mbv and me

my bloody valentine

mbv

(self-released, 2013)

 Prologue:

When I was six or seven years old, i went on a summer activities outing to a lake. Memory has me accompanied by my brother and sister, but little beyond that. What I do remember is: sitting on a pier in the blazing hot sun, captured now and forever as an overexposed Polaroid. I'll never know the genesis of the shove that sent me into the water-horseplay? accidental? 

All that really mattered was: 

1) the shock of submergence, the gasping, the flailing 

2) the sudden advent of a world of blue, and the calmness of leaving

3) laying on the dock, puking and spitting and looking up into my brother's face

I do not know how to swim, and it is unlikely that I will ever learn. But I love the ocean...

***    

 My Bloody Valentine have broken their silence by self-releasing a new LP simply entitled mbv. Shrugging off the looming shadow of Chinese Democracy, MBV was so far out in front that they can piss off 22 years and still be ahead of the game. Why their singular combination of noise strikes such a chord, even, or especially, in their absence, will remain a mystery of life. After years of guarantees, hints, allusions, covers, collaborations, soundtracks, and utter silence, it was easy to sniff and dismiss the most recent utterance from Mr. Shields that the album would be out by the end of the year. After all, he'd said that in 1997, as well. Apparently, the last time he pulled the record back, it was to re-record the drums. So when the new year came and went, the collective geek went back to its hovel. The weekend announcement that the record would drop that evening, (saturday), sent folks into a collective tizzy, and when the event did transpire, demand crashed the sight, and left them pounding their keyboard in a frenzy of refresh. Caveat Emptor: reports from Ireland and Los Angeles have noted flaws in the site causing multiple billings, so do keep an eye on your accounts if/when you purchase. The entire LP is streaming on YouTube on the official My Bloody Valentine channel, so you can test spin it to your heart's desireTheir work is elusive on a good day, and only fools or charlatans would seek to render judgement on this work in such early days. What follows are merely impressions to prepare you for immersion. 
Unlike the seamless flow of Loveless, the nine song mbv breaks neatly into thirds: “she found now” kicks off with a furious grinding in neutral, setting up the glorious release of “only tomorrow”, which once it hits its stride, could go on forever. “who sees you” ups the ante before shattering abruptly. Reaching the heart of the album, the trilogy of “is this and yes”, “if i am”, and the stunning “new you” peel back to the shimmering core, revealing the bruised beauty underneath. Getting down to the business for the final three cuts, “in another way” opens up into a blossom of layered noise, while the pounding instrumental “nothing is” falls back on the holding pattern trick of the first song before yielding to the ascension of “wonder 2”, closing the LP victoriously. My last observation is: the louder you play it, the more will be revealed. There's nothing more to be afraid of.

 

My Bloody Valentine, Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, 02 Oct, 2008

My Bloody Valentine, Coachella, 2009

Divine Fits: Hollywood Forever Cemetery

DIVINE FITS 

MASONIC LODGE

AT HOLLYWOOD FOREVER CEMETERY

28 AUGUST, 2012

Divine Fits celebrated the release of their debut LP, A Thing Called Divine Fits, with the mother of all record release parties-an evening at the Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. 
Divine Fits are: Britt Daniel (Spoon), Dan Boeckner (Handsome Furs, Wolf Parade), and Sam Brown (New Bomb Turks).  They've banded together in what some might slap with the hoary phrase 'supergroup', given the members backgrounds, but it's much closer in sentiment and execution to Wild Flag, which happened to have Britt Daniel produce their first single. There's no trace of ego, and the creation of an entity that's far more than the sum of its parts.  And did I mention that they rock?

This was show #9 for the band, with Boeckner taking the opportunity to riff on the Beatles "Revolution #9" for the occasion, and the third in a mini-LA-residency, (see above poster).  They wasted no time getting the ball rolling with the Daniel leading "Flaggin A Ride", and Boeckner showed his stuff on "My Love Is Real", (videos above and below, respectively). 

Other highlights of the evening were "Wouldn't That Be Nice", which took full dynamic advantage of the old room, and "Civilian Stripes" was given an affecting reading.  That the band is so seamless after such a short time is notable, and Boeckner and Daniel have stated in interview that they would like it to be a going concern.
Britt Daniel, of course, is no stranger to these pages.  As mastermind of Spoon, he made our radar at Coachella in 2010, and later in the year at the Matador 21 celebration in Las Vegas.
What a year for Dan Boeckner, not only this new project, but a Polaris Prize nomination for the final Handsome Furs record, Sound Kapital was a welcome surprise after the band wound up earlier this year.  Didn't realize at the time that their January gig covered here would be among the band's last.
While not sporting his mates high profiles, it was cool to notice the way Sam Brown took directional charge with his playing, and helped lift the songs intensity above the recorded versions.  It will be interesting to see this band again with more shows under their belt.  The mind reels...

A Thing Called Divine Fits, released 28 August on MERGE Records.

The Goodbye Girls

 Christopher Owen of Girls announced his departure from that outfit today, bringing to close a chapter of one of the more interesting groups in the last five years.  Their recorded output consisted of a much buzzed about debut entitled Album, followed up by an EP, Broken Dreams Club, that neatly sidestepped the dreaded 'Sophomore Slump', and then further upped the ante with Father, Son, , one of last year's best.  All the albums were on True Panther.   It was fun to watch the growth of the group.  As Owen matured as a writer, so did JR White's musical settings, and it can be said that they're going out at the top of their game.

 

In his own words:
Christopher Owens ‏@Chri55yBaby

1) Dear all, This may come as a surprise to many & has been an issue of much thought for me. My decision was not easy to make

Christopher Owens ‏@Chri55yBaby

2) I am leaving Girls. My reasons at this time are personal. I need to do this in order to progress

Christopher Owens ‏@Chri55yBaby

3) I will continue to write & record music. More will be announced soon. I thank you all for everything. Sincerely–Christopher

 

To retrace the journey, here's a clip from their Coachella debut in 2010:

And their final official video:

Coast To Coast With Jeff Mangum

JEFF MANGUM/ANDREW, SCOTT and LAURA

ORPHEUM THEATER, LOS ANGELES, CA

23 APRIL, 2012

There was a heightened sense of excitement in the air for Jeff Mangum's L.A. arrival.  Mangum used the occasion of his Coachella appearance to add on some western dates, including Monday evening's appearance at the refurbished downtown landmark, the Orpheum Theatre.
It's been quite a re.emergence for the artist who spent a dozen years off the radar(*) before last fall's mini-tour and showcase at ATP's 'I'll Be Your Mirror' festival, followed by a visit to the Occupy Wall St site.  In the new year, he visited Europe, and rolled out to the Midwest for a handful of shows.
*(his silence was broken with a 2010 appearance at a benefit for Chris Knox )

As it has gone for his shows, a strict no photo/no video policy has been in place, and it has been very effective in heightening the intimacy of the shows, as well as forcing one to focus on the matters at hand.  Andrew, Laura and Scott once again opened up, serving up songs from Elf Power and various covers, including a taut reading of hometown hero Randy Newman's "In Germany Before The War".  The trio switched instruments with abandon, jelling in to a more cohesive identity than when their stint with Mangum began.  They extended their duties over the course of the tour to backing up Mangum at various points in his set.

When the moment came, Mangum was sharp and edgy, benefiting from the run of shows by essaying his tunes tightly and almost hurriedly, overtly exhorting the audience at numerous times to sing with him.  His humorous aside about not needing a bright spot on him was apparently too subtle, for he disappeared off stage at the end of a song, and the light immediately dimmed.  When he came back, he seemed a little less tense, and the night proceeded apace.  He has kept the cornerstone songs such as "King Of Carrot Flowers", "Two Headed Boy", "A Baby For Pree", and "In The Aeroplane, Over The Sea" in his set, along with the ace Daniel Johnston cover, "True Love Will Find You In The End", but expanded to include the seldom heard "Little Birds", (described as "the song that did my head in").
All in all, a winning night with an Indie legend.  One hopes only that he has found his peace with performing and making music.

JEFF MANGUM/ANDREW, SCOTT and LAURA/TALL FIRS

FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH, BURLINGTON, VT

08 AUGUST, 2011

 

The First Unitarian Church in Burlington, VT dates back to 1816, and as a venue, seemed to have the necessary gravitas for the evening's event: the return to active duty of Jeff Mangum.  As a warmup to being the special guest at the Portishead curated All Tomorrow's Parties 'I'll Be Your Mirror' festival in Asbury Park, NJ in October, Mangum scheduled a series of five warmup dates along the eastern seaboard into Canada, with this being the first.  Circumstances had me planning a trip to N.Y. and CT. around this date, so i went for it, and somehow got a ticket.  The trip ended up falling together as planned, and Monday found me driving across upstate NY, through the Adirondacks, catching a ferry across Lake Champlain, and finally arriving in beautiful Burlington, VT with a few hours to spare.

The church filled quickly, and while I caught a pew in the front left corner, with only 500 tickets sold, there really wasn't a bad seat.  Tall Firs and Andrew, Scott and Laura acquitted themselves well in opening duties, and the crowd was well behaved but tense, awaiting the grand moment.

For those not directly acquainted with Mr. Mangum, the Cliff Notes version is of a cult figure who recorded two LP's under the name Neutral Milk Hotel, the second of which, In The Aeroplane, Over The Sea, is heralded as a cult classic, a singular work that refracts an obsession with Anne Frank into a commentary on humanity.  After the release of which: nothing.  Mangum retreated from the pressure of the business, involved himself only with friends' projects, and for all intents and purposes, walked away from the game.

Which hopefully gives some background to the baited breath of the audience...what would he play? band or solo? what psychic frame was he in?  Neutral Milk Hotel in their productive days did not reach a vast audience, so I think it somewhat safe to say that very few folks in the house had any idea what they were getting into...

It only took one song to allay the fears.  Mangum opened up with arguably the most difficult song in his canon, "Oh Comely", and proceeded to hold the audience in the palm of his hand for close to ten minutes, performing alone on guitar, sitting on a chair, supple of voice and in total command of the songs demanding passages.  That moment is as close as I'll ever come to flying, being relieved of your tether to this world.  He was humble in the face of the thunderous applause, and over the next few tunes, relaxed into his material and his stage patter totally punctured the reclusive hermit myth.

The next flashpoint came a few songs in, when the sound system totally died.  After 90 seconds of small talk, it became obvious it wasn't an immediate fix.  Mangum grabbed his chair and jumped down from the stage, parking himself in front of the first row.  At this point, many from the audience started rushing up front, skidding to their knees and sprawling on the floor in front of him.  What security was in place wisely held their ground when it became apparent that no ill will was intended, and he requested, in the absence of amplification, that we help him out and sing along.

I have been to perhaps too many shows, sitting through bands' lame attempts to bolster their egos by 'joining in', but what broke out in that church on "Two Headed Boy, Part Two", was pure testifying, the sound of community, and to this day, hearing that song gives me goosebumps, and I choke up thinking about that moment, that night.

The remainder of the set flew by in a blur, sticking mostly to the two Neutral Milk Hotel LP's, but finding room for the unheard "Ferris Wheel On Fire", which surfaced later as part of the gigantic Neutral Milk Hotel box set, and a perfectly pitched cover of Daniel Johnston's "True Love Will Find You In The End".  He finished the night on a high note with a rousing take on "Holland, 1945", and surfaced for an encore of "Engine", before unexpectedly hanging out at the foot of the stage to greet the audience and sign stubs, records, and I'm sure, body parts.  Truly an unforgettable evening.

Setlist:

1. Oh Comely  
2. In The Aeroplane Over the Sea  
3. A Baby For Pree  
4. Gardenhead / Leave Me Alone  
5. Two-Headed Boy, Part Two
6. Two-Headed Boy  
7. True Love Will Find You In The End  
8. Song Against Sex  
9. Naomi  
10. Ferris Wheel On Fire
11. The King of Carrot Flowers, Part One
12. The King of Carrot Flowers, Parts Two & Three
13. Holland, 1945    
14. (Encore) Engine  

Source: setlist.fm

Bon Iver, Bon Iver: live, live

BON IVER/ALL TINY CREATURES

SANTA BARBARA BOWL

22 APRIL, 2012

Fresh from his dual weekend turn at Coachella, Justin Vernon brought his Bon Iver road show to the Santa Barbara Bowl for a surprisingly intimate Sunday night show.  He didn't hesitate to exploit the full dynamic range of the Bowl, taking full advantage of his beefed up touring unit to press the outer limits of the local noise restrictions, or performing simply with guitar to a rapt and hushed audience.  The songs from last year's "Bon Iver, Bon Iver", on Jagjaguwar, were ably fleshed out live, growing beyond the LP versions.

The elephant in the room, of course, is For Ever, For Emma, and he artfully seeded the set with songs from that LP from the middle of the set on, not allowing it to overshadow the newer material. The rearrangement of "Creature Fear", (below), shows off just how far he's come, evolving from it's home recorded origins into a jazzy strut that explodes into a noisy conclusion.

The highlight of the evening was a stark reading of "Re: Stacks".  His acoustic version was a brave choice, given the size of the audience, and the highest compliment one can give is the lack of the usual talkers that destroy quieter songs.  He silenced them all.

Keep your eyes out for an upcoming Austin City Limits that the band is taping at this very moment!

Queen For A Night: Florence and the Machine live

FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE/BLOOD ORANGE

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY BOWL

14 APRIL, 2012

I keep thinking of Florence and the Machine as 'our little secret', having caught her a few years back at Coachella as she burst into our concsiousness.  As the sold out crowd at Saturday night's Santa Barbara County Bowl show would attest: The secret is out.

This was the official kickoff of their North American jaunt, and if their subsequent Coachella reception is any indication-it should be an amazing tour.  The band just released an 'Unplugged' record, but there was nothing unplugged about this show, which leaned heavily on material from last year's sophomore effort Ceremonials, and featured a full complement, the two drummers and backup singers adding to the majesty of the songs.

Clad lithely in a catsuit topped with an amazing cape, Florence reared back and let the Voice do the work, bouncing exuberantly around the perimeter of the stage, scarcely able to contain her excitement.  It is so good to have her back.

 Setlist:
Only If For A Night  
What the Water Gave Me   
Cosmic Love    
Dog Days Are Over  
Between Two Lungs  
Heartlines  
Leave My Body  
Shake It Out  
Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)  
Spectrum  
You've Got the Love    
Lover to Lover  
(encore)
Never Let Me Go
No Light, No Light
Source: setlist.fm

Opening duties for the show were handled splendidly by Dev Hynes, (the artist formerly known as Lightspeed Champion), whose current gig is billed as Blood Orange.  His one man guitar with laptop samples routine started pleasantly enough, built to a slow boil, ending with a nasty raveup that got the early arrivals' full attention, and surely won him new converts. 

Festival Fallout...

Having established that I am not (wahh!) going to Coachella this year, it's time to take stock of the consolation prize, that embarrassment of riches we shall call 'Festival Fallout'.  Proximity to festivals is definitely having an impact on my life-the recent Veronica Falls/Bleached show in LA came worked around their appearance at the Noise Pop Festival in San Francisco, not to mention upcoming shows like Cults, whose west coast run is tacked on after SXSW.

Weep not for me indeed, as even without attending Coachella, I won't have many breaths to spare.  Given the two weekend setup this year, there is a lot of loose time around, and nature abhors a vacuum.  The Santa Barbara County Bowl is opening its season with Radiohead, Florence & The Machine, and Bon Iver, all courtesy of Coachella.

Goldenvoice, who brings you Coachella, has put up their own schedule filling every nook and cranny of offtime with shows...absolutely insane.

While I am looking forward to getting back on the road to festivals, in the meantime, let's call it the next best thing to being there!