Just got these pups in the mail. They look FANTASTIC. I've got copies for $12. Also got the Mort Aux Vaches CDs FINALLY if you're after one. Write me here for mailorder. these CDs should be in distros and shops in a few weeks.
Dove Yellow Swans "Live During War Crimes 3" CD
We were always a working band. Always a live band. The other Live During War Crimes discs were all recorded by the band, edited by the band and intended to be presented as refined "works." This third, and final document breaks from that framework in that the sets are presented in their entirety and the music was recorded by other people. At some point mid-road dog mode, I lost the desire to record our shows at all, I think our MD recorder broke and I was tired of all the work all that documentation lead to. I just gave it up. We skipped the editing on this one too. Just let the sets be what they were.
We were lucky enough that some of our fans and supporters didn't give up and managed to record some of our best shows. The recording of our final Chicago show was what pushed me to want this document to exist. That show was YS at it's best. It was our last show in the US. There were tons of friends out. We played well.. AND there happened to be this dude, Mike Carney there with a film crew and audio recording gear. We got the recording a few months after the show that included room mics and board recordings. This set really captures YS at it's most blurred and alien. The guitars are shimmering, the sound is densely textured with unknown chatter and clamor. There are no rough edges, but there is no stasis.
The second track was recorded at the PDX Pop Now festival by John Wiese. This fest is a free, all-ages festival that happens every summer in Portland. The lineup of the festival is picked democratically. YS went on between hip-hop collective, Sandpeople, and Inidie-country artists, Blitzen Trapper. HUH? We decided that we should use the opportunity of playing to a big room full of teens to really just go for it. The set was short, blazing and confused a hell of a lot of people. It was also a hell of a lot of fun for us. Well... It was for me.. Gabe played so aggressively that he tore off one of his fingernails mid set and bled everywhere. He just kept at it. Didn't stop for a second. He's always been a sport.
Track three was a live soundtrack we did to a film by Avalon Kalin. This show was a night of musicians and filmmakers collaborating with the intent of exploring local landmarks. Avalon, Gabriel and myself decided that this statue of Joan Of Arc would be an excellent subject. This track was recorded by Marc Fischer and was played while Avalon lay on his back, shining lights on his film where he had circled a gold Joan who was galloping, reflecting light back into the camera.
The last track was from the last show of our last full US tour. Iowa City. Picador. We were tour raw. Had been rolling with Mouthus for weeks and ditched them in NYC. Our plan was to leave town after the show and drive straight to Boise. We were at that point in the grind where you just don't care about much. It's all about the music and your personal wellbeing has been shot to hell for it. After this show a friend came up and gave me a hug. He said that the set felt intensely emotional and honest. That's about the highest compliment I've received. All I've ever wanted to do with this thing is to participate in an experience that is honest and real. He got it that night. That's all I needed. We packed up and hit the road.