The Mars Volta – Octahedron

octahedron is the recorded equivalent of the mars volta saying ‘if you didn’t get it the first time, we’ll say it again, but slower.’ yet, even if they’re dumbing things down a bit, this is the most interesting they’ve sounded since frances the mute. they’ve withdrawn towards a kind of accessibility here with much slower songs and by employing more conventional song structures. the album even follows a structure, complete with rise, climax and falling action; however, the mars volta’s inaccessibility never really stemmed from their complex structures, or lightning-speed riffs, rather, it was their abandonment of the dub-laden grooves from their first record that made them sound rigid and boring. while they might not be back to their rhythmically-challenging, groovy selves, octahedron proves at the very least that the mars volta are capable of being interesting when they’ve been forced to change and rethink  things.

Filed under: Album Review , 2009, octahedron, the mars volta

NXNE Day Four – “i highly doubt anyone here actually appreciates what they’re hearing”

so, while day four wasn’t the last day of the NXNE festival, it was for me. day four would not prove to be as jam-packed full of bands as the previous two days, mostly because i was tired, and because while a few of the events piqued my interest, nothing really stood out (although i would’ve liked to have gone to the silver dollar room that night, as i heard from various sources that it would be nuts).

yessir, saturday was solely about the sonics. these legendary proto-punk/garage rockers were in town, and played the young and dundas square stage. while their stage banter was just about as embarrassing as watching your father trying to make jokes for a similarly large group of people, their music was nothing but on-point, brimming with the same level of testosterone-fuelled intensity that has been distilled in their infamous catalogue. they got off to a rough start, as the bad jokes and the “you’re our favourite audience, ever!” comments wore a bit thin, but they were easily forgiven and only slight blemishes on an otherwise pristine set. screaming through everything from “strychnine” to “psycho” and even “louie, louie,” the sonics easily hit all the right notes (pianist/vocalist gerry roslie and guitarist larry parypa were both particularly good), and it was an awesome way to end my first NXNE experience.

according to saxophonist rob lind, the sonics will be heading into the studio this year to record a new album! it’d be really cool if they took that opportunity to maybe work with some of the people they’ve influenced over the years, mark arm and iggy pop come to mind as obvious choices, but i bet someone like jack white would jump at the chance.

Filed under: Concert Review , 2009, gerry roslie, larry parypa, new album, north by north east, NXNE, rob lind, the sonics, toronto, young and dundas square

NXNE Day Three – “i want a turkey sandwich”

yesterday started off with a trip to sneaky dee’s to catch a performance of atlanta’s coathangers. i was welcomed by a free glass of rum and coke and the catchy, playful tunes of the all-female band just starting into their set. their songs are all pretty silly and irreverent, but that’s not to say that they shouldn’t be taken seriously; rather, their tightly-wound post-punk practically demands it—they screech and harp at some of the most mundane topics imaginable— making them all the more endearing when they yell “STOP STOMPIN’ AROUND!!!/ STOP STOMPIN’!!”

Filed under: Concert Review , 2009, king khan and BBQ show, lee's palace, mika miko, no age, north by north east, NXNE, sneaky dee's, the coathangers, the dead science, toronto

NXNE bingo/scavenger hunt/check-list/drinking game:

- ironic mullets (1)

- nautically-themed hats & accessories (2)

- girls wearing gigantic plaid shirts (1,000)

- king khan sightings (3)

if only i had some foresight, i would’ve brought a camera with me to document these findings.

Filed under: Concert Review , 2009, NXNE

NXNE Day Two – “fuck tall guys at shows”

[note: i'll add more to this later. the end needs to be fleshed out a bit more.]

prior obligations and a lack of interest in any of the bands (aside from jaguar love and patrick wolf) that played on wednesday night kept me from exploring what NXNE had to offer on day one.

on day two, however, things got off to an early start as i headed to NXNE HQ to pick up my wristband around noon. there i got to see alan cross hold a panel discussion for his “explore music” show. the panel consisted of some guy from vice records and cole alexander from black lips, who was entertaining to say the least. their discussion revolved around a rather beaten-to-death topic — “the state of the music industry”— but nevertheless it was cool to see alan cross do his thing, and quite entertaining to see his lack of control over the hyperactive alexander.

Filed under: Concert Review , 2009, HEALTH, king khan and BBQ show, NXNE, NXNE Day Two, spookey ruben, the burning hell, the legendary horseshoe tavern, the united steel workers of montreal, young and dundas square