Dancing About Architecture 7.29.08

Posted by Ian Wright on 07.29.2008

An indie legend live in a garden, Tom Waits, Deerhoof, ATP news, The Mercury Prize and more.

The bit at the start

Hello, I was preparing for a gig last week and had to practice so I wouldn't be shit so I skipped the column. As it happened I was shit anyway so I probably should have done the column.

I overheard the following exchange take place in the kitchen of The Hideaway House on the Deansgrange Road in Dublin on Friday evening between a friend of mine and a figure that's US 80's indie royalty ...

"So what sort of stuff are you gonna play tonight?"

"Oh, just some songs that I made up."

Charming guy that Calvin Johnson.

He'd want to be too because I can't think of all that many musicians who could get away with deciding that rather than play in the venue, he'd march down through an overgrown and untended garden audience in tow and play unamplified in the corner with a hedge for a backdrop as people sat listening at his feet and get away with it. Yet that's precisely what he did in that unusual setting for an hour or so as, where rather than the sound of clinking glasses from the bar as in most venues the background noise that broke the silences between songs was the sound of twigs snapping as people moved around, he flitted freely between songs from the many projects with which he's been involved over his now more than quarter century long recording career.

Johnson is an oddly charismatic sorta dude, everything about him is just so terribly fey. He happily take requests from the audience and then stumbles through the chords of the song as he attempts to recall how the song goes before running through what he can remember of it in a creaking baritone totally dichotomous with the twee lyrics that he's singing, and occasional missing verse bedamned. Then from time to time he disregards his guitar entirely, sliding it around so it hangs on his back as he sings acapella and engages in wonky dancing that elicits the occasional stifled giggle from those present. It's completely and utterly beguiling.

And through out it all; the unusual dancing, the pauses for a sip of tea and most of all the singing about oddly chaste romances at odds with what he witnesses other couples get up to in cinemas there's there's an unremitting air of raw sexuality about everything that he does. He may sing about holding hands but I can't help but suspect that over the years he's ploughed his way through more doe-eyed indie girl poontang than I've had hot dinners, or at least has had opportunity to.

Some time before 11 Johnson decides that he'd given the crowd enough, the light has faded so much that the only illumination there is comes from the candles at his feet and the lights from the cameras in the audience; the songs have been great, the setting has turned out to be perfect. There's no encore, quite frankly because he's got no where to go so he can be called back on stage to play some more but I don't imagine that anyone present minds missing out on that particular cliche of modern gigging.

Though God knows what the neighbours next door thought was going on in that garden.

Beg, borrow, buy, steal or download this album.

Captain Beefheart – Trout Mask Replica



Don't' be scared, not as difficult as you've been told.

You news, you lose

Deerhoof album details.

Boy do I love Deerhoof live, mainly because Greg Saunier is a fucking demon behind the drum kit. On record, they're not quite as good but still extremely worthwhile.

They've got a new album coming out on October 7th on Kill Rock Stars (and the day before via ATP recordings the previous day). The final tracklisting looks like this …

01 The Tears and Music of Love
02 Chandelier Searchlight
03 Buck and Judy
04 Snoopy Waves
05 Offend Maggie
06 Basket Ball Get Your Groove Back
07 Don't Get Born
08 My Purple Past
09 Family of Others
10 Fresh Born
11 Eaguru Guru
12 This Is God Speaking
13 Numina ○
14 Jagged Fruit

I say final tracklisting because it's changed a couple of time already. Drummer Saunier explains … "In typical annoying Deerhoof fashion we sent the finished master to Kill Rock Stars three separate times, each with a different order. Every year I promise them that this is last time we'll do this to them! If you ever noticed that our lyric sheets are always out of order it's because this happens every time and the printing machine is already spitting out lyric sheets so it's too late to redo it."

Oh those crazy Deerhoofers. What with their pandas and powers and the like. By the way, WNYC are streaming the band's July 18th gig from Brooklyn's Prospect Park.

Oh shit, I forgot. The album is called Offend Maggie.

A quick Tom Waits story.

I'll be seeing Tom on Friday night. I'm ridiculously excited but this may whet my appetite somewhat.

NPR Music will today will begin hosting Waits' full 2.5 hour performance at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta on July 5th. It'll be available both as a stream and as a download and features "songs [Waits] has never played outside a studio," including "Hoist that Rag", "Anywhere I Lay My Head", "All the World Is Green", and "Hold On".

Mercury, wing heeled messenger of the gods.

And also the name of a UK album awards ceremony. One which has in part inspired the Shortlist Prize in the US, the Polaris Prize in Canada or the Choice award in my home country.

The nominees for this year's award are ...

Adele - 19
British Sea Power - Do You Like Rock Music?
Burial - Untrue
Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
Estelle - Shine
The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age of the Understatement
Laura Marling - Alas I Cannot Swim
Neon Neon - Stainless Style
Portico Quartet - Knee-Deep in the North Sea
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss - Raising Sand
Radiohead - In Rainbows
Rachel Unthank and the Winterset - The Bairns

The awards generally flit between being given to a populist choice or something idiosyncratic and public confounding. But Klaxons won last year which just confounded people with taste so it's hard to pick a winner for this. Radiohead have been nominated for every album they're made since OK Computer (bar Kid A oddly enough) and Thom Yorke also has a solo nomination for The Eraser and have never won so you never know. The Rachel Unthank album at first glance looks like the token folk entry but it's crossed over a little bit. Personally, and they're not necessarily records that I particularly like I think the Neon Neon (reasonably populist thanks to the SuperFurryAnimals connection) and Burial (recognising the dubstep scene the way that Roni Size's win recognised Drum n' Bass and Dizzee Rascal's recognised grime. Though ostensibly the award is just for a single album judged on it's own merits) albums would be a good bet.

We'll find out if Burial comes out of hiding on September 9th. Personally I think he's Banksy.

Might be in London for Halloween then.

All Tomorrow's Parties have announced the lineup for this year's Release The Bats night in London's Forum venue on Halloween night. Les Savy Fav, Shellac, Lightning Bolt, Om, Pissed Jeans, DJ Andy Weatherall, and Wooden Shjips will all play at the event.

In ATP related news the final names to be added to the My Bloody Valentine curated ATP New York are the aforementioned Les Savy Fav as well as Lightning Bolt, Bob Mould, Robin Guthrie, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Patton Oswalt (curating a comedy night). This means that the lineup now looks like this …

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 19TH - DON'T LOOK BACK

THURSTON MOORE PERFORMING PSYCHIC HEARTS
TORTOISE PERFORMING MILLIONS NOW LIVING WILL NEVER DIE
MEAT PUPPETS PERFORMING MEAT PUPPETS II
BUILT TO SPILL PERFORMING PERFECT FROM NOW ON
BARDO POND PERFORMING LAPSED

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 20TH - CHOSEN BY ATP

FUCK BUTTONS
LOW
GROWING
EDAN WITH GUEST DAGHA
SHELLAC
THEE SILVER MOUNT ZION ORCHESTRA
THE DRONES
POLVO
WOODEN SHJIPS
HARMONIA
OM
AUTOLUX
APSE
ALEXANDER TUCKER
LES SAVY FAV

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 21ST - CHOSEN BY MY BLOODY VALENTINE
MY BLOODY VALENTINE
DINOSAUR JR.
LILYS
YO LA TENGO
MERCURY REV
MOGWAI
LE VOLUME COURBE
BOB MOULD
SPECTRUM
GEMMA HAYES
THE WOUNDED KNEES

The YouTube video of the week

Calvin Johnson playing in a garden.



If you can you should go to these gigs.

Leonard Cohen

07-25 Lörrach, Germany - Stimmen der Welt
07-27 Lucca, Italy - Summer Festival
07-28 Rome, Italy - Cavea Auditorium
07-30 Athens, Greece - Terra Vibe
08-03 Ledbury, England - The Big Chill
09-21 Bucharest, Romania - Arcul de Trumpf
09-24 Vienna, Austria - Koncerthaus
09-27 Prague, Czech Republic - HC Sparta
09-29 Wroclaw, Poland - Hala Orbita
10-01 Warsaw, Poland - Torwar
10-04 Berlin, Germany - O2
10-07 Munich, Germany - Olympiahalle
10-10 Helsinki, Finland - Ice Hall
10-12 Gothenburg, Sweden - Falconer
10-15 Stockholm, Sweden - Golben
10-17 Copenhagen, Denmark - Forum
10-20 Brussels, Belgium - Forest National
10-23 Milan, Italy - Teatro Degli Arcimboldi
10-25 Zurich, Switzerland - Hallenstadion
10-27 Geneva, Switzerland - TBA
10-29 Frankfurt, Germany - Festhalle
10-31 Hamburg, Germany - Colorline Arena
11-02 Oberhausen, Germany - Oberhausen Arena
11-03 Rottendam, Netherlands - Ahoy
11-05 Glasgow, Scotland - Clyde
11-08 Cardiff, Wales - International Arena
11-11 Bournemouth, England - International Centre
11-13 London, England - O2 Arena
11-22 Birmingham, England - NEC
11-24 Paris, France - Olympia
11-25 Paris, France - Olympia
11-28 Brighton, England - Brighton Centre
12-01 Dublin, Ireland - The Point

Shellac

09-16 Toronto, Ontario - Horseshoe *
09-17 Montreal, Quebec - La Sala Rossa *!
09-18 Montreal, Quebec - La Sala Rossa
09-21 Catskills, NY - ATP New York
10-27 Galway, Ireland - Roisin Dubh
10-28 Dublin, Ireland - Button Factory
10-31 London, England - Forum (Release the Bats ATP)
11-02 Glasgow, Scotland - ABC

* with Chris Brokaw
! with A Place to Bury Strangers

Sunset Rubdown

09-15 Cambridge, MA - Middle East Upstairs
09-16 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg
09-24 Atlanta, GA - The Earl
09-27 Austin, TX - Mohawk
09-29 Dallas, TX - Granada Theatre
10-01 Lawrence, KS - Jackpot
10-02 Iowa City, IA - The Picador
10-03 Madison, WI - The Annex
10-04 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle

Deerhoof

08-31 Vancouver, British Columbia - Stanley Park Singing Exhibition
10-03 Los Angeles - Avalon *
10-04 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall *
10-06 Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom ^!
10-07 Seattle, WA - Neumo's ^!
10-09 Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge ^!
10-11 Denver, CO - Bluebird ^!
10-13 Omaha, NE - The Slowdown ^%
10-14 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue ^%
10-15 Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall ^%
10-16 Bloomington, IN - Buskirk Chumley Theater ^%
10-17 Chicago, IL - Metro ^#
10-18 Pontiac, MI - Crofoot Ballroom ^#
10-21 New York, NY- Spiegeltent
10-22 New York, NY - Irving Plaza ^#
10-23 Cambridge, MA - Middle East ^#
10-24 Northampton, MA - Pearl Street ^#
10-25 Philadelphia, PA - Starlight Ballroom ^#
10-26 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club ^#
10-28 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle ^#
10-29 Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle ^#
10-30 Nashville, TN - Mercy Lounge ^#
10-31 Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club ^#
11-01 Orlando, FL - The Social ^#
11-02 Tampa, FL - Crowbar ^#
11-05 New Orleans, LA - House of Blues ^#
11-06 Houston, TX - Numbers ^#
11-07 Dallas, TX - Granada ^@
11-08 Austin, TX - Fun Fun Fun Fest
11-10 El Paso, TX - Club 101 ^+
11-12 Tucson, AZ - Club Congress ^+
11-13 Tempe, AZ - The Clubhouse ^+

& with Gnarls Barkley
* with Okay, Happy Hollows
^ with Experimental Dental School
! with Coconut
% with Au
# with Flying
@ with Hawnay Troof
+ with KIT

Okkervil River

08-02 Chicago, IL - Lollapalooza
08-02 Chicago, IL - Schubas %
08-07 Oslo, Norway - Øya Festival
08-08 Gothenburg, Sweden - Way Out West Fstival
08-09 Haldern, Germany - Haldern Pop Festival
08-10 Urbino, Italy - Frequenze Disturbate Festival
09-12 Lawrence, KS - The Bottleneck
09-13 Omaha, NE - Slowdown
09-14 Madison, WI - Barrymore Theater ^
09-15 Fargo, ND - Aquarium
09-17 Seattle, WA - The Showbox *
09-18 Vancouver, British Columbia - Richard's on Richards *
09-19 Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom *
09-20 Seattle, WA - McDonald Theater *
09-21 San Francisco, CA - Treasure Island Festival
09-23 Los Angeles, CA - Henry Fonda Theatre *
09-24 Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up Tavern *
09-25 Tempe, AZ - The Clubhouse *
09-26 Tucson, AZ - Club Congress *
09-28 Austin, TX - Austin City Limits Music Festival
09-30 New Orleans, LA - The Republic !#
10-01 Birmingham, AL - Workplay Theater !#
10-02 Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club !#
10-03 Athens, GA - Soapbox Laundro Lounge !#
10-04 Richmond, VA - The National !#
10-06 New York, NY - Webster Hall !#
10-07 New York, NY - Webster Hall !#
10-08 Northampton, MA - Pearl Street !
10-09 Millvale, PA - Mr. Smalls Theatre !
10-10 Buffalo, NY - Tralf Music Hall !
10-11 Montreal, Quebec - Les Saints !
10-12 Toronto, Ontario - Phoenix !
10-27 Copenhagen, Denmark - Loppen
11-01 Aarhus, Denmark - Voxhall
11-03 Paris, France - L'Alhambra
11-04 Bruges, Belgium - Cactus
11-05 Norwich, England - Waterfront
11-06 Manchester, England - Academy
11-07 Dublin, Ireland - Academy
11-09 Glasgow, Scotland - Oran Mor
11-10 Wolverhampton, England - Wulfrun
11-11 London, England - Shepherd's Bush Empire
11-12 Brighton, England - Concorde 2
11-14 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Melkweg
11-15 Hamburg, Germany - Knust
11-17 Berlin, Germany - Postbahnhof
11-18 Munich, Germany - Registratur
11-19 Milan, Italy - Musicdrome
11-20 Rome, Italy - Circolo Degli Artist
11-21 Bologna, Italy - Estragon
11-22 Vienna, Austria - Porgy & Bess (Blue Bird Festival)

% with the Octopus Project
^ with the Walkmen
* with Sea Wolf, Zykos
! with Crooked Fingers
# with Black Joe Lewis & the Honey Bears

Low

08-27 Saint Paul, MN - Turf Club (Eight Is Enough benefit)
09-11 Tel Aviv, Israel - Barby Club
09-13 Dorset, England - End of the Road Festival
09-17 Chicago, IL - Epiphany ("An Evening With Low")
09-18 Detroit, MI - UFO Factory *
09-20 Monticello, NY - Kutshers County Resort (ATP New York)
09-22 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge ("An Evening With Low")
09-23 Brooklyn, NY - Union Hall ("An Evening With Low")
09-24 Boston, MA - Remis Auditorium at the Museum of Fine Arts #

* with His Name Is Alive
# with Tulsa

Deerhunter.

07-31 Mt. Pleasant, SC - The Village Tavern
08-01 Norfolk, VA - The Boot
08-03 Brooklyn, NY - McCarren Park Pool !
08-05 Toronto, Ontario - Air Canada Centre *
08-06 Buffalo, NY - Big Orbit's Soundlab
08-07 Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena *
08-08 Worcester, MA - DCU Center *
08-09 Lancaster, PA - The Sugar Tank
08-10 Pittsburgh, PA - Garfield Artworks
08-11 Morgantown, WV - 123 Pleasant Street
08-12 Knoxville, TN - Knoxville Civic Coliseum *
08-13 Duluth, GA - Gwinnett Arena *
09-02 Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheater *
09-03 Salt Lake City, UT - E Center *
09-05 Oakland, CA - Oracle Arena *
09-06 Inglewood, CA - The Forum *

! with Black Lips, King Khan and the Shrines, Tall Firs
* with Nine Inch Nails

Atlas Sound

07-23 Montreal, Quebec - La Sala Rossa
07-24 Cambridge, MA - Middle East Downstairs
07-25 New York, NY - Seaport Music Festival

Stereolab/Atlas Sound

09-20 Costa Mesa, CA - Detroit Bar
09-21 Pomona, CA - Glass House
09-24 Austin, TX - La Zona Rosa
09-26 Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse
09-27 Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club
09-29 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
09-30 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
10-01 Philadelphia, PA – Trocadero

M83

08-09 Lausanne, Switzerland - Noise Festival
08-15 Brest, France - Brest Festival
08-16 Hasselt, Belgium - Pukkelpop
11-13 Washington, DC - Black Cat *
11-14 New York, NY - Webster Hall *
11-15 Philadelphia, PA - Starlite Ballroom *
11-16 Northampton, MA - Pearl Street Nightclub *
11-18 Boston, MA - Middle East Downstairs *
11-19 Montreal, Quebec - Studio Juste Pour Rire *
11-20 Toronto, Ontario - Opera House *
11-21 Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge *
11-22 Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock Social Club *
11-25 Seattle, WA - Neumos *
11-26 Vancouver, British Columbia - Richard's on Richards *
11-27 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge *
11-28 San Francisco, CA - Fillmore *
11-29 Los Angeles, CA - Henry Fonda Theater *

* with School of Seven Bells

Writing under the influence

Without which this column would not have been possible:

Talk Radio

The bit at the end

The Black Kids vs. Pitchfork "controversy", I give it a 1.8. Still aggrandising assholes.

Expect full details to make their way out fairly soon but there's a new Broken Social Scene (full band) album on the way.

Semi permanent plug for my blog. Daniel Johnston live thoughts and a whole bunch of other things.