Tearing Fang Island Asunder

I was a very big fan of Brooklyn's partly instrumental, partly math rock freaks Fang Island and their eponymous debut back in 2010. The consequent show I saw them play at Madame JoJo's in London confirmed that their frenetic party rock vibes translated incredibly well to the live arena, a shredding guitar frenzy with ample amounts of party poppers. Now a trio, they have their follow up on the way, entitled Major, and 'Asunder' is the first cut from it. It's brought the vocals to the front a little more, but is essentially the energetic bliss bomb that most would be expecting from the quartet. Major is out on Sargent House on July 24 - pre-order it here.

Fang Island - Asunder

These Mayors Bring People Together...

Here's a funny story.

Back in December 2009, my sister arrived in London. I had been living there for almost eighteen months at that stage. In her first week there I took her to ATP (My Bloody Valentine Nightmare Before Christmas - where this very blog was conceived!) as well as a Shit & Shine show at Madame JoJos. Now, that Shit & Shine show was by far the worst show Ive seen of them, but it is memorable as Sara got shitfaced and proceeded to kiss a "stranger". A couple weeks later we saw some bands play at the Constitution in Camden. We were there for Cumrag, a one off show for Steven Smith (Scul Hazzards). Another was Mayors Of Miyazaki. In amidst the mayhem, Sara again got drunk and proceeded to kiss someone. The same someone from the Shit & Shine show. The same someone that, over two years later, is her husband.

Crazy, right?

Now, I hadn't thought much at all about Mayors Of Miyazaki for some time, then the London math spazz rockers sent me this, their first piece of new recorded material in what seems like forever. It's more of the same in some respects, but it is also somewhat tempered, holding off on some of their more frenetic tangents. Which actually is a good thing. I feel they maybe onto something here. And not just a dirty pash... 'Mortise and Tenon' is preceding their second album (four years in the making), so we might see the rising of these Mayors to the type of power they so rightly deserve.

Mayors Of Miyazaki - Mortise & Tenon

Upcoming Shows:
16th March - Cowley Club, Brighton w/ Ragweed
17th March - Cavern, Exeter w/ Warm Blooded Mammals
18th March - Purple Turtle, Camden

11th April - Unicorn, Camden
12th April - The Junction, Plymouth
13th April - Buffalo Bar, Cardiff

White Heat Purofies

Hail your luck stars, Londoners! Tonight those fine fellows over at White Heat are putting on one hell of a show. Hailing from "a maelstrom of reinvention, reckless idealism, and rainbow-chasing" known as Los Angeles, psych poppers Puro Instinct are hitting Madame JoJo's with locals Echo Lake (who're also launching their single) and No Climate. Puro Instinct used to room with the inimitable Ariel Pink, and the man himself pops up on the track below. Plus, the fact that Puro Instinct are made up by Piper Kaplan, 24, and his 16 year old sister Skylar! They are damned ace, and this should be one killer show. As always, there are tix on the door, just over a fiver, so do yourself a favour and GET THERE!!!

Puro Instinct - Stilyagi (ft Ariel Pink)

Gig - Fang Island - Madame Jojo's, 07.09.2010

Another Tuesday, another gig at Madame Jojo's. Its been some time since I ventured down here - Im sure Ive been down here this year, but my last clear memory was Shit and Shine just before New Years... Maybe Crocodiles? God I dont know. The White Heat juggernaut continues unabated.

With the Tube striking fear into most commuters, it seems quiet..er than usual in Soho, yet Jojo's is pretty close to jammed when it comes to the close of support act Cymbals' set. We only catch the last few tracks, including one we featured at the beginning of the year, and they were fair to middling. They finished off with 'Summer Job' though, so a good closer.

Fang Island are a strange beast. It was clear from their self-titled album of this year (out through Sargent House), and even more evident upon seeing them live, that the Rhode Island band were created solely for a few guys who love - LOVE - to play guitar. Or moreso, two guys who love going fret crazy together, and another guy to pull all the moves on his own. The bass and drums are almost secondary to this fact - something of a Guitar Hero Live then.

Which isnt entirely fair, especially when it comes to the drummer Marc St. Sauveur. Looking like a ex-member of a Motorhead tribute band, St. Sauveur truly showed his worth tonight, keeping an incredibly tight and impressive beat to ensure that the rest of the group are reined in, which could be an integral necessity.

The core of Fang Island - guitarists Jason Bartell, Chris Georges and Nicolas Andrew Sadler - are avid guitarist noodlers. YOUNG avid guitarist noodlers. Therefore the sound of Fang Island is a hybrid of 80s hair metal fretboarding and O-face pulling, 90s indie college, and 00s hipster value. In other words - the perfect backing band for Andrew W K.

But it sounds like Im being a bit derogatory. No, sir! All of these elements combine to create an amazingly fun set. Sticking predominantly to their latest album, the set bursts out of the tracks and barely lets up for the entire hour. The only blip? The airing of a new track - it sounded too much like a 90s indie college rock song for my liking. Furthermore, it sampled a proper element of singing - in the past their 'singing' has been a mere addition to the sound, and is mostly chants. As a three force chant, the lyrics are impressive - but there is no clear lead vocalist, and this showed in the new track. But as mentioned, it was a mere blip on what was a strong energetic showing - despite the sailor shirts and hooded ponchos, these are guys who enjoy playing far more than they enjoy posing.

Finally, I have to pay mention to the final track they played last night - 'Treeton'. They did do a funky cover for the encore, but it was an anti-climax to this, a sprawling track that really showcased the schizophrenic nature of this party band. The opening was fast and furious, standard Fang Island shtick, before slowing down and the three-way chants added to a swirling rise in sound which was a lovely mirror of Sigur Ros-esque beauty and bombast, before exploding into once more frenetic guitar wielding before crashing down in an impressive crescendo of sound.

Old Blue Last are the next stop on this whirlwind band's list - tonight! - so go grab a ticket, its only a fiver, and enjoy.

Judge, (Philadelphia Grand) Jury and Executioner

Tonight at Barfly Camden Dalston (and SM) faves Male Bonding are playing.  They are
supported by the very able Philadelphia Grand Jury.  Consisting of MC Bad Genius on bass,
keyboard and guitar and Berkfinger on vocals and guitar, the Australian duo (now with
drummer Calvin Welch) pump out effervescent garage rock pop, and have been going
from strength to strength - they played an especially delicious White Heat gig at Madame
Jojo's, last month, and recently toured with the likes of Fiery Furnaces (a band Ive never
fully gotten into, but still...) They mark another Aussie band who have fled to the UK to
chance their arm at something bigger and brighter.  Check out their 7" now.  

On a side note, the other support act is Standard Fare, who we have championed in the past.
This promises to be a special (and very sunny) gig indeed, so make sure you grab tix now!

Philadelphia Grand Jury - The Good News

Sleep with the Crocodiles, See...

Crocodiles' new single.  Cleaner, lighter, echoier - and
radder.  This was evident through their live set at Madame
Jojo's a couple weeks ago - still tres cool, of course,
Brandon Welschez doesnt do it any different - so this pushes
forth as a follow up that will be a true progression.  7"
will be out in August through Fat Possum, with a new album
in the works before 2010 is out.

Crocodiles - Sleep Forever

Japandroids Can't Get Any Younger - Can They?

picture by charlotte zoller

Vancouver-based garage/punksters Japandroids plan to release a series of singles this year, both digitally and in 7” format, each featuring an outtake from 2009’s fucking amazing Post Nothing. The first one, “Art Czars”, dropped back in April - I didnt post about it, Ill talk more in a mo - and now the second is being readied for a July 7 release. It features “Younger Us”, backed by a cover of X’s “Sex And Dying In High Society.”

Now I have professed my love of Japanadroid's sweaty loved-up debut on a number of occasions. I have also stated how great they were when they trashed Madame Jojo's last year. However the new singles have a much cleaner, crisper sound to them - and this frightens me. Although it wont change their live presence - fingers crossed - I feel that the better production values actually devalue the snot-nosed rambunctious aesthetic appeal these Vancouvereans hold. I still hang out for each of these admittedly cool releases - but my enthusiasm is diminishing somewhat...

Anyway, maybe I will be disheartened for no reason. And maybe you'll love what is in store. Check it out and make up your own mind....

Japandroids - Younger Us

From Francophile terrorism, aquatic dinosaurs are born...

What a crap title. That said, it was the only way my hazy brain could process the information...

Tonight at White Heat @ Madame JoJos, San Diego noiseniks CROCODILES are playing. Featuring members of sadly now-defunct The Plot To Blow Up The Eiffel Tower, CROCODILES throw a distortion shimmer over their version of the fuzzy garage sound that is so popular in this day and age, but also inject their 60s pop meanderings with a heady dose of vitriol. Their album Summer of Hate left an indelible mark on many best of '09 lists, and with good reason. No Age have been championing them since 2008; they have done songs with Dum Dum Girls; there a sonic comparisons to Crystal Stilts; they have joined Fat Possum Records, home of fellow distortion lover Wavves (whilst a predominantly blues oriented label - go figure...). There is considerable substance to their style...

CROCODILES are supported tonight by Manchunian Milk Maid and US stablemates The Ropes - all for the trademark White Heat fiver! Good way to start off the month of June methinks! Start by listening to CROCODILES' title track, and their Pastels cover!

CROCODILES - Summer of Hate
CROCODILES - Nothing To Be Done (Pastels cover)

Goddamned beach lovers unite...

The above heading is not entirely true. Any person who is truly living has some love of the beach. And Im luckier than many - Ive been on Oz's beaches for the past month. But Ive come back to no beaches, the lying fuck that is the English weather, and a glut of perfect summer tracks filling my headspace.

SADS much?

Nah, its all cool. Although I missed out on what would have been a cracker of a gig at White Heat @ Madame Jojo's last night, Im revelling in Best Coast's sunny, fuzzy sonic whirls. Bethany Cosentino is my current heart girl - sorry Cassie Ramone! - and is it any wonder with tracks like this?!? I wish I had heard 'When Im With You' last year when it was released - its certainly my favourite song of the moment (mingled bizarrely with Grails' 'Silk Rd' and Grey Daturas' 'A Japanese Romance' - that makes no sense whatsoever, but so be it...), and the newie 'Far Away' shows she's no one trick pony - I think. I love what she's doing anyway, and is promising to back up these beautiful 7"'s with a debut album later this year.

Cant wait for summer...

Best Coast - Far Away

Best Coast - When Im With You