full-lengther, a coupla singles of their own, and a failed yet
honorable attempt to sell the DIY aesthetic at Lollapalooza. So I
guess that it's understandable that they'd be tired in 1994 -
understandable, but still disappointing. _The Heart's Tremolo_,
despite the typical Simple Machines packaging quality (a limited
edition picture disc), is filled with the sound of a weary band. The
pacing is much slower than _Deep End_, but many of the songs suffer
from lack of atmosphere, hook and melody and, ultimately, seem way too
long. To their credit, the lyrics are excellent ("she's no side
thought pause like a comma she's a period go on and try and take your
amateur changes on her dreary id they'd moved mountains in minutes
later they regretted it," from "Fits and Starts") and Jenny's voice
(which has the capacity to weaken me at the knees) is tremendous. But
these obvious strengths are buried under a muddy, unsympathetic
production and the whole effort comes off as plodding. **1/2
Various Artists _A Day In The Park_ (The Now Sound)
Here we have one of two ideal compilations released just in time for
the lazy kid's summer mix tape. (The other, PopNarc's double-10",
hasn't made the trip to my local shop yet, dammit.) Sixteen songs (or
eight split-singles, for the lp-challenged) for an easy $10 - a true
bargain for the thrift shoppers. The Dambuilders kick off with an
instrumental "recorded in 1983" (??) that fortunately doesn't suffer
from current Dambuilders overproduction. Archers of Loaf follow with
some lovely two-chord aggrospew, then Versus, with a four-chord jangle
thing that's pretty but does nothing and goes nowhere - kind of like
some of my summer romances, actually... Spatula play with their
tunings and build a good dynamic as we listen, Unwound get edgy with
an inverted bass line, and the Grifters, ah, having discovered the
song structure, show themselves as better craftsmen than most anyone
else. Butterglory do Pavement redux (yawn), and Crayon get that
Olympia sound (it's good but it's kinda losing my interest these
days). Side two has Nothing Painted Blue with a killer raveup and a
most memorable riff - is this previously unreleased, and if so why? -
followed by Small 23 and a lo-fi anthem named after the key in which
it's written (it ain't short for Ebenezer, kids), then back to the
Inland Empire with Diskoti-Q and two kicking minutes of happy
complaining, Blaise Pascal (Canadian kids, lots of atmosphere and a
hidden melody), Spent (more spunky guitars and harmonies, but sounds a
bit too familiar), Portastic aka Supermac doin' that
Lou-Barlow-solo-thing in his bedroom (no, not masturbating, you
pervies) - actually, this one becomes surprisingly endearing over
repeated listenings - then Further (another Inland band, I think)
who give us a beautiful piece of work on a one-tracker - funny how
comforting the sound of a portable recording itself can be - and
finally, Refrigerator, the Shrimper house band, who start tentatively,
explode and resolve with quiet feedback, fading like a Labour Day
weekend bonfire - God, I love these guys.
Overall, a very satisfying piece of wax.****
Doug dwatson@hpb.hwc.ca
------------------------------
From: "Harris, Terry J." <HARRISTJ@f1groups.fsd.jhuapl.edu>
Blood Oranges (and Go To Blazes and Wade)
Lots to see and hear in the Balt-Wash metroplex last night (Weds.
June 8th). Slant 6 at Baltimore's charming Memory Lane, Tindersticks
and Tree Fort Angst at DC's 9:30, Mecca Normal at DC's Black Cat, and
Jennifers at Baltimore's Chambers. However, once again displaying a
distinct weakness for rootsy mainly-guitar bands, my choice was the
show at DC's 15 minutes with the Blood Oranges, Go To Blazes and Wade.
Wade opened and was perhaps slightly mismatched with the other two
bands. I knew nothing about them in advance, but they said they were
from San Francisco, and now you know as much as me. I thought they
sounded maybe a bit like the Bedlam Rovers (mentioned here recently)
but indie-noisier and less overtly melodic. Vocals, alternating
between a she-bassist and a she-violinist, were backed by lots of
noisy he-guitar and quite-solid he-drums. The violinist's clear voice
and a not-that-vague resemblance reminded me of Mekon Sally Timms. I
liked them a lot and I probably would have bought a CD, but they (the
band) had disappeared by the end of the night.
Go To Blazes followed with their rootsy guitar band thing that I like
so much. I've seen 'em probably a half-dozen times, usually with
another band I wanted to see more. But they continue to get tighter
and tougher and are almost a main-event attraction for me now. Their
bar band sound last night leaned more toward prime mid-'80's Del Lords
and/or Jason and the Scorchers than anything else. But that may have
been due in part to enthusiastic fans and friends of the band adding
shots of whiskey to the band's mix. They say they'll have an album
out in August on East Side Digital.
The Blood Oranges followed with a long and fine set of twangy sad
songs, mostly off their new album, the Crying Tree, (also on ESD,
produced by ex-Del Lord Eric Ambel). Played with much charm and good
humor ("Hi, we're Frente"), the songs sound better live than on their
recordings. Although I've seen the group twice before, this was the
first time I'd seen 'em with their regular she-singer/bassist Cheri
Knight. For a major-label comparison, I think her clear voice sounds
maybe midway between a countrified Natalie Merchant without the
quirkiness and a not-nearly-so-overwrought Maria McKee.
Knight and mandolinist Jim Ryan split songwriting and singing duties
on the record, with Mark Spencer (also a part-timer with Freedy
Johnston) helping out occaisionally. However, live, Spencer and his
guitar are much more central. Either way, the songs sound perhaps
like the Long Ryders without so much edge, or maybe like the Jayhawks
with more twang. I like their previous records (a full album and an
EP) probably a little better than the recent one, but if one likes
this kind of stuff, one probably should have all three. Rootsy but
with lotsa fast-pickin' rather than loud-strumming. Whatever. I
stayed very late into the night.
(East Side Digital, which also put out the recent and decent album by
the similarly-pigeonholed Bottlerockets, can be reached at 530 North
Third Street, Minneapolis, MN 55401.)
terry.harris@jhuapl.edu
------------------------------
From: mbunster@hibbs.vcu.edu (Mark Bunster)
new fudge disc, man!
Fudge--Southside Speedway--Caroline Records
If you weren't sure whether production quality was important to how an
album sounds, listen to Fudge's debut LP, _The Ferocious Sound of the
Precise Rhythmn of Laziness_ (or something like that; I can't remember
the name of the new Sonic Youth album either) and then compare it to
their new one. Although there is definitely some musical growth in
the new songs, Dambuilders guitarist Eric Masanunga's smooth
knob-twiddling is the most pronounced reason behind the improvement
since Fudge's last effort.
Rather than talk negatively about that album (all drums and vocals and
none of the fuzzy guitar interplay), let's praise Caesar by trumpeting
the positive about Speedway. Everything fits this time--David Jones
and Tony Ammendolia trade licks to full effect, switching ably between
the Dino Jr. -- MBValentine wash from the past and the sparer, less
open-ended strokes that suggest a stronger "punk" root, reminiscent of
Superchunk on the first cut "Tree Fort Stash," and even a smudge of
Fugazi(!) on "Dart GT" and the thunderous "Shirts and Skins."
Much of the harder edge comes from a quantum leap in vocal quality
from Jones: previous efforts had him trying to sing harmonies with
Ammendolia's sweeter, higher tones, but on Speedway he becomes Raspy
Guy, belting out lyrics with self-assured power.
Not all of the lush pop textures are gone; "It's Morning Already"
evokes a little of the New Zealand sound, complete with white-noise
electronics and smooth wash guitar similar to that of recent Jean Paul
Sartre Experience. Another siginificant step in Fudge's development
is drummer Mike Savage's talents, honed on this disc into a series of
tightly rolled fills alternated with sharp dynamics that ably drive
the band's starts and stops. Too bad, because Savage left the band
during recording to find love in Boston.
Unfortunately, there is still the presence of filler. The title track
is a burst of Metal Machine Music revisited that begs skipping after
one listen, and "Car Stereo Blast Off" is a not-so-veiled attack on
somebody who evidently is not their best friend on the Richmond scene.
That still leaves nine worthwhile ditties, though, and you end up
forgiving them when you hear the goofy ripoff of the Rolling Stones'
"Heartbreaker" backing vocals in the aformentioned "Shirts and Skins"
(which incidentally features the best of bassist Steve Venable, whom I
haven't mentioned yet, and whose generally stellar work is somewhat
muted this time around). Worth picking up if you were expecting great
things before the debut album, and wrote them off after it. Hell,
worth picking up if you don't know diddly about them.
--
Mark Bunster |I'm not an actor, but I play one on TV.
Survey Research Lab--VCU |
Richmond, VA 23284 |Adam Smith's invisible hand
mbunster@hibbs.vcu.edu |has got you by the throat...
(804) 828-8813 | Trotsky Icepick
------------------------------
From: Chris Khoury <ckhoury@cps201.cps.cmich.edu>
Cynics Show Review
Cynics w/ Crying Out Louds @ EMO'S Alternative Lounging
Tuesday, June 7th
Crying Out Louds are a local Austin band, from what I understand, and
play a pretty generic style of garage rock. They had a lot of energy
and were friendly guys, also pretty tight, but there was a little too
much hardcore seeping into their songs, and i wasn't really into it.
Cynics hit the stage soon after, and put on a really, really great
show. They rarely took a break between songs, playing, at least 15
songs if I remember correctly. They played stuff off their first
album, including "BLue Train Station". Along with other older ones
like "Close to You."
[why do birds fall down from the sky...every time they walk by?-az]
If you've never heard the Cynics before, they're a great garage band
with a real smooth sound. They've been around, from what I know, at
least since 1985 and have put out at least 6-7 LPs, and a slew of
singles. They are a great band to see live, and the singer (Michael?
I think) has a great voice and stage presence. If they come your way,
BE THERE.
Daddy Longhead, Steel Pole Bathtub, Killdozer
@ EMO'S Alternative Lounging Friday June 11?
Daddy Loungehead came on first, boasting a member from the Butthole
Surfers, from what I understand. Going by this, I expected something
a little bit more demented and was kinda let down to find they were a
run-of-the-mill heavy pop band with real flashy guitar. To their
credit, the show got gradually better as it went on..
Steel Pole came on next and put on a GREAT show. I've only listened
to a few of their songs before, so I didn't really know what to
expect. Both the bassist and guitarist sing. The guitarist has a
really great howl that resembles Rick from Drive Like Jehu sometimes.
The bassist has a really great nasally, high-pitched voice that added
a lot to their show. Throughout the songs and in between they had
some really cool samples going. At first I didn't know they were
samples, and I could hear screaming but no one was singing, so that
kinda freaked me..THe drummer had a really sweet style of playing,
whom my brother said resembled Mitch Mitchell a lot. The whole band
put on a really energetic set with the guitarist flying around the
stage and the bassist bending around like a wave or something. Really
sweet.. check 'em out..
Killdozer was last. They had two Soviet Union flags (I think) hanging
up on their stage. Started out their whole set with a cover of EMF's
"Unbelievable". Brother Ted warned me that singer has an awful
annoying voice, but I still insisted on checking 'em out and seeing
what they're all about. Seems most of their lyrics were all
anti-capitalist, which was the ONE good thing about their whole set.
I left after about four songs, because 1) the singer/guitarist does
have a really crappy annoying voice. and: 2) their music was awful
too. Bad, slow rock with some power chords here and there. I just
didnt' like it at all.
Not to complain or anything, but the audience was filled with
obnoxious alternashits who would switch from MTV Dance Party hip hop
dancing at the slower, quiet parts of Steel Pole to Pantera moshing at
the loud parts, flailing their arms and bodies all over the place..
Emo's also raised their cover charge for minors to $7 instead of $5 to
celebrate their second anniversary.
Rock on, -CHRIS..
......................................
: Chris Khoury :
: ckhoury@cps201.cps.cmich.edu :
......................................
------------------------------
From: GERARDC@delphi.com
ANNOUNCE: Envelope Tour Dates
ENVELOPE --- upcoming blind dates
the NYC quartet will be supporting their brand new EP on invisible
vinyl with the following shows...
7/1 - Empty Bottle, Chicago, IL (w/ Greenhorn, Yum-Yum, Twitch)
7/2 - 7th St. Entry, Minneapolis, MN (w/ Velocity Girl, Sunny Day Real
Estate)
7/3 - 7th St. Entry, Minneapolis, MN (w/ Velocity Girl, Sunny Day
Real Estate)
7/23 - Under Acme, NYC, NY (w/ Ass Ponys, Flophouse)
anyone with a restraining order (or a bed in Minneapolis) can
contract us via gerardc@delphi.com
thanks,
GC
------------------------------
From: "dann steele, man of chainlink fences" <DLM94001@UConnVM.UConn.Edu>
ANNOUNCE: Karate Tour dates
o.k. i lied before. but this is really the last submission, and not much of
one anyways... i'm really very super happy to emphatically present you, the
lovely international community, w/karate's summer tour dates. i totally
recommend your presence; i think you'd like them a lot. besides, they love you.
june
16- mobile,al @ the void
17- pensacola,fl @ sluggo's
18- new orleans,la @ abstract bookstore w/jermflux
19- fort worth,tx @ the mad hatter's
21- albquerque,nm @ dingo's
22- farmington,nm
23- phoenix,az @ legend's
24- tucson,az @ downtown performance center w/dee flowers
25- san diego,ca @ dream street w/tree
26- thousand oaks,ca
30- portland,or @ the x-ray cafe
july
01- olympia,wa @ the capitol theater or the abc house w/lois
02- spokane,wa w/has been and coburg 5
04- minneapolis,mn @ 7th street entry
08- chicago,il matinee w/antioch arrow, trenchmouth, & capt'n jazz
08- chicago,il (21 plus, unfortunately) @ the empty bottle w/chune and hum
* just go see the matinee. even if you're over 21. trenchmouth rocks out live
09- st.louis,mo @ bastille's
10- normal,il @ tim's house
11- st.louis,mo @ cicero's
12- indianapolis,in @ sitcom
13- muncie,in @ the coc w/the grifters & the dambuilders (!!!!!!!!)
14- cincinnati?
15- dayton,oh (goto network records before show)
16- lexington,ky @ the rockledge
17- columbus,oh @ freakin' pizza (wow, what a cool name)
18- kalamazoo,mi ?
19- hamtramck,mi @ ground coffee house or tony's house
20- london,ontario @ call the office (is that a club?)
21- toronto,ontario w/watermark
22- lindsay,ont. w/sinkhole
23- ottowa,ont. w/sinkhole (i love sinkhole. that's all)
24- burlington, vt @ club 242 main
and there you have it. check these lads out as they venture their
first tour. and by the way, we just got the new godhead silo, team
dresch, and u.o.a. from kill rock stars today. which leads me to
conclude that slim moon and the crew are god. take care and have a
great summer. xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxox!
------------------------------
From: Fashcen@aol.com
ANNOUNCE: Schwa change
Schwa va has has backed out of the race with the millions of other
Schwas throughout the country and changed their name to Fashion
Central. The SpinArt 7" coming out this summer will be under Fashion
Central as will any future projects. They can now be reached at
e-mail address fashcen@aol.com
Sincerely,
Ryan Moore/Fashion Central Publicity
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