PICK OF THE WEEK

88BOADRUM
BOREDOMS
with…
Hisham A. Bharoocha (Soft Circle), Zach Hill (Hella), Butchy Fuego (Pit Er Pat), Kid Millions (Oneida), Dave Nuss (No-Neck Blues Band / Under Satan’s Sun), Christopher Powell (Icy Demons / Man Man), Aaron Moore (Volcano the Bear), Warren Huegel (Tussle), Dustin Donaldson (Freelance Session, I Am Spoonbender, Link Wray, Thought Industry), Derek James (Entrance), Joe Plummer (Modest Mouse, All Smiles, Black Heart Procession), Tim Soete (The Fucking Champs), Michael Tapper (We Are Scientists), Adam Pfahler (Jawbreaker), Claude Collins-Stracensky, Sara Lund (Unwound), Matthew Hartman (Sic Alps), Chris Moore (Negative Approach), Abby Ball, Ryan Huber, Geoff Soule (FUCK, Tara Jane O’neil), John Dwyer (Thee Oh Sees), Shahin Motia (Oneida / Ex Models / Knyfe Hyts), Alexis Garapulos (Arp / Expanding Headband), Katelyn Hall (Mika Miko), David Janik (Company), Michael Henrickson (Smegma / Jackie-O-Motherfucker), Tom Recchion, Michael Bulington, Trent Moorman (Like a Kite/The Saturday Knights), Brian Dwyer, Damon Eliza Palermo (Mi Ami), Michael Catano, Vice Cooler (xbxrx / Hawnay Troof), Andy Connors (ex-A Minor Forest / Lumen), Weasel Walter (xbxrx), Adam Baz (Evangelista, Ohioan, Nightwonds), Dave Aron (Koi Pond), Pete Vogl (Koi Pond), Robin Easton, Alianna Kalaba (We Ragazzi), Gregory Rogove (Priestbird), Jonathan Holland (Tussle), Brendan Fowler (BARR / Car Clutch), Adam Autry, Anthony Petrovic (Ezeetiger / The Drums), Rob Barber (High Places), Dan Rowan, Grace Lee (Foot Village), Jason Adam Baker (Necking), Andrew Neuhues, Sandra Vu (Midnight Movies), Than Luu (Black Gold / M. Ward / Adam Franklin), Jaiko Suzuki (Electro Putas), Brian Miller (Foot Villlage), Ryan Pritts (Paik / Bolmongani), Gabie Strong, Jessica Espeleta, Patty Schemel (Hole, Juliette Lewis, Pink), Roy Tatum (Wives), London May (Samhain / Dag Nasty), Wendy Shuey, Paul Quattrone (!!!, Modey Lemon, Midnite Snake), Josh Taylor (Foot Village / Friends Forever), Sarah Anderson (Lucky Dragons), James Jolliff (Brother Reade), Brian Girgus (lowercase / Track Star), Yoshi Nakamoto (The Aislers Set), Nora Brank, Chris Hathwell (Moving Units), Kevin Stuart (Crystal Antlers), Damian Edwards (Crystal Antlers), Bianca Sparta (Erase Errata), Michael La Franchi (Giant Drag / Let’s Go Sailing), Taylor Richardson (Sunburned Hand of the Man), Kevin Haskins (Bauhaus), Diva Dompe (Black Black), Tennessee Thomas (The Like), Erin Garcia (Brother Reade), Steven McCarty (Dead Meadow), Joachim Cooder, Mike Sord Gard (M. Sord), Aaron Sperske (Beachwood Sparks), Sara Diaz, Wendy Farina, Greg Fox (Pink Mountain / Family of Love)

8.8.08 Friday
La Brea Tar Pits
Info
 

THE HUSH SOUND [listen]
w/ The Cab, Steel Train & The Morning Light
8.5.08 Tues
El Rey Theater
Info
Contest closed–Winner TBN
 

JAGUAR LOVE [listen]
Two shows–w/ The Faint
8.6.08 Wed — Glass House
Contest closed–Winner TBN
8.7.08 Thurs — Henry Fonda
Contest closed–Winner TBN
 
BONUS: Henry Fonda show winner will also be set up for their Beauty Bar after-party following the show. *Must be 21+ with ID

Warpaint @ Spaceland (August Mondays residency) Mon 8/11
Warpaint @ Spaceland (August Mondays residency) Mon 8/18
Black Francis @ Spaceland Wed 8/20
Warpaint @ Spaceland (August Mondays residency) Mon 8/25
Liam Finn w/ The Veils & Karen Tatoyan @ Echoplex Sat 9/20
The New Year w/ A Weather @ The Echo Wed 9/24
Mission of Burma @ Echoplex (Performing Vs.) Thu 9/25
The Tyde, Mia Doi Todd, DJ Nobody @ Echoplex Fri 8/22
The Germs w/ The Mae Shi @ Echoplex Sat 8/23
Rogue Wave w/ Neil Halstead @ Hotel Cafe Thu 8/28
Wire @ Echoplex Tue 10/14
Southern Culture On The Skids @ The Echo Sun 8/31
Polvo w/ Trans AM & The Drones @ Echoplex Sun 8/31
Sam Sparro @ El Rey Mon 9/8
Alejandro Escovedo @ Troubadour Tue 9/9
DeVotchKa @ El Rey Tue 9/16
The Fratellis w/ Electric Touch @ The Wiltern Tue 9/16
Does It Offend You, Yeah? @ Troubadour Mon 9/22
Solas @ El Rey Wed 9/24
Juno Reactor @ El Rey Thu 9/25
David Byrne @ Greek Theatre (Songs of David Byrne & Brian Eno) Fri 10/3
Detour Festival @ Downtown (The Mars Volta, Gogol Bordello, Shiny Toy Guns, The Presets, Cut Copy, Matt Costa, Black Lips, Hercules and Love Affair, Grand Ole Party, Datarock, Bitter:Sweet, The Submarines, Adam Freeland, The Bloody Beetroots, Surkin, Para One, Guns n Bombs Live, Pea) Sat 10/4
Ron Sexsmith @ Troubadour Sat 10/11
Fujiya & Miyagi @ Troubadour Thu 10/30
Ray Lamontagne w/ Leona Naess @ The Wiltern Thu 10/30

MONDAY
Amanda Palmer (Dresden Dolls) @ Troubadour
Son Ambulance w/ Weinland & Agronomo @ Knitting Factory
Warpaint @ Spaceland (August Mondays residency)
Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band @ Amoeba
»continue reading Losanjealous Concert Picks: August 4 - 10

Wanda Jackson, Live in 2007. Photo by the author.

“We do need a girl…” type of thinking got Wanda Jackson on tour with Elvis in 1955, where he convinced her to play rockabilly, and gave her his ring.

Wanda already stood out from the country scene, coming out of Oklahoma, glamming up the cowboy look with long earrings, silk fringe, and black hair.

As rockabilly carved a dance party out of country and blues, Wanda Jackson became the first female rocker, the first woman to growl and squeal and shake this new kind of music and culture into existence.

This past weekend, she played her yearly show at the Knitting Factory, at age 70, making history and spreading a little gospel.

The following conversation takes place in her hotel room, sifting through newspaper clippings and photos, which her husband brings everywhere they go, just in case.

Wendell (Wanda’s husband): Thought.

Wanda: What?

Wendell: Thought, would it be good to dedicate “I Saw the Light” to Janis Joplin? Or is that a little morbid? …Janice Mar-, uh…

Wanda: You said it right.

Wendell: Martin. I said Joplin.

Wanda: Oh! Janis Joplin! I was thinking Martin.

Wendell: Anyways, I thought. Okay?

Wanda [To Daiana]: Have you heard of Janis Martin? Rockabilly girl singer from my era. Her one big hit was “My Boy Elvis.” Some of the rock and roll people know her. The kids. I say kids, I mean young adults.

D: Do your fans surprise you?
»continue reading A Hotel Room Chat with Wanda Jackson, First Lady of Rock N’ Roll

PHOTO: The Subways reach our Santa Monica beach.

August 9, 2006. A date that lives on in infamy. A day that marked the one and only collaboration of Bill DeMarco and The Cowboy for Losanjealous. The occasion? Fun U.K. trio The Subways performing at The Troubadour. Cut to 2008, and nearly two years to the exact date, and the world is a very different place–DeMarco has retired, Subway sandwiches are now just $5, the war on terror finally over–and The Subways return to The Troubadour, their shiny new Butch Vig’d-up LP (ProTools’d in this very city!) in tow.

Beyond a rare glimpse at a nascent rendering of the Losanjealous trademark photo watermark, this one-off hybrid review yielded such nuggets of pullquote gold as:

“They have a long way to go before they’re anywhere near as good as the Eagles. On the other hand, the Subways are 19 years old and make records. I’m 46 and hanging out in a gay bar the size of a Costco on Robertson.”

“Some glassy-eyed cougar was chatting me up as I pounded Jameson after neverending Jameson. ‘Can you believe I’m 55 years old?’ ‘No you are not.’ ‘Oh but I am.’ ‘Get right the hell out. I thought you were 80, minimum.’”

Come this Friday, will DeMarco and/or The Cowboy reemerge to grace us with a gonzo dispatch from The Subways at The Troubadour and/or the surrounding WeHo watering holes? And, if so, Will MVPete reemerge to comment on the whole mess? Stay Tuned.

The Subways w/ blackmarket & Spacehog @ Troubadour Fri 8/1

Fig. 1.

1. Upon lifting off the lid off your Tito’s Box™, do not become alarmed should you see only fried tortilla triangles (”chips”) and not your taco(es), salsa, burrito(es) and guac. (Guac optional.) [Fig. 1]

2. Invert the top lid of your Tito’s Box™ and place adjacent to box bottom half.

3. Slowly remove “chips” and place within inverted lid to uncover your ordered food items. [Fig. 2]

4. Enjoy, alternating bites from chips/salsa/guac to food item(s) and back.

5. Repeat.

Fig. 2.

NOTE: Your oil-dappled Tito’s Box™ lid bearing your purchase total scribbled in pencil is an acceptable receipt for business tax purposes.

A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.4 shook large parts of Southern California, shaking a wide swath from Ventura County to San Diego.

The quake shook downtown L.A. buildings and was felt as far east as Palm Springs.

It was centered near Chino Hills, about 30 miles east of Los Angeles, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

There were no reports of major damage or injuries. But the Los Angeles Police Department reported minor structural damage at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center.

The magnitude of the quake was originally set at 5.8. But Caltech officials downgraded it to 5.4 and said they doubted the temblor caused major structural damage. [LAT]

PICK OF THE WEEK

THE WATSON TWINS
w/ Tim Fite
Tue 7/29
The Echo
Info
 
 

HEADS UP

No Age, Mika Miko, Abe Vigoda, Infinite Body & Protect Me @ Ricardo Montalbán Theatre Sun 8/3
Faunts w/ Music Video & Stop Revolt @ Silverlake Lounge Wed 8/6
Flosstradamus with Devlin and Darko @ Echoplex Sat 8/9
James Murphy and Pat Mahoney (LCD Soundsystem/DFA) w/ Jason Bentley Pool Party @ Roosevelt Hotel Tropicana Bar (12-6 pm) Sun 8/10
Previously on Lost w/ Discovery Zone @ Knitting Factory Thu 8/21
She Wants Revenge & Monsters Are Waiting @ The Getty Fri 8/29
Fuck Yeah Fest @ Echoplex ( No Age, Negative Approach, Matt & Kim & many more) Sat 8/30
Lindsey Buckingham @ Royce Hall Sun 9/14
Vampire Weekend @ Glass House Tue 9/16
The Hives & Eagles of Death Metal @ Grove of Anaheim Sun 9/21
Goldfrapp @ Orpheum Theatre Sun 9/21
The Hives & Eagles of Death Metal @ Mayan Theatre Thu 9/25
The Hives & Eagles of Death Metal @ Mayan Theatre Wed 9/24
Jamie Lidell @ Avalon Mon 9/29
Deerhoof @ Avalon Wed 10/3
Detour Festival @ Downtown (The Mars Volta, Gogol Bordello, Shiny Toy Guns, The Presets, Cut Copy, Matt Costa, Black Lips, Hercules and Love Affair, Grand Ole Party, Datarock, Bitter:Sweet, The Submarines, Adam Freeland, The Bloody Beetroots, Surkin, Para One, Guns n Bombs Live, Pea) Sat 10/4
Jolie Holland @ Troubadour Mon 10/13
The Mountain Goats & Kaki King @ Troubadour Sun 10/26
The Mountain Goats & Kaki King @ Troubadour Sat 10/25
M83 @ Henry Fonda Sat 11/29
Manuel Gottsching @ Royce Hall Sat 3/7/2009

MONDAY
Bloc Party w/ Does It Offend You, Yeah? @ Glass House
Princeton w/ ((sounder)) @ Silverlake Lounge (End of July residency)

»continue reading Losanjealous Concert Picks: July 28 - August 3

In late 2002 I stumbled into the downtown Palace Theatre in Los Angeles for a 72-hour punk rock and shock film festival titled “Shock-o-Rama a Go-Go”. With a very liberal “bring your own booze and sleeping bag” policy, the festival featured all-night-and-all-day films, performances by bands such as the Nervous Return and 400 Blows, and general creepiness - all within the confines of the lovely (albeit rotting) Broadway district theatre. The highlight for me was a screening of The Forbidden Zone, a cult film by Richard Elfman starring Herve Villechaize as King Fausto, with Richard’s brother Danny Elfman playing the devil. (Richard, if you did not know, is the original founder of the Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo.) The screening was followed by a Q&A with the director himself. Six years later, The Forbidden Zone has now been restored, the sound remastered and the film colorized. It will screen at the Egyptian on Wednesday, July 30, again with a Q&A with the director, and we’re stoked to give you the chance to win tickets to the screening at the end of this article. But first, a few brief questions with Richard regarding his film, his legacy, and Los Angeles.

I caught you and the film at a 72-hour punk festival back in 2002. What’s the kookiest place or festival you’ve ever personally attended a Forbidden Zone screening - any good stories? What should or shouldn’t we expect at the Egyptian?

Modesty and gentlemanly discretion prohibit me from discussing that particular night in 2002. In terms of the Egyptian screeing July 30, not much happening. Naked beauty-pageant mud-wrestling begins at 5 pm. Then unlimited free drinks for an hour while my brother Danny jams with Paul McCartney and Sting. Then the ritual slaughtering of the of the boars, subsequent barbecue and demented mass orgy dance. And then the screening begins at 8pm. (Susan Tyrrell, Matthew Bright, animator John Muto and other cast and crew will be joining us.) After the screening, we will all sit and relax, as we enjoy a reading of Homer’s Ulysses (in the original Greek), followed by a reading of James Joyce’s Ulysses. And then we can have a wonderful discussion about the two Ulysses. Hopefully it will all be over before the following night’s screening!

The parts I’ve seen in color look great. What was the primary impetus for colorizing (and remastering) the film?
»continue reading Delving Into Richard Elfman’s Brightly-Colored Forbidden Zone

Today in Rampant Speculation: Sunset Junction 2008 set times are alive and kicking. If you haven’t been paying attention, the lineup looks great (Broken Social Scene, !!!, Black Keys, Beachwood Sparks, Cold War Kids, Kinky, local blog faves Voxhaul Broadcast et al).

But what’s this!? On Sunday, August 24, “4:10 TBA/Aug. 17″ will be taking the Bates Stage just before the reunited Beachwood Sparks. Who the dickens could this be!? We turn now to you, faithful reader, for a comprehensive - nay, exhaustive - analysis of the possibilities, one of which will ultimately be announced by the organizers on August 17, a mere week before show time. Who’s touring? Who’s in town or near town during that time? Vote for your best guess or add it to the list if it’s not already there.

UP THE JUNCTION
» 2007 Sunset Junction Street Fair
» Sunset Junction 2007: The Pity Party
» We Played Some Festivals Recently
» Canadian Coffee Break: The Street Fair Season
» Blonde Redhead @ Sunset Junction, 8/18/07
» Sunset Junction, Saturday: One Perspective
» Sunset Junction Options Juiced, Elongated

PICK OF THE WEEK

STEELY DAN
Wednesday
July 23
Nokia Theater
Info & Tickets
 
 
 
 

DWIGHT YOAKAM
w/ Chris Cagle &
Emerson Drive
Sunday
July 27
Greek Theater
Info & Tickets
Contest closed–Winners TBN
 
 
HERCULES AND LOVE AFFAIR
Wednesday
July 23
The Echo
Info & Tickets
Contest closed–Winners TBN
 
 
 

HEADS UP

Friendly Fires @ Spaceland Wed 7/30
Z Trip, Troublemaker, DJ Diabetic, DJ Adam 12 @ Echoplex (Fundraiser for Barack Obama) Fri 8/1
Dengue Fever @ El Rey Sat 8/2
Darker My Love @ Troubadour Thu 8/7
Boredoms’s 88BoaDrum @ La Brea Tar Pits (Bi-coastal 8.08.08 event–88 drummers selected by Boredoms and artistic director, Hisham Bharoocha ) Fri 8/8
Queens of the Stone Age w/ Jesse Hughes, Billy F. Gibbons, Chris Goss and Alain Johannes @ Henry Fonda (Benefit in Celebration of Natasha Shneider) Sat 8/16
Glen Campbell @ Troubadour Tue 8/19
Reggie & The Full Effect w/ Leathermouth & Warship @ Avalon Tue 8/26
The Melvins @ Troubadour Sun 8/31
The Melvins @ Troubadour Sat 8/30
Wombats @ Echoplex Tue 9/2
Why? @ Echoplex Thu 9/4
Amos Lee w/ Lucy Wainwright Roche @ Henry Fonda Mon 9/8
Lee “Scratch” Perry @ El Rey Sat 9/6
Toadies @ The Roxy Thu 9/11
Stereophonics @ Henry Fonda Tue 9/16
Journey, Heart & Cheap Trick @ Greek Theatre Tue 9/30
Sloan @ Troubadour Wed 10/1
Margot & the Nuclear So & So’s @ Troubadour Tue 10/7
David Byrne @ Arlington Theater, Santa Barbara (”Songs of David Byrne and Brian Eno” Note: Eno not appearning) Sat 10/4
Sara Bareilles @ The Wiltern Mon 10/13
The Notwist @ Henry Fonda Wed 10/29
Magnetic Morning @ The Roxy Mon 11/3
The Who @ Nokia Theater (Tickets on sale Mon 7/21 10 am) Sun 11/9
The Who @ Nokia Theater (Tickets on sale Mon 7/21 10 am) Sat 11/8
Coheed and Cambria @ Avalon (Neverender 4-day pass, 11/5-11/8) Wed 11/5
Coheed and Cambria @ Avalon (Neverender: Performing No World For Tomorrow) Sat 11/8
Coheed and Cambria @ Avalon (Neverender: Performing From Fear Through The Eyes of Madness) Fri 11/7
Coheed and Cambria @ Avalon (Neverender: Performing In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3) Thu 11/6
Coheed and Cambria @ Avalon (Neverender: Performing The Second Stage Turbine Blade) Wed 11/5
Alanis Morrissette @ Orpheum Theatre (Tickets presale Sun 7/20) Fri 11/14
Alanis Morrissette @ Orpheum Theatre (Tickets presale Sun 7/20) Thu 11/13
 

MONDAY
Princeton @ Silverlake Lounge (Mondays in July residency)

TUESDAY
Jay Brennan w/ Annie Stella @ El Rey
Peter Walker @ Echoplex
Summer Darling @ The Echo
»continue reading Losanjealous Concert Picks: July 21 - 27

A young man waves the Texas sate flag while posing at his mid-century modern desk. An American flag hangs on the wall. He is allegiant to both state and country. Beside the flag hangs a primitive snow scene painting. A corner radio keeps him informed and entertained. Army barracks style bunk beds with chenille bedspreads keep him warm and rested. On his desk sits a globe and a model of a P-80 Shooting Star jet fighter - just like the ones involved in the massive air raid that never ceases on his wallpaper. He is being psychologically predisposed to participate in warfare. His bedroom is his command center. He practices his aim by shooting darts into the trashcan in front of him. It’s his patriotic duty.

Here’s to Jet fighter wallpaper, our patriotic duty and YOU!

Visit Charles’ site or join his Slide of the Week Mailing List.

No plans this Saturday? Lordy! Get thee to the World Famous Santa Monica Pier for GLOW, an all-night art-and-sound extravaganza free to the public. Dublab, Machine Project, KCRW DJs Garth, Raul and Jeremy Sole, our buddy Karyl Newman and a slew of additional international audio and visual artists of note will be out in full force from dusk ’til dawn, transforming the traditionally tourist-, corn dog- and seagull-choked pier area into an artistic wünderland (albeit one with slight, unmistakable yet not altogether unpleasant whiffs of tourists, seagulls and corn dogs) for some 12-odd hours. So what’s Karyl up to Saturday?

Using the stairs that connect the north side of the pier to the beach, Newman will place LEDs under the stair treads and program them to change color and rhythm in response to changes in the tide.

Count me in and do let me top off your mushroom tea, my good sir. Meantime, what’s Machine Project up to across the way?

Ferris Wheel Orchestra
A 3-part musical composition/cycle for brass, winds and percussion to be performed from the baskets of the ferris wheel. The first part will be performed at 8:30 PM, the second at midnight, and the final part at 5:30 AM on July 20th.

Totally not for me. Any poets?

Poetry Boat
A boat with three poets (Joshua Beckman, Anthony McCann and Noelle Kocot) will anchor at some distance offshore on the south side of the pier. On the beach, a site will be established to allow telephone contact between visitors and the boat. Visitors can request personal poetry readings that will be delivered from the boat.

Ok I’ll be there. Look for the man with a beard.

» Glow @ Santa Monica Pier Sat Jul 19
(Did we mention dublab?)

Did You Know?
GLOW is the only overnight event to have ever received permission to use the historic Santa Monica Pier. Make it count.

Update
Defamer interviews Santa Monica Cultural Affairs Manager Jessica Cusick regarding the origins of GLOW and what you should not miss, here

In my lifetime, I’ve seen the disintegration of unions, the peak of oil, and the death of Bob Hope.  But I never thought I’d see a return to the 1929 banking scares, with people running to withdraw funds from a cash-strapped bank–especially not at the IndyMac building in Pasadena near my work.

One poor lady even fainted right there on the curb!  I’d probably do the same thing if I lost my money due to a collapsed banking institution. Though, then again, in this economy, who can afford the ambulance or the emergency room visit?

These poor suckers must have really wanted some fast cash–unless they had over $100,000 tucked away in their savings, they’ll be covered by the bank’s insurance, and even after that they’ll get a large portion of it back.  Still, it makes ya think… about investing in gold!  That woman who got $600 for her scrap gold in that TV commercial is probably feeling pretty foolish right now.

More photos, including the aforementioned fainter below…
»continue reading The New Deal Is Officially Dead

Above: A forgettable shithole on Melrose seemingly remodels itself following months of unnoticed downtime

While you were busy not giving a shit, The Gig (7302 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, CA 90046) quietly (assumed) folded its doors some time ago. Last updated in December, the venue’s online calendar shows the dreaded tell-tale smattering of “TBA” slots in those final days, with the last confirmed rock act listed being Shaka Buku. Congrats, Shaka Buku! You may yet in fact become the last band in history to have erroneously believed that playing a gig at the venerable surprisingly longstanding Melrose hellhole loosely, if not longingly, dubbed “The Gig” could potentially further your career in some capacity.

We blame you not for failing to notice the venue’s closure (it took us six months). Hell, Wikipedia lists the last time in history anybody gave a shit about something taking place at The Gig as being March 10, 1988. (Let’s be fair, the aforementioned passage requires citation and the club has only been around since 1998 or so.) The venue’s official myspace page is unfortunately of little help at present, advising that “front patio” renovations should be completed prior to March 2008. (Is that what’s going on inside there?)

All snarkiness aside, the closure is bound to have a negative impact on the local music scene and, broader, the city at large, as bands who were previously booked no questions asked just bring some friends at The Gig diligently and painfully find the booking policies considerably more rigid at competing clubs and, as a result, the respective band members become severely embittered, directly translating into poor attitudes at day jobs, ultimately translating into somebody getting short-shrifted out of an espresso shot by a pissed-off member of Shaka Buku behind the counter over at Starbucks Hollywood. After the jump, our recommendation for the new Melrose public facing.
»continue reading Gig Gutted

Not many people will ever use the phrase “Overconvergent Siegel Modular Symbols” in a sentence, but that’s one thing that makes Dr. Daniel Snaith, the mastermind behind Caribou, who happens to have a Ph.D. in number theory, a one-of-a-kind neat dude you might take underwear shopping while casually dissecting the essence of reality. Here, all the questions planned regarding favorite foods and Beach Boys were soon forgotten, and instead we slipped into the mud and spent some time digging wormy abstractions.

I have never seen you live and the videos on your MySpace page don’t work. Every one I pressed was sorry no longer available. I took it as a sign that I wasn’t going to watch any Youtube videos. What is the audience like at your show?

We get all sorts of stuff actually, from standing and staring kind of serious music nerd crowd, which I can’t complain about because I definitely am a serious music nerd probably if you saw me in the audience. We also get wild hippie dancing, people on acid and other kind of drugs, and I love those people too. Then we get, in the UK especially, severely drunk people who are more into participating by yelling stuff out and getting right up there in your face, which I also quite like. I can see the appeal to watching a kind of show like ours in any of those ways, just standing back and listening, or I’m always definitely pleased when people get into it or are a little drunk or inebriated in some way or another.

Aside from the visual projections, I read that you change the way songs are presented when you play them live with the band as opposed to when you record by yourself. What’s different?

The main thing people would notice is the intensity. Some of the songs we stick quite closely to the arrangement on the record. But even if we think we’re playing them like the record, the fact that there are two drum kits bashing away, lots of live dynamic in the instruments on stage, makes it a more in your face, aggressive, more visceral experience than listening to the record, which is maybe more subdued, more laid back sounding. We can make a big wall of sound and make a lot of noise up there. A lot of the songs tend to extend and go into big psychedelic jammed out sections, and evolve as we tour, so things head in that direction.

»continue reading Musical & Mathematical Abstractions… and Table Tennis: A Rap Session with Daniel Snaith of Caribou