Thursday was really packed with shows I wanted to see but unfortunately there are schedule conflicts, shows that overlap, and distances between venues that don’t lend you to being able to see everything you want to. Morrissey played at the Austin Music Hall and I didn’t realize how far it was from where I was at the time. I was at another show but couldn’t make it down. For Dungen on the other hand it was an entirely different matter. I was hoping to see them at the 2005 CMJ event along with many other and they ended up cancelling their New York show. They were playing at Buffalo Billiards and I was pretty sure the show would be packed and not to be deterred by my earlier time gaff I went really early. I waited on line while the previous band was playing. And security didn’t allow anyone in until said band was done. After which the line moved slowly to the entrance and when it was my turn I was told that I was on the wrong line and that I’d have to go the back of a different one. Meanwhile the band just started playing and the second line was as long as the first. See you next time Dungen. And finally His Name Is Alive. It’s been at least ten years since I saw them last at CBGB’s and I was happy to find out they were still around. It turns out that the Living End show ran really late and I couldn’t get to Habana Calle 6 in time. Now for the shows that did work out.
The Chalets
“The Full Irish Breakfast” at BD Riley’s - Thursday March 16 2006
I really love seeing bands from other countries no matter what the country is. To put it simply I’ve been very fortunate enough to have been exposed to many different cultures, thoughts & ideas, and of course music. A dissertation on exposure expansion will follow some time in the future. “The Full Irish Breakfast” Presented several bands from Ireland and the first one I caught was the Chalets. I loved the look they had. This is what I imagine a band from the 50s would be like if 1) there were not afraid to say whatever they wanted to say and b) if keyboards were in vogue. They sounded like a cross between the B52s and DI which is great in my book. And I specifically mean DI. On the Chalet song, “Love Punch” one small part, the keyboard cum bass intro and verse sounds just like the DI classic, “Richard Hung Himself.” And this is not a rip-off but an homage as the Chalets made the song their own.
The Living End
Emo’s Main Room – Thursday March 16 2006
I’ve wanted to see The Living End for a while now. I think it’s been a few years since they performed in the US I like the first album a lot and love the second one and so I was really into seeing the show. Apparently they recently recorded a third album and it was out but not domestically. I hadn’t heard that album yet and I was not familiar with any of the songs. It seemed no one in the audience was either. And it was cool that they played songs from this album but, and I have to say “but”,” I really wanted to hear songs from Modern ARTillery! I’m not that against a band playing and trying out new songs. If it’s a band I really like I’m usually anxious to hear new material but because I really like the band I want to hear songs I know as well. I think they only played on song from the second album. Only one! One of the new songs I remember, “Black Cat” sounded pretty cool and they played “Who’s Gonna Save Us” from the second album and one of the best anthemic pieces of all time, “Roll On” from the first album but I really needed more. Incidentally, after seeing them and hearing some of the new songs I definitely got a sense of a Stays Cats influence and that just fine with me. I know this will look practically like a list of songs from Modern ARTillery but I really wanted to hear, “Jimmy,” “tabloid Magazine,” and the one and only, “One Said To The Other” which is a defining song for the band. I even wanted to hear “Maitland Street,” something, anything from the second album. Look guys, I’ll make a deal with you: Come back to the Us and play at least five songs and I promise you’ll get applause and cheers from the crowd, even if it’s just a crowd of one.
Zombi
Room 710 - Saturday, March 10, 2006
What a great surprise. I didn’t know they were playing SxSW until the last minute. Zombi delivered just what I hoped for and more. For the uninitiated, Zombi is a two man instrumental band and they were originally presented to me as a band that creates and plays original soundtrack type of music that would fit into horror movies, which is true although there’s more. Hopefully they don’t consider this portrayal too limiting but if anyone involved does feel this way realize that Zombi came into my radar with this description. And in a way I hate to say that this band sounds like Rush because I can just imagine the image that conjures up for people who haven’t heard them. But rest assured, this is not some lame, wannabe type of cover band. Zombi do pay homage to Rush but they have carved out their own identity with at times a style similar to the Canadian greats, an aspect of progressive rock blended in, and of course the aforementioned horror soundtrack motif. This is Zombi. I didn’t realize how talented they were until seeing them live. Without a doubt drummer A.E. Paterra listens to and reveres Neil Pert. And incidentally I’m really happy that I’ve been seeing a lot of talented musicians at this conference. Paterra is a great drummer who is deliberate and calculated. I get the sense that all too often there are adequate drummers who can’t wait to dump fills into a song or explode with some rapid beat-mania. Not in Paterra’s case however. His reserve and timing speaks volumes.
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