1234chainsaw
My Digital Music Collection
Posts
Amidst digging the hell out of Fucked Up's The Chemistry of Common Life and expecting their Nov. 18 Leeds gig, I ran across another slab of fiercely impressive post-hardcore: Ladyslipper from Minneapolis and their 2007 debut The Time, Not The Weather. There are natural reference points, such as Mission of Burma (listen to "Devils on Horseback" and then go back to Vs.) and Fugazi, but after a few listens I'm finding the trio's gravelly and angular sound, mathy precision, and the fiery interplay of pummeling drums and thick guitar outbursts much more than a rip-off. If that's your thing, do check them out. As for lyrics, well, the band's record label reports that they "cover an array of topics from politics to drugs, and third person storytelling from the perspective of a mouse" -- in other words, a rag-bag of sorts. In the style of vocal delivery, similarities with The Constantines and The Hold Steady occasionally spring to mind.
It seems that the band members are now geographically dispersed and the band's on indefinite hiatus. If you check out the display of light/heavy dynamics on "Chicago" (under the red button) and the forward momentum of "Ladycop" (in the comments), I hope you'll agree that that's too bad. As usual, you can also find them on MySpace.
Neil Halstead; Little Lost David
(Faversham, Leeds, 22 Sept '08)
Perhaps less so on Slowdive records, but certainly on Mojave 3 albums and his two solo records to date, Neil Halstead projects a voice that caresses you like misty summer rain or a cuddly throw blanket on a windy autumn night. The voice doesn't lose its effect in the live setting, which results in about the loveliest Monday night gig I can imagine. Halstead begins solo, on amplified acoustic guitar, and is subsequently accompanied on and off by a bassist plus another guitarist who also flashed some lovely mandolin action (to an especially good effect on "A Gentle Heart"). The venue, cosy with dark gleaming hardwood floors and reddish lighting, is a bit too sparsely attended to my taste, but the only effect this has on the performance is Halstead's quip to something like this effect: "I'm worried that you're so quiet. Last night we played Nottingham and it was markedly different. It was quite noisy, and we got heckled. You're very quiet. Feel free to go ahead and heckle." I'd rather say that the audience was very attentive of the performance and appreciative, as evidenced by vigorous applause after each song. Interspersed by a few Mojave 3 tunes, the set list is focused on most of the best bits of Sleeping On Roads and this past spring's Oh! Mighty Engine(which I only picked up at the show, having only had a chance to stream it from MySpace while living out of suitcase throughout this summer). Almost without exception, the songs become especially alluring live, from the (relatively) up-tempo "Elevenses" to a tender solo version of "Driving With Bert," and the mood is relaxed enough that Halstead can turn the difficulty he has whistling into a smiley joke. Back home in a good jolly mood, I couldn't have asked for a better way to soothe and calm a busy mind tonight. Also worth noting was a nicely rousing opening set by Little Lost David.
Neil Halstead is also a Mogger -- go and give your props, and also take the opportunity to stream a bunch of songs from Oh! Mighty Engine on his Myspace page!
Comments
beautiful review my dear.
so different from shoegazer style no?
I know those shows that are so quiet you can feel a pin drop. it's brilliant for a real acoustic experience.
I did not get notified for this! I just bumped into it in MOG's Daily Picks...
Anyway.
Thank you for sharing your sentiments. Now I feel like a fool for not coming along. I'll think twice next time.
"cuddly throw blanket on a windy autumn night", wonderful description.
Make mine a plaid one.
Cheers!
Thanks for this; now I know how woefully unaware I was of Halstead's solo work. Quite lovely stuff! I have some homework to do ...
Culminating a long MOG absence, and after a summer living out of a suitcase, I've just moved to a new country and city. I'm still in the process of getting my life, both working and personal, going. Just last night, I spent 5 hours unpacking and organizing CDs. I'm trying to find out where to get good bread, good cheese, fresh herbs. And so on. Hopefully more regular MOGging will also resume. I've also somehow managed to amass 7 shows to attend in the next month, many of them week nights. So I actually welcome the UK hangover from what used to be early pub closures whereby gigs still tend to be done by 11pm. You can be musically active without compromising your other commitments. (Old farts rejoice!) Tomorrow night is my first gig in my new city, at a venue (The Cockpit) where I'll be seeing half a dozen other gigs in the next few of months. And it'll be the Wire, who are still putting out potent stuff that doesn't need to feel ashamed (well, not much anyway) next to their late '70s classic triumvirate of Pink Flag, Chairs Missing, and 154. Their new release from this July, Object 47, feels too safe and clinical, and too eager to please, during its first half, but comes into its abrasive own during the second half, as "Hard Currency" under the red button attests.
How have you all been?
Comments
Good seeing you back here Pekka, getting settled in and all.
Any idea why the font in this post came out so small? Regardless, early shows, I miss them, nothing gets started around here until late night and long asleep...old farts rejoice indeed:)
Good luck with the gig and
Mog
On
B, the font looks normal to me. I didn't get a notification for it tho.
See you at Glasvegas, Cajun Dance Party, Late of the Pier and Duke Spirit (with so much musical goodness, climate gets a new perspective, eh?). I'll get to make those reviews btw. Deal deal deal!
Here's to you MOGging more, old fart :)
The fonts normal now, weird,...
I wouldn't mind joining y'all at Cajun Dance Party but it's a bit of a trek, have fun!
Comments
And here's "Ladycop":
You is such a Finnish punk.
Fucked Up are not my thing, but these guys are just fine. Some parts of Chicago remind me a bit of Nevermind the Buzzcocks' theme :)
"third person storytelling from the perspective of a mouse" brilliant.
Thanks for filling our gap.
That was quite enjoyable, especially since I'd never be able to add that other group into my wish list.
Just listened to "Ladycop"; oh yeah, this is working nicely. Thanks again Pekka!