Issue # 53 September 2003 thewigwambam.com
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Ignoring Objectivity Since 1998 WIG WAM BAM “Albuquerque zine of music & nepotism”
LOCAL SHOWS NM venues, bands from here or there
Below the Sound, Karen, RAM, the Eyeliners, Dirty Novels, Pink Hand Grenade, Kissing Tigers, Mindy Set, Alibi Fall Crawl, Trans 66, Foma, Unit 7 Drain, Black Maria, the Long Goners, Lynida Kane
DENVER REPORT by Johnny Wrangler
Dressy Bessy, Avenue D
LOCAL SHOWS
Below the Sound, Karen 8/9/03 @ Launchpad Its been over two months I darkened the Launchpad’s door. I’m as guilty as the rest of you for getting used to the no-cover policy at Burt’s and the Atomic side-by-side but truthfully, there really hasn’t been much to whet my appetite on the ‘pad schedule. For out-of-town bands the Launchpad has been tops for years but every national act I’ve been truly excited to see in the past few months has been cancelled or dropped for some reason: New Pornographers, Sahara Hotnights, Kill Me Tomorrow (O Merciful God please spare Shonen Knife this fate come October!). But a new release from Below the Sound --especially when supported by Karen--was a great reason to hit the ‘pad. I’ve been following this chameleon-like band since early 2000. Each show and release is a little different than the last, adding up to large changes since then but less discernable in the day-by-day. Some say they sound like Helmet or Shellac but since the only Helmet song I know is their cover of the vintage anime Gigantor theme (U.S. version) and the only shellac I know comes from a can, I can’t attest to the comparisons. But I can tell you that a Below show is always worth checking out for solid, tough & driving songs but minus any silly demon-in-hell vocals or cheap lead-guitar work as is found in most bands that tends to the “heavier” side of music. But, as evidenced by the low turn-out tonight, Below the Sound is a “musician’s ” band, one that other band people like but lose the average crowds who favor run-of-the-mill metal wank. Your loss, toots. This three-piece is taut, a result of much work. No one grandstands, no one grabs the spotlight but instead they emphasize their total package. Without cattle-prodding the audience into focusing on some obvious but trite riff like 86% of bands around, most people don’t get Below the Sound. Openers Karen are similar in that way: there’s no glaring simplistic snippets for the average dim-bulb in the crowd to latch onto and so, many people walk away saying, “huh?”. Not me. I walk away from a Karen show saying “huh!”: in other words, sometimes astonished, sometimes wishing for more solid rhythms but never disappointed or to find them lacking. I’m certain tonight they lost a few people when they ditched the set list for a left turn into improv. But of those left standing after their wailing clamor, the majority were musicians who generally have the most wide-ranging taste of anyone in any crowd. Karen throw themselves into their sets not calling attention to any one member of the group; in fact they usually discourage it by facing away from the audience. There’s a lot to be said for a performer who can work a crowd and get their attention & praise by doing little except asking but it becomes just that: a performance. While a band need not go as far as Mazzy Star who were legendary for near-catatonia onstage or actually playing some shows in total (total!) darkness, I don’t want or need some mook asking me if I’m “ready to rock”. Yeah, as a matter of fact I am, so shut the fuck up and do it, alright? I’ll take Karen’s we-play-not-say attitude any ol’ time. After their set but before Below, I took a brisk walk over to the Burt’s/ Atomic sector to drop off a pile of journalistic swill & catch the subject of the next review: RAM 8/9/03 @ Burt’s Maybe I spend too much time indoors at one club rather than being seen at venues all up and down the Central/Gold Street strip but has it always been this way there? I don’t think so; traffic is backed up all the way between the Launchpad and Burt’s with cruisers, wanna-be’s, never-will-be’s and knuckleheads bellowing at each other from behind the wheel, hanging from the passenger side to talk trash or shout intelligent & sure-fire ice-breakers such as “nice tits”. I don’t mean to cop a these people have no class attitude but its true. If the Downtown Action Team wants to clear up debris like this clogging the late-night streets, I say yea. Unfortunately, the city fathers can’t tell the difference between mostly peaceable music-freaks like us and useless forms of youthful humanity like the ones in question. Sure, our music might be louder than theirs and we may dress funnier but we mostly keep our bad behavior inside the bars and even then its mostly just being jerks instead of outright meatheads. But of course, I’m sure that “their” scene think we’re the losers so I guess its about even. Well, no its not, I’m just being generous. So it was with that in mind that I strolled into the Tiki just as Random Access Memory were firing up their fine set of electro-beats as if fronted by an industrial Robert Smith either less or more depressed, I’m not certain which. And as if to illustrate my point above, the people packing the joint--and it was packed-- were the sort who freak out the Action Team and your solid citizenry but who are thankful to have someplace to dance and hang with other creatures of the night. Ever wonder about why the folks that look the darkest with tons of mascara, chain hanging all over their bodies, long nasty dreads, too many tattoos etc are usually the more peaceable than the frat-mentality idiots who may look “normal” but are getting into brawls, impeding traffic and, with their megaton sound systems, are blaring the most banal commercial crap around and all the while complaining about not getting due “respect”? People like RAM and their fans are on the ball, people I respect. I'm glad to see doing a little more cross-breeding in the incestuous downtown scene. the Eyeliners, the Dirty Novels 9/16/03 @ Launchpad Pink Hand Grenade, the Kissing Tigers, the Mindy Set 9/16/03 @ Burt’s Societies and tribes of people worldwide have always had taboos against incest so as not to diminish their folk from degenerating into drooling cretins. I don’t mean to cast any aspersions, but I’m not quite certain it does anyone any good to have musicians spread out across two or three different bands at multiple venues the same night, not to mention the havoc it plays with everyday practice and recording. This phenomenon is as old as ummm Subpop with everybody & their sound engineer pursuing multiple “projects”, some of which are better left unheard. My prediction for Albuquerque is that soon there will be just one hipster band who merely have to change places onstage between sets in order to qualify as another act. The Dirty Novels have shifted Joego to drums and enlisted Julie “Sweatband” Legend to (temporarily?) take his bass place. She done good on the bass beats. Joey too kept a heavier bottom end than before with a few more fills.The reasons for the shift are the Novels' own. I may talk shit about musicalities here but not the persona involved. Tune in Entertainment Tonight this Friday for the full details. Over to you, Leeza...! The worst part about the Novels tonight was watching “the kids” at this all-ages event try to dance to Stones-y rock since they learned from the miserable Austin Powers. It was a sorry sight. They were mostly there for the Look Out! stylings of the Eyeliners anyway, which they chose to mosh to. Pogo I can see but the girls have never really been mosh-material except that they appeal to mohawk boys. After following the Eyeliners for eight years now, its interesting to see them as the kids see them, that is, old school. I was pleasantly surprised that their set consisted of about a third new material, something they rarely do until well after the latest release is out. Wonder how long they’ll make us wait for this one? Los Novels were mixed well but the Eyeliners weren’t done justice by the mud served up. Still, they were in better form than I expected although I’ll never get used to Laura not drumming but strumming instead. They don’t really need the second guitar and she does much a better job as a front-woman wielding only a mike, as she did for a few songs. Most surprising was the small amount of Dirty Old Men in attendance-- you know, the GBG’s (girl band geeks), myself included. Lisa was looking cute with her bleached blonde hair--something I’m usually not in favor of-- and ever more confident. After so many years as “the quiet one”, its nice to see her comfortable and at ease, chiming in stronger than ever on harmony vocals and between-song patter. From there, I strolled over to Burt’s in time for most of the Mindy Set set, half of which was minus Isaac’s keyboards as he was still onstage with the Sweatband next door at the Atomic. Overlap in personnel timing is inevitable on incest nights like this, although there were no reports of Juliet being late to the Sweats from her Novels stint. She did have a little more time to make the transition though. Mindy Matt was particularly 'on' tonight but you couldn’t miss him for his brand-new bleached blondie ‘do. Good thing the lights were low and it would’ve been too dazzling. Incited by a friend (or foe?) of hers, the crowd was cheering for drummer Jill (hairdresser to the Stars) who seemed mortified to get all that attention. She closed her eyes like a little kid hiding from monsters-- if I can’t see them, maybe they’ll go away! Then further delving into incest indulgence, the next rockin' band that we thought was the Pink Hand Grenades was actually their side project, Kissing Tigers. Allowed only five songs, I wished there was more of their dual dual-keyboard action. Yep, two guys with two keyboards each and some drivin’ indie rock. I grabbed their EP as soon as they humped their stuff offstage. Quite dismayed I was when I got home, slipped it in the player and found it drops from a great opening song down to fast-tempo reckless & dire emo. Imagine my disappointment! I guess about half of the Tigers stayed on as Pink Hand Grenade who played hard and to the delight of the crowd but didn’t do much for me, much like At The Drive-In-style which always struck me as quite useless. Still puzzling over the Kissing Tigers conundrum, I rolled into the Atomic the next day for their Sunday Rock’n’ Roll Matinee to see what I actually heard last night. I’ve run into this before, picking up CDs from what I believed to be good indie-rockers only to find their recording pure emo-style. I figure some of this is due to the process of groups evolving their sound (i.e. jumping off the emo bandwagon which as a musical conveyance has long since broken down, beyond hope of repair). But why this: the Kissing Tigers’ EP is an advance of an upcoming full-length so how come I dislike it as much as I (thought) I liked what I heard live? Alas, the answer was not to be revealed as Grenades/Tigers turned out to be mostly under 21. With all the turmoil of late over underage kids at all-ages shows (huh? run that by me again) and the horrific murder of a sixteen year-old at the Sunshine, the management decided to hand them a few bucks and send ‘em on their way.So I did a couple things I never do: sat at the bar even though no band was forthcoming sat at the bar and drank beer in broad daylight. Not to bag on those of you who do but 5PM is an ungodly hour for such things. I however was kept good company by my bartender Ms Tolino while we discussed the state of incestuous affairs in Albuquerque rock / rockstars as well as the fate & fortunes of venue hierarchies. Purty dang in-tell-ectual huh? Yup, you betcha. ALIBI FALL CRAWL 8/23/03 I did a lot less crawling than I guess one is supposed to do during such events, like: I barely got out of my usual haunts ..err.. habits.. umm.. rut. But I did hear many of the most vital sounds in the ‘burque today who were gigging the crawl (some I sorrowfully missed that belong on this list : the Handsome Family, Sweatband, Nels Andrews, the Mindy Set, the Dirty Novels). My evening started out at the Atomic Cantina with a top notch set by Foma, the first I’d seen in many months. This was simply their best I’d ever heard. Heather (cello, violin, vox) attributed it to the recent tour. For band improvement, there’s nothing like working it like a job while on the road as opposed to working it as a passion while home. The mix was impressive too, also the most balanced I’ve heard of them and that’s saying a lot for the Atomic where its hit or miss. Ariel (keys, bass, voice) could’ve been miked a little louder but neither was she buried. Edward (guitar, lead vocals) told me they’re working on new recordings amid some interest from a couple of labels which is good news especially in light of the quiet strength of their first two releases. And since I’ve now name-dropped _ of the band, I ought to mention Heath who is spot-on for such a quiet band, not an easy act to drum to without overpowering but the man has the right light & effective touch. Bravo all around. Quiet but engaging hooks that don’t aggressively grab you like most pop but are still potent. They have a great classically-informed indie-pop sound that isn’t explored enough these days. Next up on the Atomic stage was (formerly the Telephones) Trans 66, bringing out some of their newer material. About halfway into the first song Mark’s array of guitar pedals gave out, how fuckin’ tragic! That unfortunately cut into us witnessing the new direction they’re heading into: beat-heavy but no less rockin’ than their previous hard/punk attitude. Still, even without the f/x , I could easily hear the electro direction in their songs underscored by bassist Cherry Lee’s attack-funk groove. The last number--a new one--featured Mark and drummer Xandy Whitesel on keyboards-- not 60s garage style but electroclash-inspired. I’m all for it. Here’s a clear case of a band with a good, solid basis that didn’t particularly stand out from the crowd evolving into a stronger unit in a cool new direction without jettisoning their former power. Keep an eye on them. I have yet to be let down by Unit 7 Drain live. Tonight at Burt’s Tiki Lounge was no different. I hear a million things reflected in their music whether they intend it or not, from mid-period Who through early Smashing Pumpkins to old Blur on up to Radiohead. That’s not to say that Unit 7 sound anything like these bands. They don’t. Their sound is their own --engaging, ardent and never self-indulgent. Plus if you’re paying attention, you can dance to it which most people don’t, caught up in their taut & sinewy indie-rock assault. Well, maybe Harry smashing his guitar to pieces on the low wall surrounding the Tiki stage was a bit indulgent but sometimes you just feel that way. It was certainly a crowd-pleaser especially since the guitar was still plugged in and the short-lived sparks amped the enjoyment factor. I dunno, maybe he didn’t like that axe anyway. After a long wait (Unit 7 wrapped up early; trashing your instruments will do that) we were rewarded for our patience with a knock-out set by Black Maria, straight-up & stout doom rock, the best band around these parts towards the heavier end of the spectrum. The line-up kills but Brent’s drums & especially Brian’s bass anchor the whole and nail their sound (and your head)to the floor. Finally to round out my night, I strolled over to set foot into Pearl’s Dive for my very first time and catch the Long Goners. I hesitate to call ‘em rockabilly although they are because that tag sets off a cheap & derivative alarm in most folk’s head including mine. However there is nothing cheap or derivative about this trio which never fails to amaze because their sound is authentic, the best of Sun or King Records. In their guitar player, the Long Goners have that fine sound of the early sessionmen who made (as in completed) the records that sold on the vocal talent of Elvis Presley, Wanda Jackson or Gene Vincent but were in fact built on the foundations of strong backing bands without whom those releases wouldn’t have topped the charts as consistently: Vincent’s Blue Caps axeman Cliff Gallup or rockabilly teen Janis Martin’s (no relation) Grady Martin or Paul Burlison of Johnny Burnette’s Rock N Roll Trio and of course Scotty Moore of the Starlight Wranglers who backed Presley. Hearing the ‘Goners was as fine a way to wind down an evening as any. I slipped out just before set’s end to beat the crowd (and drunks) into homebound traffic. Lynida Kane 6/26/03 KUNM-FM, live broadcast Music To Soothe the Savage Beast DJ Caterwaul does it again and in fact may be doing it often: getting some of the ‘burque’s more obscure bands to play in the KUNM studios live on air during his rotating slot on Music To Soothe the Savage Beast . He usually pulls the fourth Tuesday eve of the month (sometimes more), right after The Home of Happy Feet --that folksy/twangy/creole-y show full of obscure goodness that DJs Barry & Carl have been rotating for nigh on twenty year. They’s hangin’ on to that slot like a hound dog onto a treed possum, they is. As for Savage Beast, Caterwaul spins everything inbetween of Devendra Banhart, Catpower & Can and that covers a good piece of ground. Lynida Kane I guess hasn’t played for awhile but pulled out a set for this night’s broadcast. Drummer Eben (Abandon All Hope, Fukrot) is the only one I know of the group and this stuff is different than the punishing crust & hardcore beats the man is known for. Measured but disjointed rhythms, lofty gal vocals and meandering guitars with songs that range from one to the next with barely a notice. Though the style isn’t my usual, it was nice listenin’ of a Tuesday evening. Keep tuning in to see who Mr Derelict Caterwaul will haul into the studio next.
DENVER REPORT by Johnny Wrangler
This just in from our Denver,Colorado bureau: Still with Albuquerque's dynamically-lethargic y'allternative band the Shine Cherries--although by long-distance--comes Johnny Wrangler checking in with what's happening up that-a-way. --ed. Dressy Bessy 8/25/03 @ Twist & Shout Records, Denver CO Avenue D 8/25/03 @ 60 South, Denver CO Having just recently moved to Denver, CO  to join the rock and roll rodeo circuit, I've managed to round up a few shows this past Monday. First, a freebie at Twist and Shout, Denver's answer to all things good concerning Music (canned and otherwise). Hailing from Denver, CO (what a grueling drive that must have been), Dressy Bessy play cutesy, fun-pop, a' la elephant six. I think the guitar player moonlights in the Apples in Stereo (another Denver group) who I believe are an E6 band. Being a big fan of Neutral Milk Hotel and practically spending all my pubescent paper-route funds on bands of the Paisley Underground (Rain Parade, Dream Syndicate, Opal, et. al.) I was curious to check these guys/and a girl out. The show was slated to start at 6:30 PM but didn't get underway until 7-7:15. What a bummer, I had to kill 30 or so minutes amidst a bunch of plastic. I previewed the new My Morning Jacket CD and will most certainly be attending/writing about the T&S in-store performance that they will be giving on October 3rd. OK where was I, oh yeah, Dressy Bessy! The stage was set at the south end of the store and consisted of some raggedy amps of the vintage Vox sort, a nondescript drum set (maybe black?) and a newer bass amp. The male guitarist, John, wrangled out some kick ass tone from his britbox and Fender Strat, laying down some natural distortion psycho-deli leads as wiry as his hair and frame (a good thing...wiry leads). He kind of reminded me of that actor who was in Talk Radio (the movie) or maybe, ooo-ooo-oo, a grownup Horshack. Tammy, the singer/rhythm guitarist of the band looked as though she arrived via the Scooby Doo Mystery Van. Her cropped red pixie haircut framed her pretty face as she sang sweetly over the Kinks inspired riffs. The tattoos on her sleeveless arms seemed a bit anachronistic to the Brady Bunch appearance of her wardrobe, but that's being too particular I'm sure. In no way did the tattoos hinder the performance of Dressy Bessy. The drummer, Darren, kept a nice peppy pace and added some background vocals to the mix while Rob's MusicMan Stingray bass kept the bottom end well grounded. The show was in celebration of Dressy Bessy's self-titled new album which was available at T&S a day ahead of the actual release date. I recognized some of the songs that were played live as their latest CD was being spun during setup. Definitely a fun party record with infectious leads and saccharine melodies. Recommended if you like Seals and Crofts, Dave Clark 5, Elephant 6, and F-U-N. More later on my other Monday Night Music Review later as I am on my way to Radiohead and Steve Malkmus & the Jicks at Red Rocks. (this next installment came after a one day delay --ed) After the free and early Dressy Bessy ,I headed on over to my good friend Chris's house; drank some beers, picked up my Radiohead tickets, and contemplated further Denver adventures. Earlier, I had seen this flyer at a skate shop (of all places) with two kinda slutty-lookin' girls calling themselves Avenue D and playing at some place called 60 South. The write-up in the Westword was intriguing: Catalina Soltero's write-up: Prepare for a hedonist's delight: Avenue D is coming to cowtown to `slap its leather-clad ass'. Widely regarded as the queens of electroclash, the D girls -that's Debbie and Daphne- have vamped at such venues as New York's CBGB and The Pussycat Lounge, and Boy George has flown them to London for gigs. Responsible for hit tracks such as Do I Look Like a Slut? and The Sex That I Need, Avenue D is known for its drool-inducing live shows full of silly, sexy and sometimes satirical (War Sucks and Bang!) songs- not to mention very little clothing. Their stunning ability to mesh rap, hardcore and classic ' 80s camp even won over the New York Times (who called Avenue D "the most entertaining" act in a star-studded show). The double-D Divas bring their frisky, hard-hitting beats and ass-shaking act to 60 South on Monday...plan on being there-these girls don't take no for an answer. Ok, sounds kinda cool, huh? Dear Grandma I just moved to Denver and it's just like New York City with Electroclash and slutty girls and stuff. So, I gotta mention, as far as Electroclash goes, I've heard the Fischerspooner album once and that's about it. From what I've seen via magazine articles, and whatnot, the whole thing smells like new-wave-glam rehash to me (Bronski Beat, Depeche Mode, OMD) but with some kind of performance art with outlandish costumes and sets attached. Again though, it sounded pretty cool and I was still uncertain as to whether or not I was going to attend ( $5 cover is a lot to spend when you don't have a job, and you don't know if you'll even like the band). My decision to go, or not, floundered like a mudfish on the banks of the Rio Grande. I decided to go home, but at the last minute I decided NOT to go home, and on the very next block I look over and see whom appears to be Miguel from Pilot To Bombardier. So, I call over to the next car, "Miguel!" And alas, it was he (going to Radiohead the next day as well). So my detour was soon replaced by hangin' out with 'burque Homey Miguel, and his girlfriend Yvette and some other friends at PS Lounge. After 2 beers & 2 shots (thanks for the Jager, Miguel!) we said our farewells and I found myself inexplicably drawn to 60 South to catch the Avenue D (finally)! Maybe it was the regular clientele, or Avenue D brings out the kind of freaks who would only go to see crazy-ass-slutty-girl-electroclash, but the room was filled with some strange folks (not unlike PULSE). Well, let's just say I wasn't too impressed. First of all, the girls who were on the flier lookin' all cute and skanky were not the two girls on stage, or perhaps they were but the road has made them a mess (like it can to lots of people...just ask Oh!Ranger). Ok, here it is; two big-ass girls (and a DJ who spun some mediocre rap riffs) screaming into the mike like some drunk-ass karaoke coke-whores, singing some song called Donkey Punch (I caught one line  "...ooo Donkey Punch!....you make me taste my lunch!" ) , and flashin' some tit and nipple that managed to pop out during their Salt N Pepa, Beastie Boy, mélange-a-trash-a-thon did not  make "their stunning ability to mesh rap, hardcore and classic ' 80s camp" come to my mind. It was entertaining to a certain degree, but nothing I think I'll actively seek out again. The night ended with another  'burque Homey encounter, this time it was Mark Armijo (remember Gaceystick anyone?) and his sister. We hung out and drank some more. I wondered to myself though, is he a regular at 60 South or the kind of freak who would only go to crazy-ass-slutty-girl-electroclash? I think he's both. Until next time, Johnny Wrangler
Wig Wam Bam (by Captain America PO BX 4865 Albq NM 87196 captainamerica1941@hotmail.com) covers the same bands over & over covers the same bands over & over covers the same bands over & over and may (or not) be found monthly at Newsland, AstroZombies comix, toys & collectibles, Free Radicals clothing & accessories, the Launchpad, Burt’s Tiki Lounge, mecca Records & Books, Natural Sound Records, the Atomic Cantina, Damaged Goods Records and Pancho’s Mexican Buffet right next to the flan.
Wig Wam Bam is written by Captain America  | po box 4865 | albuquerque, nm 87196