A visit from the real world

Some old and dear friend of mine and a friend of hers came to visit Athens this week-end straight from up North, somewhere "in the real world" as they nicknamed their Massachusetts haven. Luckily for my guests, there was plenty to do...

Fri. 04/04 (incidentally, the 7th anniversary of my American Adventures) saw Spring Tigers rocking the Flicker Bar out. That was the second Tigers show since their return from SXSW, and they were really tight. Unfortunately, the PA had some difficulties catching up with their set-up and the sound was sub-par for most of the tunes. Nevertheless, a very efficient show.

Till we are talking about Spring Tigers, let me open a parenthesis and urge you to check "New Improved Formula", their first video-clip, shot and edited by their keyboardist, Brian Smith. 90s of pure energetic catchiness, a fast and in-your-face editing and... kittens. All the ingredients for a youtube hit, as you can see for yourself below. FYI, most of the footages were filmed in Austin, TX during SXSW: the astute viewer will recognize bits of the Kindercore showcase performance at the Light Bar, as well as pictures of the Congress district. And a bunny.



We moved next door (40W) afterwards, where Dark Meat were playing an "acoustic" show. The quotes indicate that even if the guitars/bass were not electrified, the full band was on stage, keeping intact the power and chaos of their more "classical" performances. The show was a benefit for Gus Ramos, a local musician still hospitalized in critical but stable condition after a moped accident. Also on the bill were Music Hates You, but I phased out. On our way home, we got called inside a party where I narrowly escaped being savagely mauled by a tiny dog, who hated me. I wonder whether its name was music.

After recovering in front of Godard's "Bande à part" and strolling along the Oconee River Trail, we eventually found ourself Sat. 04/05 evening at the Go Bar, for a show of one of my favorite local bands, The Buddy System. No need for introductions as I post regularly about them. Portable TV sets and monitors appropriately placed in the bar let the whole audience enjoy the animations, their classical ones along a new song, based on a new concept (think a kind of photonovella, with Lauren Gregg's characteristic touch superimposed). It was refreshing and bodes well for the near future, as TBS keep pushing their limits. Great job, guys... And then we danced our ass off as Dan Geller spinned a tiny part of his 80es/90es indie -dance standards collection, before moving to Little Kings for DJ Mahogany's BDay Bash, and finally to the famous DIY venue where we did not catch any show but still had a lot of fun.

Sunday was spent in a mini REM pilgrimage (Weaver D's, the steeple...), watching Kitano's "Kikujirô no natsu" and yours truly realizing that preparing food for your friends is not a cook-out if you don't cook outside. We could have tried to catch We vs the Shark at the Farm 255, but a certain bottle of whiskey had to be finished before going to bed: guess who'll be married or hanged in the year, as we say back home ?

Anyhow. Guys, come back soon, we miss you already. What's so good about the real world anyway ? Oh yes, I forgot...

MP3s
Dark Meat - Three Eyes Open
Dark Meat - Freedom Ritual
Spring Tigers - Wichitalinemanager
Spring Tigers - Beep Beep

This week-end in shows

Fri. 02/08

The Buddy System [40W]
Fifth show of our friends from the Buddy System, and a new animation ! TBS keep their CMYK trademark, but exit the cats, the cute monsters and evil horses. This time, Mat and Lauren's actual profiles appear face-to-face in their respective color, each pronouncing part of the lyrics. Musical departure as well from TBS' usual pop, as the song ends in a tribute to 2-tone (well, with some variations that you can guess). Excellent tune, quite original, one of their best so far. Moremoremore !


Dancer vs. Politician [Flicker]
Sanni Baumgärtner's Dancer vs Politician used to have two incarnations: one in Berlin (EU), and one in Athens, GA. Now that Sanni moved back to Athens for good, she recomposed the band's line up. The emotion is still intact, don't worry, you'll recognize the quiet and soothing ballads of "A City Half-Lost", a highly recommended album that has a very special place in my heart.
MP3: Mach Dich Los
MP3: Justin Fairborn


Sweet teeth [40W]
Sweet Teeth is a super band composed of members of Dark Meat, Long Legged Woman, among others. If you have never seen Sweet Teeth, picture some drony, hypnotic, improv' jam, with a million people on stage. It's actually better than you may fear.
MP3: Improvisation.


Mouser [40W]
I only caught a bit of Mouser, which is OK, as a little goes a long way. There are nights where the chaotic horn section really support the band, other nights where they don't. I can't tell which one was which, I wasn't very attentive.


Knyfe Hyts [40W]
More psychedelic heavy droning with Knyfe Hyts, a trio from Brooklyn, NY, who made me believe I was in the middle of some sun dance.

And then, I had to leave to attend some friends' dance party. And yes, I ruled the floor, thanks to the loveliest help possible. "Daft Punk is playing in my house, my house..."
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Sat. 02/09

There should be some kind of law or city ordinance for restaurants to have two waiting lists in parallel, one for kids under 24 (unaccompanied, I won't shoot myself in the foot more than necessary) and another for the rest of us normal people (put ironic smileys where suitable). Else, you'll end up waiting far too long before switching to another place, and you'll eventually be late for the first show of the evening:

Andy From Denver [Flicker]
Andy plays a very short set, so it's easy to miss most of it. I caught only three songs, about half the set, and that's a shame. It seems I missed some episode involving the famous Nintendo power-glove I mentioned in a previous post.

Miwa Gemini [Flicker]
Miwa Gemini, with Brian (on xylophone) and Sasha (her porcelain cat) delivered us her gentle, endearing ballads. Her cover of "Que sera sera" got the whole audience singing. Miwa's new album, "This Is How I Found You", will be released on Mar. 18. It definitely has a Southern feel to it, more so than on "Forgetful Ocean": in a way, it reminds me of Julee Cruise. You want it.
MP3: Crazy Over You
MP3: Forever For Never
MP3: Sad about Joe


Ham 1 [Flicker]
Athens' Ham 1 were headlining. Their shows remind me a family reunion where the cousins grab their instruments and start rocking out (supposing that on top of being great people, your cousins are also very talented musicians). Their first self-titled album had one of the best melancholy pop-folk song ever, "The Gift", that fortunately is now played live on a regular basis. The latest album, the excellent "The Captain's Table", was released last September on Orange Twin. Check the video of "Saluki", a track that would have fitted well on the second half of The Pixies' "Bossanova". A new album has already been recorded, and it should be available online some time next month. For now, there are no plan for the release of an actual CD, which definitely cuts costs, time and worries.
MP3: The Gift
MP3: Hare Lipped Bust
MP3: White Rat


Dark Meat / Face Off [40W]
Special evening at the 40W, organized like the day before by Mercer West. Take a member of the ever-expanding Dark Meat band/collective, pair him or her with another musician not from the band (a "civilian"), and give them 10 minutes. You can end up with some surprising moments. The last piece I managed to catch was disappointing, however, with some naive video made of old and new U.S. propaganda pieces overlaid by some droney keyboards and guitar that could have been interesting if the white-mask-wearing duo that was on stage had actually bothered writing a full tune, and not just an intro. Oh well.
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As a friend noticed, between Dark Meat and Ham 1, that was a butcher's delight night. That observation initiated another discussion: we already have several super-bands in Athens (Sweet Teeth, Supercluster...), all connected one way or another to Dark Meat. There's the need for a new one, The Vegan Option. Apply within.

[Edit 02/11: some spelling/grammar corrections]
[Edit 02/12: Go check out Mike White's photos of Friday evening !]