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shows and party review
Sure is quiet around here.
Here's some comments on shows and parties:
Thursday, December 12. Ditch Croaker, Home, Number One Cup at Lizard and Snake
Number One Cup was first. They're on Flydaddy Records, which, along with
Nate's description, led me to believe I was going to witness an
Olivia-Tremor-Control/Cardinal/Witch Hazel type group. Well, nothing
beatles-y or pet sounds-y about these guys. At least live. The sounded
like they belonged on Merge or something. Reminded me of Spent a little
(minus the deep voice). Indie rock. Not horrible, but not particularly
compelling, either.
Home was second. These guys were kooky. Jody looked at me and said, "this
is the weirdest band I've ever seen." Given, Jody's married and owns a
house and doesn't get out much. But, it was still an astute comment. I
didn't particularly like them, though. Experimental and kooky, but not so
interesting. Bill Curry liked them. How's the CD Bill?
Ditch Croaker was last. This is the main reason I was at the show. I love
the "chimpfactor" ep and their latest full-length, "Secrets of the Mule" is
great. I think the dreaded Lizard-and-Snake-sound-sucks got to them. I
was still grooving because I knew all the songs. I could dig through the
mess and find the beauty. A lot of folks couldn't, I gathered. They're
coming back in January (I think with Gumption and Pipe....but that's
tentative).
Okay, next order of business: The Mammoth X-mas party. I went to this
instead of Holly's party. I made a bad choice. So, I was told that the
party started at 9:30, but you had to be on the guest list (which I was) to
get in then. Everyone else would be let in at 11:30. I'm thinking, "free
food, maybe free music. Plus 7 Brides fer da Meatwagon." Okay. I show up
at 9:30 like a timely lad, and meet Jody and Kurt and their significant
others. We wander around. Nothing's going on. There's probably 40 people
there. They're playing boring 80s x-mas music. They change the music an
hour later to disco. Skirt-wearing women begin to dance. Still
boring....no food.... no free shit. Okay how 'bout that band. They didn't
start until midnight, and it wasn't even entertaining (with the exception
of seeing Ed Crawford singing "I'm just a girl.")
Alrighty, then. Saturday night. Descendents was, of course, sold out.
Our record company *FINALLY* did something for us and got us on the guest
list. I will second Jopus' opinion on Swinging Utters. They were fairly
straight-forward, boring punk rawk.
However, Bouncing Souls were much more entertaining. I'll dig on a punk
band that covers Elvis Costello's "Green Shirt" Requisite stage diving and
so forth. But, the singer actually seemed to "get it" -- It was
definately a PUNK show and not a HARDCORE show (if you're the type to make
the distinction.....and I am). He was wearing a suit. He reminded me of
someone, but I never figured out who.
The Descendents were up last. They were actually quite good. I was only
marginally familiar with their stuff (I spent too much of my youth
listening to JFA, Agent Orange and the like), but it rocked. Jody is a big
fan, so he was loving it. The crowd was very YOUNG (or I'm getting old).
I expected more old folks since the descendents have been around since I
was in junior high. But anyway, they're really good players, and Bill
Stevenson continues to crack me up with his drumming.
One great thing about this show was that it started at 8:30 and was over by
midnight, and that's with the descendents doing an hour and a half.
Okay. I'm done. Is anybody out there?
Gary
"They're headed for the old mill"
"No we're not"
"Let's go to the old mill anyway......and get some cider"
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