Snakes on a Stage
Daniel Boatsman / For the Times-Standard
Article Launched: 01/29/2007 12:51:09 PM PST
I hate snakes more than MacGyver hates guns. When I hear the name Iceage Cobra, I envision a forty foot long serpent slinking through snow drifts, swallowing people whole .. la Jon Voight's death scene in "Anaconda." I'm talking 100 percent pure nightmare fuel. Musically, Iceage Cobra lives up to their name, producing a large aggressive sound infusing a variety of older rock stylings with an edgy, modern perspective.
Iceage Cobra is a three piece out of Spokane, Wash. (who later migrated to Seattle), with Metch Brash on drums, Brad Kaufmann on bass and Jordan West on guitar and vocals. This is a band that takes rocking out seriously. In a nutshell, Iceage Cobra is what the "Seattle Sound" of the mid to late nineties should have evolved into, had it not burnt out in its own clich..s.
But don't infer with this comparison that the band is derivative in any way. Iceage Cobra have carved out a niche for themselves in the hipster music scene without any of the trappings that the description implies. They have strong rock chops with a healthy sense of humor. Being from Spokane, I credit this in part to the unique sound that has been coming out of Spokane as of late.
Iceage Cobra is
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an impressively versatile band, who seamlessly combine the familiar chord-driven, histrionic melodies of grunge with punk aggression and aesthetics. Their reworking and fusing of genres generally assumed to be exhausted, produces songs that are fresh yet familiar, but never trite.
"Tornado of Knives" is a perfect example of this: straight forward rock that would make a sixteen-year-old Fall Out Boy fan seek out a Mudhoney album. West's vocals go for the jugular during the chorus with an unrelenting intensity. "Deathmobile" has tinges of Mark Lanegan with testosterone-driven guitars reminiscent of the Burden Brothers. "Do the Black Lung" is a swift punch to the face with Brash's relentless drumming and an infectious guitar riff.
With all the energy that pours out of their debut album, Brilliant Ideas from Amazing People (Heavy Soul Records), it doesn't hold a candle to the intensity of their live shows.
Get an overdose of adrenaline (and venom) this Saturday at 10:30 p.m. at The Alibi, Feb. 7 at 8 p.m. at The Placebo, and again at The Alibi on March 3. There are three opportunities. You have no excuse to miss this band.
Daniel Boatsman is a frequent contributor to Northern Lights. Contact him at northernlights@times-standard.com
If you go: Iceage Cobra brings their serpentine sound to the Alibi on Saturday, Jan. 27 at 10:30 p.m., sharing the bill with the Ravens and Origami Elephant $5 21+
Ice Age Cobra to rock Monte VPublished in the Arizona Daily Sun on 11/10/2006If you're one of the legion of disaffected youth who wore flannel and loved overdriven, obnoxious rock, don't miss Ice Age Cobra tonight at the Monte Vista Lounge.
The echoes of mid-'90s Seattle Sound are evident in this trio's rock sound, but don't think this is a bunch of nostalgic Nirvana wannabees -- the group boasts a raw, infectious sound that feels as much (if not more) punk as Pearl Jam.
Between the bold, punchy sound of their newest album and stories of lead guitarist Jordan West climbing the rafters and playing guitar upside-down like some possum on goofballs, this is a show not to be missed.
I talked with Jordan (and the rest of the band on speakerphone) a few days ago about their upcoming show:
Sun: So how many guys are in the band?
Jordan: There are three of us.
Sun: Yeah, you have your own flavor, but I figured you guys were a power trio like the old Seattle Sound bands.
Jordan: Last night we were told we sounded like Mudhoney. Honestly, I don't own any Nirvana or Alice in Chains albums -- or Mudhoney or the Melvins -- but comparisons, honestly, for me playing guitar, are just coincidence. I guess it just seeps in subconsciously. It's impossible to avoid labels, but more than anything I just want to sound like Ice Age Cobra.
Sun: So I've read a few things about the your live shows and how much energy you guys have. The stage is where you feel at home, I take it?
Jordan: Absolutely. But we're getting a lot better in the studio. It took almost six times before we were comfortable enough to just let loose. I've finally perfected a way to rock out and still keep my headphones on. Recording, it's just impossible -- my headphones would fly off or fall down around my neck and I'd screw up my guitar part or whatever.
Sun: God bless the Internet or else I wouldn't have seen this story: You apparently hung upside-down from the ceiling and played your guitar during a gig at the Stanwood Hotel in Washington?
Jordan: Yeah yeah, I've done that a few times. In my old band, I did it from like a 20-foot balcony, over the railing -- which was cool because if I fell from that I probably would have died. That was a lot of fun -- there's not many venues in Seattle to hang from and I don't have a wireless guitar unit anymore, which makes it a lot harder to do. It's just however long my cord is.
Sun: You just released a new studio disc, "Brilliant Ideas from Amazing People," last month. Will your set be mostly the new stuff?
Jordan: Everything that we play, with the exception of one song, will probably be on that CD. One song that's newer than that album we'll also play too. Pretty much everything you're gonna see in person is on that CD though.
Sun: Have you been to Flagstaff before?
Jordan: We've played Flagstaff once, and they booked us two shows in one day. We played a house party in the afternoon and then a show at the Monte Vista.
Sun: Do you still dig house parties?
Jordan: Yeah, we love house shows. We actually picked up one on tour. But, I mean, it varies. A good show happens anywhere you're at. The energy of the crowd and the energy we're putting out on stage. We've had great shows at bars that have a 300 capacity and amazing shows in our basement where we cram in a hundred people but we're really playing to the 20 or 30 people up front. It just depends on the vibe.
Sun: Anything else you want to add?
Jordan: If you could tell people to check out "The Emergency" from Seattle, they are one of the best bands out there right now. Pick up their new album, "Can You Dig It."
Jeff Reeves can be reached at (928) 556-2259 or jreeves@azdailysun.com
Rhythm & ViewsTucson Weekly 11/09/06By ANNIE HOLUB email this authorRhythm & ViewsICEAGE COBRA
Brilliant Ideas From Amazing People (Heavy Soul)
What exactly is an Iceage Cobra? Seems like during the Ice Age, cobras wouldn't have fared too well, what with all of the freezing cold ice on the ground. But herein lies the secret to Iceage Cobra's genius: survival under extreme conditions. An anomaly that defies nature. A transmutation of species.
Observation provides the following evidence: On "Dance Floor's on Fire," a blues-rock riff turns into handclaps, cowbell and a roboto-voice singing "everybody, everybody." The first "Sensual Interlude" has honky-tonk piano for what seems like a ridiculous amount of time, and the second "Sensual Interlude" sounds like something off of an old DJ Shadow record. Then "Deathmobile" kicks in with a throaty "yeah!" and Iceage Cobra returns to their dirty stoner rock ways.
"Acid Pony" has the infectious refrain of "every day been workin' so hard," and who can't give in to a song called "Weapon of Mass Seduction," especially one that insists, "I'm a sex symbol, star of your dreams"? "Do the Black Lung" gets all spacey toward the end, after shaking your head with fierce guitars and drums, and following some strange crowd screams at the beginning of "Tornado of Knives," the chorus--"Slice!--is sung skinhead-punk style.
Conclusion: Yes, this is the kind of music that lives off the sickly, smoky air of clubs with bathrooms that breed hepatitis. But Iceage Cobra survives because they can get up off their bellies and dance on the slippery, cold ground.
By James Hudson http://www.tucsonscene.comEx-Tucsonan Matt Brown stamps his approval on this show. Here's what he had to say about IAC:
They are actually affecting the direction of Seattle's live music scene, and I hear a strong element of what I love about Tucson rock (K.O. Pills, Swing Ding, Pork Torta) in what they do.
Five bucks. If you go and it sucks, I'll make sure to buy you a few beers next time I'm in town. If you go and have fun, we'll split the tab.
OK, that last part was directed at me, but if he is serious about splitting my usual tab, these guys must kick ass. And you can never go wrong with the P-Dubs, right? Listen to some sample tracks at The Provocative Whites and Ice Age Cobra.
Rocka Rolla * Rock of Ages
BY HANNAH LEVIN, The Stranger (Oct. 12, 2006)
""I think a house party is probably the purest way to experience a band..it's our favorite setting to play in," says Iceage Cobra frontman Jordan West. We're talking via phone on the Sunday after his band played a well-attended Saturday-night blowout held at the north Seattle house he and his band share with their close friends and frequent billmates Thee Emergency. The official cause for celebration was the birthday of Emergency vixen Dita Vox, but there was a distinct sense of anticipatory revelry for the Cobra kids: Their debut record, Brilliant Ideas from Amazing People (Heavy Soul), dropped October 10. Recorded just two months ago with the help of Orbit Audio owner and engineer Joe Reineke, the assertively titled disc spills over with the tightly wrought power chords and feel-good, hard-rock barrages that have earned these Spokane transplants a devout and obscenely energetic following.
What's remarkable about that fan base was in full effect on Saturday. Most young bands don't draw such a broad range of ages right out of the gate, but Iceage Cobra had multiple generations pogo-ing toward potential whiplash in that basement, with old-school veterans such as former Stanwood Hotel owner Bobby Trash rocking out alongside success-minded scenester Ben Lashes and an exuberant collection of budding Gen-Y punks. Perhaps this is because the band's broadly appealing sound is a seamless mix of classic rock and soul elements with spirited punk punch, but there's also something to be said for the sheer energy of their live delivery.
West began the show with a broad smile and tentative strum of his guitar, his head wrapped with a carefully folded white bandana. However, as they launched into "Weapon of Mass Seduction," the bandana flew off instantly, freeing up his long straight hair to turn into a windmill and causing the closely crowded partygoers to initially step back, then lunge forward, fists in the air and heads banging in unison. It was quite a sight.
It's also a reaction West has been striving toward since his teens, and one he knows is important for the band's spiritual endurance. "I went to local shows nonstop in high school. I remember seeing a [now-defunct Portland] band called Orchi Bort and watching the singer smashing his microphone into his head until blood was running down his face," he recalls when I ask him about his formative experiences at live shows. "The only attitude I want to have is to play every show like it's my last one," he says. "I don't expect the crowd to move unless the people who are playing are moving." You can witness the Cobra's joyous chaos this Friday, October 13 at the Sunset, when they play their official release party with Thee Emergency, the Cops, and the Slats. The underage crowd can catch them on Saturday, October 14, at the Paradox with Ms. Led, Scarlet Room, and Bad Love Sessions."
"One of the more entertaining new bands in Seattle, Iceage Cobra bring the rock in a big way with a high-energy mix of garage-rock, punk, metal, and even a bit of rap, powered by gonzo guitar riffs, multiple time changes, and ass-shaking beats." - Don Yates, Music Director KEXP 90.3 http://www.kexp.org
And from Ashley Graham at The Wig Fits All Heads:
Iceage Cobra CD Release Shows
October 13 - The Sunset Tavern w/ The Cops, Thee Emergency
October 14 - The Paradox w/ Ms. Led
by Ashley Graham
10.08.06
Seattle, you are one lucky biatch this week, what with the release celebrations of not one but TWO great bands from yr neck of the woods. And this band's even havin' two shows! Friday serves the old folks, while Saturday stirs up the kiddos. It's true Iceage Cobra isn't quite a Seattle original, but they've surely been embraced by the likes of all types of Seattle music fans--from the indie snobs to those more inclined toward their hard rockin' roots.
We all know I'm a fan of the loud-as-fuck rockers, but I'm ESPECIALLY a fan of these ones because they hail from none other than my hometown, Spokane, WA. Nothing more needs to be said, as all kinds of awesomeness can now be assumed.
Catch these fellas at their back to back dates this weekend in celebration of the release of their new disc Brilliant Ideas from Amazing People.
Essential Info.
The Venue: Sunset Tavern
The Support: The Cops, Thee Emergency
The Date: October 13
The Time: 9pm
The Price: $8
The Catch: 21+
Essential Info.
The Venue: The Paradox
The Support: Ms. Led
The Date: October 14
The Time: 7:30pm
The Price: $8
http://www.thewigfitsallheads.com/iceagecobra_preview.html
Iceage CobraOctober 13, 2006 - The Sunset Tavern - Seattle, WAby Dagmar Patterson10.29.06Iceage Cobra proves that sometimes things fall into place perfectly in rock. When you find a local band you would gladly die for, and you know you can see them often--do you take that for granted? Maybe. Probably not. Because you know they will leave you, and you want them to be happy and, wait--this isn't some sort of impending breakup advice, it's meant to be a review of the band I am talking about & their cd release party.
There was an ice cream cake with the band's cover design on it that suffered a sad end (something to do with the lack of a working freezer). There were people packed as a sweaty mass in the Sunset Tavern, with its red walls and strange ability to expand. Whatever the situation, and I have seen them play several venues, they make themselves at home. This is rare, and this may sound like a rather dubious compliment, but Iceage Cobra sounds great when I might be a bit tipsy, and they sound great when I am sober. Some bands aren't capable of that--it's just a fact.
A trio that formed in Spokane, they moved to Seattle in September 2005. What Spokane lost, we gained. They've become what Seattle music should be. Or perhaps they have made it what Seattle music should be. In any case, there is no doubting their musical ability and let's praise the fortune that they use these gifts to play titanic music.
Singer/guitarist Jordan West backed up his classic speed and power with high kicks and leaps--he was an energetic bolt of lightning--Metch Brasch on drums/vocals was a deadly drummer--and Brad Kaufmann, bass/vocals, swept across the neck of a bass with greatness. And they all sang, well at that. They are a top act.
They pulled people in to see them from all over a city that generally sticks to its neighborhoods. The songs, including the anthemic "Dance Floor..s on Fire" and "Tornado of Knives," purely rock. And groove. I cannot say too many good things about this band.
They will love me and leave me, I know and accept that. It has to be an open relationship.
Iceage Cobra begins a tour on October 29th that will take them from Spokane to New York City, then back through Austin to Portland. Their debut cd Brilliant Ideas from Amazing People can be purchased at CD Baby & Sonic Boom Records.
Iceage Cobra-Brilliant Ideas for Amazing People
By Doug Simpson for Campus Circle
Brilliant Ideas from Amazing People is a concentrated tornado of a debut, like getting hit in the head with a powerful punch while drunk on high-octane moonshine. When guitarist Jordan West, drummer Metch Brasch and bassist Brad Kaufmann proclaim "The Dance Floor Is on Fire" you know they aren't talking about some soulless retro-disco, they want to hose you down with the same fiery six-string gasoline that fueled Kiss' "Strutter." There doesn't seem to be one ounce of contrivance in this trio's bones, even when they blend in some maximum rock 'n' soul (Who-esque "Acid Pony"), some rump-ruffling beats (Beck-like "We're Gonna Win Some Money") or brag they are the "sex symbol of your wet dreams" ("Weapon of Mass Seduction").
Grade: A