In case you missed the last three days’ reports, my good friend Patrick Luddite, who I see every six months when I am out West, has been kind enough to agree to file reports from San Francisco’s Noise Pop Festival, just completed. It’s long been one of America’s best music festivals (I prefer it, actually, to SXSW, because it’s much more about the bands and fans, and much, much less a music industry confab).
If you missed the last three days’ reports, with reviews of original lineup Sebadoh, The New Trust, Love of Diagrams, and The Bent Mustache from the first night and Roky Erickson & the Explosions, Oranger, Howlin’ Rain, and Wooden Shjips on the second, and Ted Leo & the Pharmacists, Georgia James, So Many Dynamos, Pony Come Lately on the third, don’t worry, you can still read them by clicking my name in dark red just above.
Here is his report on night four, another blow by blow description of everything he saw/heard/sensed. And he still has one more coming! So check here daily! Tomorrow he/we will present night number five! Cheers! And my thanks again to Patrick.
Jack Rabid
Noise Pop 2007, San Francisco, Night #4
By Patrick Luddite
Night number four in the land of Noise Pop in the year of our lord 2007. This means goodbye Great American Music Hall, hello Bottom of the Hill. The hill in the case being Potrero Hill (potrero means pasture in Spanish), which is a neighborhood on the east side of The City. Poet and co-founder of City Lights Bookstore LAWRENCE FERLINGHETTI called this neighborhood home as did football star OJ SIMPSON (allegedly) at one time. The area around the club is somewhat bleak with restaurant supply stores and the like amongst the occasional bar and softball field. As to the club itself, it has been a frequent destination of mine over the past 10 years and is one of the better mid-sized clubs in The City. It has a decent layout (which can be a nightmare if the club is packed), good sound, and a patio to escape to should the band on stage be not to one’s liking.
Tonight’s line-up has THE RUM DIARY, LEMON SUN, THE GRIS GRIS, and THE PONYS. I’m particularly excited about the headliner as I am a fan and I’ve got a soft spot for bands from the Midwest (Chicago especially). Add to the mix that The Ponys haven’t graced an SF stage in about 18 months, and my anticipation has only grown. It’s also been some time since I’ve seen the Gris Gris and they’ve never let me down in the past, and I’ve no reason to think tonight will be any different. The “leader” of the band, GREG ASHLEY, is a gifted songwriter and performer who has been getting a good deal of attention over the past couple of years or so, in addition to being the current cover boy for one of the City’s newsweeklies. Big name fans of his include KAREN O (she picked the band to open for the YEAH YEAH YEAHS during a two-night stand in L.A. last year), WAYNE COYNE, and TRAIL OF THE DEAD. Two great bands that I know and two new (to me) bands; sounds like a good night out!
The evening kicks off with the Rum Diary from Cotati, California (approximately 50 miles north of San Francisco), coming on at 9:10. They’ve been together since 1999 and have a number of releases out on Springman Records, but this is the first time I’ve seen them. As they start, I immediately think of the first TORTOISE LP. The post-rock/krautrock sound reeks of early ‘90s Chicago and while that’s not a bad thing in and of itself, it is 2007 after all. There are no live drums on this first song, only two basses and guitar along with some tapes (more likely lap top in this day and age, but I’m not able to see for certain) and the music is somewhat engaging if a bit sedate. The vocal style can only be termed cloying and frankly unnecessary, as the instrumental portions of the songs are not enhanced in the least. As the set moves on, one of the bass players moves to drums and at some point (after a dedication of a song to SKLYER), another member appears on guitar. The music gets a bit more interesting at this point, and I hear elements of MOGWAI as the band plays on. The crowd is engaged, and it’s apparent they’ve brought a lot of friends and family tonight. Strangely enough, it seems as if that is whom the band is playing to. I can only hope they amble on over to the merch table after the show and open their wallets. 9:50 and the set is done. Thank you Rum Diary.
After a short set change, the Lemon Sun storm on stage at 10:10. The club is quite crowded at this point, and the band’s singer wastes no time in trying to get their attention with his shouted greeting. Often when a band takes the stage, they’ll say something like “Where such and such band from so and so city.” This lot come up and offer, “We’re from somewhere down south, you know, Southern, California.” This comes with a wink and nod and seems really odd to me. Why not say “Hey, we’re from L.A.” as it’s abundantly clear that is exactly where they are from. Couple this with the fact that they look as if they were put together by a focus group and seem to have brought an entourage of people that seem as if they’ve walked straight of “Laguna Beach” or “The Hills” (MTV reality pap)... I had a weird feeling when I was researching the band before the show. I could not find a lot of information on them and what was found could best be termed vague. Throughout the set the singer kept letting us know that they were from “somewhere south.” Just plain odd. But how did they sound, you ask? Their soulful brand of Southern California rock was as contrived as their look. I only caught one song title: “Edge of Defeat.” Apparently it’s about murder. Ohhhh…scary. I can only wonder whose money is behind all this. The whole thing, while funny at first, left a bad taste in my mouth, and so I head out to the patio for some fresh air. Any idea where I can go to get that 30 minutes of my life back? [Ouch!—JR]
The Gris Gris arrive on stage at 11:00, and thankfully save the evening from the prior debacle. I can’t really say enough about this band. I was a bit disappointed to find out that their regular bass player, OSCAR MICHEL, won’t be playing tonight as he’s in LA. Apparently he’s working with the aforementioned Karen O and someone from DEERHUNTER on the soundtrack for the new SPIKE JONZE film, Where the Wild Things Are. Seems as if he is in a better place!! Well done Oscar. In any event, the bass shoes are ably filled tonight by GARRETT GODDARD (who played drums with fellow Birdman Records band HOWLIN’ RAIN this past Thursday). As the four-piece begin to play, the crowd quiets and give the band their full attention for what in my estimation is their best song: “Raygun” from the self-titled debut LP. This stunning piece is eight minutes of blissed-out-at-times-feedback-laden-at-times-gentle-and-somber psychedelic beauty. A masterpiece. A friend mentioned beforehand that the band would be playing only early material as that is what Goddard is familiar with. Fine by me. All the band’s recorded output is well worth seeking out, but the first LP reigns supreme. When I watch the Gris Gris play, I get the feeling that I am seeing something very special. Some may slag off the psych elements that permeate the music as simply retro, but that’s just not the case. The music and the Gris Gris are very much unmistakably in the now, and I am continually amazed every time I see and hear them (tonight is no exception). There is a haunting quality in songs such as “Everytime” and “Mary #38” that at times is so achingly beautiful and soothing you don’t want it to end. Yes, this band is very special, indeed. Don’t get me wrong; it’s not an entirely dour affair. This band can (and does) rock it with the best, as evidenced tonight on the song ‘Necessary Separation” which nearly brought the house down. Thankfully for those not living in the bay area, the band spends a good deal of time on the road. Make it a point to check them out, as they will not disappoint.
Chicago’s Ponys hit the stage at 12:15. Recent signings to Matador Records, the band have two LPs on In The Red records under their belt, with a new LP due out March 20. It’s a fair bet that a good deal of tonight’s set will contain songs from the forthcoming LP Turn the Lights Out and I’m dying to hear what they’ve come up with since 2005’s _Celebration Castle_” Guitarist IAN ADAMS left the band shortly after the LP’s release and was replaced by BRIAN CASE (of Chicago’s 90-DAY MEN) and while I’ve seen them live a number of times since, I can only wonder as to how the songwriting will fare on the new material. While all the writing credits on the first two records were to the band, it seemed evident that Adams had a heavier hand in the writing on some tracks. For instance, the ones he sang on were artier and a bit softer (but no less compelling) than the songs that JERED GUMMERE sang on. Right off the bat the band delivers a new song, and it rocks much to the crowd’s delight. The unfamiliarity with the tune in no way dissuades those up front from dancing/bouncing with happy abandon. The second song again is a new one! This band has stones to travel to SF after a year and a half, and open with two songs from a yet to be released LP. Seems a good plan though, as the crowd is clearly into it, from the dancing in the front and similar movements being made behind that I notice as I look back. The rhythm section of MELISSA ELIAS on bass and NATHAN JERDE drums lay down a solid foundation while Case and Gummere wail away on guitars, as the band play new song after new song. It’s clear from the new material that the band has fully embraced the rock elements of the first two records, and has cast aside the arty and twee bits. I can only put this down to the lineup change, but you’d have to check with the band to be certain. There are still echoes of RICHARD HELL in Gummere’s vocals and the band is still sonically multi-dimensional, though it’s got a slightly different flavor this time around. For instance, Gummere sets his guitar down for a few numbers and sits in front of the keyboard. There is certainly a different flavor to these songs, but no less drive and energy. After six or seven songs the band finally plays a couple of tracks from the first LP, Laced With Romance. “10 fingers, 11 toes” and “Let’s kill ourselves” are both met with roars of approval. It’s good to hear the old numbers again, and it serves to add context. It’s now obvious how the band have grown since the first 7” and it’s great to see and hear. The set ends after 40 minutes with Gummere at the keyboard singing another new song, this one about assholes and pickpockets (sorry Jered, I can’t remember the name). A great set by a great band that continues to move forward. I hope they had a fun-filled 6:00 am flight back to snowy Chicago!
After a few brief words with Jered, I’m off. My one night stand at Bottom of the Hill was far more than satisfying. Thank you Ponys and Gris Gris. Tomorrow night its CAKE and MONEY MARK at Bimbo’s, and I’ll admit that I am scared because I know nothing about either act!
