Three Months

Alright. Winter's over, in theory, so it's time to move on. Let me get this stuff down.


Goose Lane does the Nutcracker at Cafe 9 - 12/21/06



I think of them as our own local avant jazz supergroup. A bunch of guys from a bunch of rock bands who get together to make weirdo jazz. I don't get the chance to see them very often, but whenever I do, I'm happy. I don't really know the Nutcracker, so I can't comment on Goose Lane's re-imagination of it, but the performance was very diverse, incorporating many different jazz styles. There was a big preview in the Advocate and the place was pretty packed with people unprepared for the peculiarity of the performance. (Sorry about that, it just slipped out.) During the break between sets, one of the old squares said his ears hurt.


Estrogen and Tonic, Kimono Draggin' and the Liz Larsons at Cafe 9 - 12/28/07



I hadn't seen Estrogen and Tonic before. They came with Liz Larson from New London and rocked my ass off pretty good. The girl singer was good and punk, the boy singer was very rockabilly.



Kimono Draggin' played songs from their forthcoming album. They were good.



Liz Larson's voice is the subject of some controversy. Some people liken it to a dying bird's warble, but I really enjoy it. I think the unsteadiness has a certain charm and her tone has a certain sweetness. It varies from compellingly bored to invitingly pretty.

I don't know why, but there were hippies at this show drinking scotch.


The Incorrigibles at Rudy's - 12/30/06



Murdervan were supposed to play, but there was another band playing at Toad's place or something they wanted to see. I honestly don't remember anything about the show besides the girls sitting next to me knitting. And Tom who used to be the door guy at Cafe 9 played bass.


Groovski, Smooth Medusa and Kalte Sterne at Cafe 9 - 1/6/07

First show in the new year.




I like Groovski more every time I see them. They were really tight that night.



Smooth Medusa were simple, loud and aggressive. But in a good way. Strong rock and roll. I'll look forward to seeing them again.



Miller looked like Sinatra in that hat. It was a somber way to end the night.


Beatnik 2000 - 1/8/07

Mercy Meadows were supposed to play, but they didn't show up.



A bunch of poets read and stuff, but there were two musical performances that stood out.
Nolan Voss played a little nylon-string guitar and sang a few folky songs. What I didn't realize seeing him with Smooth Medusa was how nice his voice is. With the band, he yells a lot, but playing alone, his voice was really good.
Warren Brelsford played some classical Spanish stuff on an old 1930s guitar. It was crazy good. And people actually listened. It reinforced my belief that he's the best guitar player in the city. If only he would incorporate the spanish playing into a Vultures show, somehow.


Diamond J and the Rough, Oxford Collapse and Mates of State at Toad's Place - 1/13/07



Diamond J and the Rough were okay. The singer looks like he wants to be Uncle Tupelo. They have a blonde girl who plays tambourine. I liked the keyboard player back when he was in Pencilgrass. Watching the fiddle player was my favorite part.



The most interesting thing about Oxford Collapse was the way the bass player walked around the stage. The spastic bastard nearly rubbed his crotch in my face.





Because this is how hip I am:
When I first saw Mates of State, I didn't know who they were. It was at The Space in Hamden and I was there to see some people I knew in the opening band. I had no idea why the audience was so big. I bought their Team Boo on vinyl that night. I've loved them ever since. The odd rhythm changes and counter harmonies get me every time. They're very passionate live performers and the guy stares at the girl so much, it's kind of creepy.
They said they would come back and play The Space some time, but they never did. I guess they're too big now.


The Cavemen Go and The Novels at Cafe 9 - 1/17/07



Both bands are full of nice, young men and women who are enamored of early rock and roll and british pop. They have a lot of fun when they play. I've known Jason from the Novels for years, following his carreer through the Sarcastics and the Frills and the Bourgeois Heroes. (Actually, it was the Bourgeois Heroes who opened up for Mates of State at The Space.) His voice has improved drastically over that time. As has his songwriting and guitar playing. And I'm always happy when I can take a picture of a musician's bloody fingers.


Triple Hex and Sasquatch and the Sick-a-billys at Rudy's - 1/27/07



This show was crazy. It was Michelle of Go Kat Go's birthday and her last show as a promoter, so her entourage came out in full force. Seriously, people were standing on the tables, it was so packed.



I don't remember anything about Triple Hex besides that I liked them. I think they were pretty aggressive.
I got a picture of Sasquatch Dave mid-puke after licking the mic stand (and too much Jager, I presume.)



He threatened to play all night, but the show was over when the Rudy's staff told him the police wanted it shut down because there were too many people. (I later heard that they raided a few places that night checking for underaged people, but I don't know if that had anything to do with anything.)



Yeah, it was pretty intense.


Daneo and Telephone Hour at Beatnik 2000 - 1/29/07



I always like to watch Daneo perform. He makes people so uncomfortable. It's less a matter of poetry these days than a bizarre performance art. He tapped into the tv above the bar with his laptop and showed his weird videos and talked about his brain tumor.



Telephone Hour is, basically, Chris Buskey playing with his friends. Good stuff. I'm looking forward to the album.



Oh, and Tom Dans played his little piano. Everybody seems to like it when he plays "The Lion Sleeps Tonight." They sing along for a while, but then it goes on way too long and it makes everybody awkward. I imagine it's that what Tom Dans' life is like all the time.


The Vultures and The Danglers at Cafe 9 - 3/17/07

I'm really getting sick of writing about these guys. They're among my favorite bands to see around here. I have no new insight. They recorded the show for a pair of live albums. It was loud.



The Vultures played a pretty standard set. Taking no real risks. Very straightforward, nothing too weird.



The Danglers played really tight. Dwight didn't climb on anything. They brought a bunch of people on stage to dance around. I like the song Monestary in spite of the funkiness.


So, that was the winter.


There are some videos up on YouTube:
http://youtube.com/profile_videos?user=oldangelmidnight

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