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Current mood:  awake Category: Music
My second day in New York City was split into two parts. The majority of the morning and afternoon was dedicated to manning the BTR table for College Day at CMJ, and the night involved a big dinner and more shows.
For College Day, the BTR staff set up shop at the back of the auditorium on the fifth floor of the Kimmel Building at NYU. There we spread the good word and handed out glow-in-the-dark BTR buttons, swank T-shirts and BTR Live Studio compilation albums, volumes 1 and 2.
Naturally, all this cheery promotion came to a halt when the panels were going, and esp. afterward when the food arrived. It was actually kind of cyclical. Promote, break and listen to college music directors/station managers, eat, rinse and repeat. I met some far flung DJs, filled a pocket full of business cards and wondered about where I would go later.
We broke down our table after the CMJ awards ceremony, packed up all the BTR propaganda and brought it back uptown to the office. Then it was on to Sammy's Noodle House for dinner, with about 20 DJs and staff from the ever-growing BTR fambly. Much sake was drank, though I stuck to the green tea. I just can't conduct a good interview on the sauce, and I heartily thanked myself later for resisting the temptation.
Still, it was a hell of a reunion. Even BP Fallon showed up, in a dapper black bowler and matching coat (festive Chucks in effect). The only ones missing were DJ Drew (victim to the Swine Flu, man I feel bad for that guy) and DJ Mojo, and no one could call him because dude doesn't have a cell phone.
After that, having not even looked at the CMJ schedule, I found myself alone for the first time. DJ Wynn, my partner in crime, went home to eat vitamin C and drink hot tea, as he was not feeling well. He said I should go to Pianos, so I did, and saw three smashing sets.
When I walked in the door to the staging area, I was immediately confronted by a fellow in red shorts and a red shirt, wearing a red backpacking/vacuum cannister-type contraption on his back. Two wrist thick antennae shot out over his head on opposite sides, each about 3-4 feet in length, and each bent down at the ends like street lamps. Red and green light bulbs adorned both. He had a control panel on his chest composed of about 6 switchplates, just like the kind next to almost every basic household door. He was flipping them on and off to the music, changing the blinking sequence and shuffling about.
He was posted up in the middle of the room and singing with no microphone. The band had apparently eschewed the stage for the floor, and, after casting my eyes about more fully, I figured it was probbaly because they couldn't fit everyone on the plank.
In addition to Dynamo, there were three other chief singers. One wore a full-body Spiderman outfit, another wore a leotard with jeans, and another cat was representing in gold sequin pants, matching bowtie and a collared shirt. They also had back-up singers in Grecian robes, one person (no idea if it was a man or a woman) in a massive shark outfit, and another full-costumed character that looked a bit like a birthday cake. All the music came from a machine, I think, and it was a mix of 8 Bit and highly energetic indietronica. "This retinue should just parade down the street like it were Mardi Gras," I thought.
The choruses were Journey in size, often built to crazy explosions of emotion, and the energy was extremely positive. The four singers were everywhere, interacting with the crowd or just writhing on the floor. Imagine Of Montreal and Monotonix combining for a kid-friendly show. That was it, and it was hard not to get into, as their enthusiasm was quite contagious.
I learned they were called The Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt (after talking to the man in the leotard, look for the interview in the coming weeks In The Den) and was tickled to hear they were signed to Luaka Bop records. While we spoke, the band set up collapsible laundry hampers (which quickly filled), and then they were off to their next show.
After that came Free Energy, signed to DFA Records, whom I had heard plenty about but never actually heard. Their set was all about rampant audience participation via huge choruses and straight-up rock and roll. Cowbell, check. Japanese rising sun T-shirt, check. Chops and stache, check. Drummer twisting drum stick between fingers, check. Shredding (on a glittery Slash guitar), check. Lead singer in vintage Batman shirt, check. Song with a chorus of "Bang Bang Pop Pop," check.
I suppose the music could easily be categorized as '70s' rock, while we're on this ride, but without any high-pitched harmonies. They got some funk in their blood to boot, and the frontman is rather Jagger in his movements. Certain aspects, like the fleet-fingered guitar solos and over-the-top lyrics, reminded me a bit of The Darkness, minus the gauche and wasted career. The set was super-tight and the crowd was super-hyped.
To my ears, Free Energy aren't exactly breaking any new ground, but the ground they tread is damned well-kept, like an executive golf course, and they sounded amazing live. This is the kind of show where everybody gets cheered up, rowdy, then meets someone new, and then takes that new friend home for a bit of love. I'm saying, the frontman just looked so damn happy to be there, it was hard for anyone to have a puss on the ol' face (look for the live interview in the coming weeks In The Den).
After that was Shilpa Ray And Her Happy Hookers (apparently all dudes), and I didn't know it was her until the last song. She sounds like a female Jim Morrison, and that harmonium she wields is richer than chocolate torte. Also, she struck me as quite cabaret in her singing style. Shilpa has that big band swang, with a mighty backbeat, though the actual band was not swinging much. Other than the dexterous bassist, who looks like he works in the lumber department at Home Depot, the rest of the Happy Hookers were rather subdued.
Still, this made Shilpa herself even more impressive. There were crescendos and harmonies that made me take a step back in awe at the sheer power coming from her throat. I had a great interview with her afterwards, on the sidewalk in front of Pianos, and it may have been one of the best of the week (again, listen up for that beast In The Den).
Three bands, three interviews, plus a stop for a lonely late-night dinner and time in transit, I was done for the night. Peace out until Friday.
 | Currently listening:
Central Market
By Tyondai Braxton
Release date: 2009-09-15 |
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6:01 AM
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