So far, the double 0s have been prime time for the reuniting of ‘70s and ‘80s punk bands. Partially because just enough time has passed for original fans to become nostalgic, partially because today’s generation wants to feel part of movement they missed and partially because bands like Gang of Four, My Blood Valentine, The Pixies and Mission of Burma want to know what it would feel like to play again after all these years.
And so far, there’s been few let downs. Take Mission of Burma for example. Even on a lazy Monday night, the threesome who came together in Boston in ’79, reminded all of us at Portland’s Doug Fir Lounge what it means to rock, last and mean it. I confess: I was having a rough Monday and I didn’t want to be there. But as soon as Burma hit the stage—where they would ensue to perform the entirety of their much-loved album Vs.—I was suddenly hit with a new burst of energy, with a second chance not unlike the second wave of opportunity occurring onstage in big bursts of guitar electricity, sweaty thrusts, saliva sprays and ferocious intentions. Sure, the band couldn’t induce the same force they achieved in the ‘80s—this is clearly a reunion tour, a salute to bygone times—but, with sheer passion inside tell-it-like-it-is punk rock, they came about as close as possible. And while not moved to shout for the same reasons that the ‘80s brought them, the band proved they still had plenty of reason to feel fired-up, tacking a sign to one guitar amp that read in big spray-painted letters: Oburma for Obama. The group was also not without humorous banter and self-deprecation. Drummer Peter Prescott complained of being hard of hearing and forgetting songs before breaking into classics like, "That’s When I Reach For My Revolver" and "This Is Not A Photograph," only to prompt head-scratching contemplation: Middle-age and this sort of loud, crazed intensity don’t tend to mix, which is precisely what makes Mission of Burma’s reunion shows so unexpectedly kick-ass. Miss Karyn-Lynn Fisette's below photos won’t deny it. They’re still on the road—catch them if you can.
Electrified. photo by Karyn-Lynn Fisette
Dignified. photo by Karyn-Lynn Fisette
Fiery. photo by Karyn-Lynn Fisette
Unafraid. photo by Karyn-Lynn Fisette
English multi-instrumentalist (of mostly the '80s Amiga kind) Max Tundra will release his third full-length recording via Domino Records Nov. 18. His spiraling, synth-driven and colorful electronic collages and all his beep beep bleeps have garnered him much praise from the likes of the late John Peel---Tundra, a.k.a. Ben Jacobs, was among the last to record a Peel Session---Pitchfork, and Owen Pallett (formerly of Arcade Fire). I hear he kills it live, too -- I'm thinkin' Dan Deacon-style (see UK dates below). I think he sounds pretty darn amazing:
In a press release, Tundra was kind enough to describe his music-making processes and tools with many fun details, yipee:
There are no modern-day computers on this record. My PC is strictly for emails and Photoshopping the words Max Tundra into Coldplay line-ups. The main technology behind this and all of my albums has been the Commodore Amiga 500 - bestselling home computer at the time - running a $1 public domain software tracker program. The sounds don't emerge from the Amiga itself however; the machine is used to control various synths, samplers and the like. I look at colums of numbers all day on the screen of a black and white television; these digits relate to pitches, durations and tones. A lot of the noises on my record are real; the cello, bass guitar, drums, piano, trumpet and others are all rehearsed and played by me, but sometimes I will use realistic fake versions of these noises. Each song is recorded in a different way; drumkits are recorded on mono cassette recorders twice, then stuck together on the left and right of a mix; string arrangements are planned and then layered up; each note of an electric guitar is sampled so that it can be sequenced in ways too complicated for my fat fingers to play at full speed. And then I have a cup of tea and sing my heart out.
Tour dates:
05 Oct 2008 - LSO St Luke's (with Juana Molina)
23 Oct 2008 - Southampton Guildhall (with Hot Chip)
24 Oct 2008 - Cardiff University (with Hot Chip)
25 Oct 2008 - Liverpool Academy (with Hot Chip)
26 Oct 2008 - Leeds Academy (with Hot Chip)
28 Oct 2008 - Sheffield Academy (with Hot Chip)
29 Oct 2008 - Birmingham Academy (with Hot Chip)
30 Oct 2008 - Cambridge Corn Exchange (with Hot Chip)
01 Nov 2008 - Manchester Apollo (with Hot Chip)
02 Nov 2008 - Glasgow Academy (with Hot Chip)
03 Nov 2008 - Leicester De Montford University (with Hot Chip)
05 Nov 2008 - Brighton Dome (with Hot Chip)
06 Nov 2008 - London Brixton Academy (with Hot Chip and Wiley)
07 Nov 2008 - London Brixton Academy (with Hot Chip and Wiley)
Seattle punk band The Girls kick off a U.S. tour in their hometown Sept. 13 in support of their new album Yes No Yes No Yes No (to be realeased on Portland's Drag City Records Sept. 16). The Girls' wire-y, hyped-up synth-punk cuts---which sound like a glammier version of The Cars---should make for a heck of a live show. Check 'em out if you wanna:
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Audio Oasis LIVE on KEXP 90.3 |
Seattle, Washington |
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ALL AGES!! CD RELEASE SHOW @ King Cobra w/ The Bronx |
Seattle, Washington |
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East End |
Portland, Oregon |
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Thee Parkside |
San Francisco, California |
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Knitting Factory |
Los Angeles, California |
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Crash Mansion LA |
Los Angeles, California |
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Alexs Bar |
Long Beach, California |
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Pink Elephant |
San Diego, California |
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Crepe Place |
Santa Cruz, California |
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The Uptown |
Oakland, California |
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Whiskey Dicks |
South Lake Tahoe, California |
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Johnny B’s |
Medford, Oregon |
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Comet Tavern w/ Monotonix |
Seattle, Washington |
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The Black Sheep w/ The Pink Spiders |
Colorado Spings, Colorado |
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Marquis Theatre w/ The Pink Spiders |
Denver, Colorado |
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The Electric Theater w/ The Pink Spiders |
Saint George, Utah |
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Karma w/ The Pink Spiders |
Victorville, California |
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Knitting Factory w/ Flogging Molly |
Boise, Idaho |
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Roseland Theater w/ Flogging Molly |
Portland, Oregon |
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Washington State University w/ Flogging Molly |
Pullman, Washington |
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MacEwan Hall w/ Flogging Molly |
Calgary, Alberta |
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Commodore Ballroom w/ Flogging Molly |
Vancouver, British Columbia |
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The Funhouse w/ Human Eye |
Seattle, Washington |
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Piano’s |
Manhattan, New York |
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Abbey Pub |
Boston, Massachusetts |
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Don Pedro’s |
Brooklyn, New York |
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Brighton Bar |
Long Branch, New Jersey |
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JC Dobbs |
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
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Side Bar |
Baltimore, Maryland |
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Now That’s Class |
Cleveland, Ohio |
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Reggies Rock Club w/ Ben Weasel |
Chicago, Illinois |
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Reggies Rock Club w/ Ben Weasel 2nd show |
Chicago, Illinois |
Comments
M.O.B. Made a ferocious splash on the Boston Scene, exploding the boundries, lashing out & reaching out. Now they face the ageless conundrum as middle-aged men playing what is essentially the music of disaffected youth. Their audience now live out their own arrested development vicariously, through them. And the same can be said of so many artists & bands.
Having said all that, I sure would like to catch 'em again, for ole time's sake.
I am sooo jealous.
A little more Burma for the dog pile.
And one more cause you got me in the mood.