Akron/Family and Orange Forest at Bar

Monday, December 12, 2005

So, Orange Forest. I don't know what makes boring music so acceptable all of a sudden. I assumed Coldplay, but was assured it was Sunny Day Real Estate. In either case, this was just interminable. I'm sure they try very hard and they really mean it, but that's just not enough. I want to see your balls when you play. And that's not gender specific, anyone can have balls. And having balls doesn't only mean loud, distorted guitars and screaming, in fact, that can be a sign of overcompensating for balllessness. It just has to be vital and exciting.
I went to the show because I adore Devendra Banhart and Akron/Family are on the same record label. Young God Records seems to be the heart of the avant-folk scene, so I knew I was in danger of exposing myself to the hippie menace, but I went anyway. The avant folk thing has moments that are pretty interesting. It seems mostly devoid of politics; after the big disappointment when '60s folk didn't bring us world peace, I guess that makes sense. There are a few artists that are really worthwhile, but then they also play with all their friends, who mostly suck.
As for Akron/Family, well, it's hard to make up my mind. There's a thin line between avant garde and masterbation. I think they call their music spiritual, but I regard spiritual as a synonym for confused bullshit. They started off very harmoniously, but the pretty drone eventually exploded into an attention-grabbing cacaphony. This, I liked. I enjoy it when an artist pulls the rug out from under the audience. The punch line should be violent and unexpected. Unfortunately, though, there wasn't much else to the performance. It was just noisy fiddling with their instruments and effects pedals for the next hour and half. At their best, they sounded like a defanged early-period Butthole Surfers; all of the chaos, none of the danger. I'm left with the feeling that it was just a bunch of self-indulgent nonsense. At least when the Velvet Underground played Sister Ray for 45 minutes, there was a song at its heart. But apparently this band was going for something different, they only seemed to play songs accidentally. I guess they don't like to play "songs" as such. They just like to make noise.
I think one of the big problems is that this music takes itself so seriously. When the guitarist got up off his chair, walked around the drummer and knelt to play the xylophone, he looked so intense, he couldn't appreciate the sheer ridiculousness of the act.
The audience was another mystery. It was like people watching giraffes fuck at the zoo. They watched, mostly motionless, mostly bemusedly. Nobody was really dancing they way you'd expect at a jam band, but these guys weren't the feel-good type. It's hard to know what the hipsters would get out of a show like this. I guess the same as they get out of any show, the hip cred that goes along with saying you were there. They trickled out slowly as they admitted their boredom or lack of understanding. I'll confess that I also did not stay to the end. After at least a full minute of single-note feedback, I had to cry uncle. Maybe I missed the breakthrough moment that would have brought it together for me, but I doubt it.

I took some pictures:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldangelmidnight/sets/1561927/

Paul Belbusti

i wanted to go to this show even though i've only heard one "song" by akron family. I was curious. I agree there is a fine line between avant and masturbation. but i think when it's done right, it can be downright spiritual. for instance, on dec. 20, Sunn o))) is coming to that wallingford place. they are basically two crazy metal guys who drone a few noted for 45 minutes and sometimes the frequencies are so low/loud people shit themselves. It sounds totally absurd to me (even though i have about 3 of their albums) but i've also heard that people really have wonderful experiences att their shows. they lay down on the ground and basically go into a trance. I think that;s wonderful. I think the problem with ambient/avant garde, etc. music is that people lump it into the same category as "normal" music so when they hear it in that context, they don't get it. To me, that kind of stuff is almost a different medium completely. it's art that happens to consist of sound. I think you get the point and i'm probably preaching to the choir and i haven't had my coffee yet today. i think my point is, avant garde music can really be moving and amazing to watch/listen to if the circumstances are right and the artist is not overly pretentious. as far as the audiences at bar and the average new havenite concert goer....dont get me fucking started. i have more respect for my girlfriend's second graders. Posted by Paul Belbusti on Tuesday, December 13, 2005 at 8:32 AM [Remove] [Reply to this]

	King David	Now Paul, that's no way to get booked at Rudy's. And I agree with you about the avant garde stuff. Context is the key. I just think I want music to do the opposite of put people into trance. Posted by King David on Tuesday, December 13, 2005 at 8:56 AM [Remove] [Reply to this]

Paul Belbusti

i put people into a trance about 6 times a day if i'm lucky. usually that's just from talking to them. Posted by Paul Belbusti on Tuesday, December 13, 2005 at 8:58 AM