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LINCOLNZINE 2 | MUSIC | LIVE REVIEW |
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Son, Ambulance / Azure Ray / Bright Eyes Review Or Slowing up to speed: A Night with Lincoln Music History By Julee Dunekacke March 9, 2001 | Sokol Underground | Omaha |
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LINCOLNZINE 2 | MUSIC | LIVE REVIEW |
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Son, Ambulance / Azure Ray / Bright Eyes Review Or Slowing up to speed: A Night with Lincoln Music History By Julee Dunekacke March 9, 2001 | Sokol Underground | Omaha |
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Foreword: This is not a
review per se, this is a catalog of my experience learning about places, people, and
events which seemed mythic to me before this trip. We got to talk to Fuff (aka Matt Focht) inside Sokol. His fro was in full effect, so he had a hat to keep it under control. It was at this juncture that I told him something that weighed heavily on me for the past couple of months. I had seen him perform with that Lincoln percussionist all-star outfit, Pablo's Triangle. They've put on two very high-energy shows in the past year. I was up in the front pogo-ing a both of them. That's enough time to form an opinion, so I told Fuff about it. "Hey Matt, did you know you have the best butt in Pablo's Triangle?" Well, it's the truth, isn't it? It was pretty funny. Later Matt S. informed me of Fuff's response, very straight-faced, "that was really nice of her to say that."
As for Azure Ray, I had no idea of what to expect. If one of their members could be in a techno-ish future music band (the Japancakes), and if they could both be in a rock band (Little Red Rocket), and still play with Bright Eyes, they would have to be some sort of musical rainbow coalition of sound. That's worth seeing. I was in for a good time. These gals took turns singing lead. Orenda would sing and her sound would be mostly breath. Maria would sing harmonies and they'd be firm and supportive but not overpowering. It was a real game of musical chairs during their set when various members of bright eyes and their touring bassist took turns on instruments from egg shaker and trumpet, to bass and keyboards. The highlights of their set included the song "Rise" which just entranced me with harmonies and low roll of something atmospheric in the background. I also unexpectedly liked the song "Safe and Sound" which borders on the cliché with the chorus "love is when it's lost not when it's found". It's just so gosh darn purty. I recommend their self-titled cd produced by Crooked Fingers/Archers of Loaf Eric Bachman. Before Bright Eyes took the stage, Matt S. talked about how he really should be studying the guitar parts of the songs about to be played. This was my first encounter with the music of Bright Eyes. I had heard some tracks before, but nothing really stuck in my memory except for that picture Tery Daly paints of an adolescent boy crying on the floor in the bathroom in the fetal position. I promised myself I would go into this with no prejudice, but that was a tough order. Personally, I believe if you're going to be yelling and screaming on stage you should have the common courtesy to stand up. Jumping is optional. From what I could hear, Connor's voice sometimes sounded like he was sitting on the washing machine on spin cycle. His vocals vibrated in a way that just couldn't be organically possible. Sometimes he just sounded pissed off more than whiny, but the thinking that went into the lyrics made it seem like a pre-meditated pissed off. (My mother always called me whiny when I was pre-meditated pissed off.) I read after the show that there was a Neil Young cover played. I missed that one. What I did not miss was Matt Focht's drumming, and the weird face he was uncontrollably contorting during his performance. Near the end of the set, I was shocked to death by a funky bass line! I was so inspired I started getting my groove on. Colby started beat boxin' and Matt S. started freestyle rapping. I don't remember all of it, but there was definitely something about a school cafeteria in there and maybe a little Carol Schrader just for fun. I know I'm not accustomed to Connor's voice yet, because when I hear it live and recorded, I hear an accent of baby talk. I've tried to listen to what's said instead of how it's said, and it's just so hard to block it. The element of baby talk and/or whining much less noticeable live. There's another thing about the songs of Bright Eyes that puzzles me. I don't remember hearing a chorus. I remember hearing some emphasized lines in a few songs, and thinking, "That could be a really good chorus." The lines I liked were lines comparing things from the Bible or other forms of literature to the lowest days of adolescent life. I would have thought them to be very deep when I was seventeen. I'll probably think of them as "deep" again when I'm thirty-five, but until then, it seems like an act to me. However, it's an act with good music. The keyboard blips and added elements of an alto clarinet and trumpet kept it interesting for me. One song, once again, I'm ignorant to the title, Connor gave a shout out, "This one is dedicated to Matt Silcock". Colby and I started cheering, and I did the big Wayne's World "we're not worthy" thing which probably embarrassed him, but he was on beer #5, so it didn't. It probably embarrassed more members of the crowd actually, because so many of them would never admit to stooping down so low in American culture to see "Wayne's World", much less like it, or let their friends know they appreciate the humor. Once the show was over, I made a beeline for the merch table to get the angelic voices of Azure Ray in consumable form. They ran out of cd's right after I got there, but I did stand there long enough to get into the www.lazy-i.com picture of the merch table. If you'd like a copy of their cd, and you can't find one in town, you can purchase it at www.thewarmsupercomputer.com. We stood around and talked some more and I just felt like jumping around. For some reason I started doing these cheerleader jumps. Maybe it was because of the low ceiling. Maybe it was because I felt all this angst and energy from the show, but no one physically reacted to it in the audience or on stage, so I had to act it out. Maybe it was just because it was such a somber night, and there just needed to be a little silliness! After the show, I got to meet "Ted from Lullaby". Luckily I had heard of that band. I also got to show one of the Azure Ray chicks, Maria, the shirt I wore with a little red rocket on it. She thought that was cool. I also told her how they were requested often on KRNU this summer. This is where I almost meet Connor. This is where he offers me one of his Princeton Cigarettes. I don't smoke, but you know, I could've sold it on e-bay for maybe $50. HA! He was wearing those reverse-engineered Levi's that only foreigners and New York/LA people wear. I'm telling you people, they're the next big thing. We headed out to the party after watching everyone pack. We stand outside and Matt S. tells Fuff stories about how he's wearing Shane's weird shoes and how Shane's doing in Paris. Who is Shane? At that point of the night I thought it was someone I should know, but I didn't know why. You all probably know him, so I'm not going to explain. If you don't, you feel just as lost as I do now. How's that for breaking the third wall in journalism? We make it to the party and Prince is on the turntables. Joe from Son, Ambulance is stumbling around the place. A majority of people are on the porch since smoking isn't allowed inside the house. More freestyle rapping ensues, only Fuff is also there this time to pass the mic. I can't remember very much else that is anecdotal about the situation. At about 3AM I was stone cold sober, and at 4AM someone decides to put on a copy of Guided By Voices "Alien Lanes". Immediately I started doing my Bob Pollard impressions, cause I just couldn't hold myself back. The schtick included high kicks, jumps, a phantom cigarette, and twirling my pseudo-microphone. By the end of side one I had the meek Joe from Son, Ambulance singing along to the choruses and trying out some high kicks. I almost had him singing into a broom. Now I'm not trying to change the boy, I'm just trying to give him a little backbone. I thought this was so hilarious considering the spite for that genre a few Guided By Voices fans I know have. I also thought it a bit weird because the Bright Eyes/Son, Ambulance stage presence is about as far away as you can get from the Guided By Voices stage show in the rock music genre. The Azure Ray girls thought this was funny too, and they told us how they're covering "Motor Away" on a 7 inch as little red rocket. Keep your eyes peeled for it! It was one fabulous night, and on the way back we listened to supposed comedian NEIL HAMBURGER! The guy isn't really that funny, but listening to Matt and Colby giggle non-stop until the Ashland exit was very entertaining. It also kept me awake. It was such a fun night, that I was compelled to write about it. I hope this helps all the newbies with the Lincoln music legacy. There's a lot of interesting stuff there if you just take the time and listen. -- Julee Dunekacke March 21st 2001 |
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