if i felt better, i'd be there

lifted from The Donnybrook Writing Academy 12 October "Problem of Leisure" post:

Anton O Masia says (in poetry, as usual):

Not because it’s in an out of the way warehouse. So exclusive.

Not because you heard these are exceptionally cool bands. Tho it’s true.

But because you tire of the drone, the void of the dive scene. So sedative.

Because being really excited about live music is too long overdue.

Go ahead. Wear your heart on your sleeve and give a real listen.

Or do whatever else, and never know what you’re missing.

Tarmints
Undersea Explosion
American Relay
Cowboy Curse
Primasonic

1401 Zuni, Unit C
Saturday 13 October 2007

countdown over

expectations uncountable. zero disappointments. I wrote that on the Overcasters Myspace page early this morning within hours after their first public show.

The September 1 show at the Tarshack promised to be a memorable event. There was: artwork (equal parts beautiful and eerie layered glass paintings by Monofog's Doug Spencer); the world famous DJ, Tyler Jacobson (who didn't like my musical requests but played them anyway); knife throwing demonstrations (yes, really, knife throwing, and no, no injuries); the always interesting and and ever eclectic sounds of Pee Pee; and the formidable and impressive sounds of the hard working Mothership. All this would make for one good night if it ended right there, but at the top of the night was what I was most anxious to witness: the debut of the Overcasters.

I've been waiting patiently for a good many months to hear this band. Well, actually I've not been entirely so patient. Hearing about these songs for weeks (and weeks) but never having the opportunity to hear an actual note of any one of them...I began to get a little tetchy. I teasingly dubbed them "the Overpracticers."

But it was worth the wait. Over-rehearsed they are not. Talented and together is what they are...the result of time and effort well spent. Erin and Jeremy construct a rhythm section so tight you couldn't slide a piece of onionskin paper between the sounds then John and Kurt's guitars make a palpably dynamic layer floating just above that. You find yourself moving without thinking about it. And the vocals--lemme just say to those who've only heard Kurt sing a Tarmints song, you might be astounded at the downright pretty treatment he can give a song.

As happy as I was to finally hear them for the first time, it feels like I'll find more to love with multiple listens. And I hope that number will be beyond count.

i'm not missing this one

Like Bookends to the Summer

originally appeared in Japan Implosion

The first review I wrote for Japan Implosion was the 24 May 2006 show at the Tar Shack. I won't re-hash the review here, but suffice to say I thought it was one of the best shows I had been to in Denver yet and it kind of marked the start of my summer. So, now that school supplies are being bought and temperatures are dropping just enough for me to wonder where I last left my jacket, I feel this summer disappearing fast. But it's cool that I can index the close of the season with a second show at the Tar Shack. Sadly I missed half the bands and cant deliver a first hand account of Absolute Zero or The Hot House. Though from reliable sources the words I heard are that it was great stuff.

I did get there in time to catch all of Cowboy Curse's set. Last time I saw them was just before they set off to the west coast to let as many people as possible know there is some great pop music coming out of Denver. I hope those people were listening well because this band has some really fantastic songs, the type of songs that make your repeat button look a little more worn than the rest. I hope they make more of them. And you'd never have guessed that drummer Erin Tidwell had just played a full set with her other band (Hot House) because there was absolutely no dragging or lagging going on. Impressive. And just to mesh the two bands together a little more, Allie added some perfectly in tune keyboard sounds to the mix. Yay.

And that left the Tarmints to top the night off with their songs. And top it off they did. Tarmints are a great band to see anywhere you can, sending raw and beautiful sounds and energy (from god only knows where they mine it) out there and having it fall on your ears like an unexpected gift. It's energetic punk rock, yes, but that falls short of describing it. And seeing them anywhere is a treat, but seeing them in the Tar Shack is something even better. It's an unspoken genuine hospitality, a feeling of you being there as a guest, whether or not you really know the people who live there. And if you ever get a chance to go to a show at the Tar Shack, you oughta behave like a guest. As they began to play Kurt made some mention of it having been kind of a grouchy day up to that point for a lot of people. I could relate. But as the Tarmints dove into their set I couldn't help but let go of all traces of crabbiness and even as I write this days later, I'm still feeling better. That's a rarity that should never be ignored. That's powerful stuff and when Kurt ran to the back and jumped up on that table and played in front of the giant spirally Tarmints banner--well I just wished someone was faster with the camera so I could show you a little better what this show was like. But if you were there, you'll remember it.