The kickoff to a film festival honoring bikes, Deerhunter took the stage in a venue unlike most I’ve been to. A long narrow hall with columns flanking the crowd proved an intimate setting, and Deerhunter maximized the space with their far reaching, far out sounds. They jammed through their set with a relaxed ease belying the frantic, often jangled collage of distorted sounds. They rocked so hard at one point that the power supplying the makeshift stage went out and there was a brief interruption. When the festivities resumed, front-man Bradford Cox jibed “Okay that was our FIRST set. Round two is all Grateful Dead covers!”

Jokes aside, they meant business, and played a flowing set. The most unique moment, however, was the post-encore sound collage which lasted about 15 minutes on its own. With the trailing sounds of the encore song ending, Deerhunter (led by Cox) began to manipulate the feedback with their impressive array of distortion and effects pedals into a long, coked out tapestry of sound that left a major part of the crowd confused/irritated/and quite frankly lost. Some left, and those who did missed out on a harmonic explosion… A bittersweet symphony of fuzzed out, drone-tastic feedback sounds that actually ended up sounding totally coherent, if not a bit loud.

The spontaneous nature of the outing really made it worthwhile for me. I had only decided to go like 2 days before the show, and it ended up being a great night!

Anyhow, I drove to Santa Barbara and back to Pasadena in one night to watch Fishboy perform.

For the second straight night.

220 odd miles.

It was worth it.

The venue was totally bizarre. A student housing commune at UCSB called BIko Garage. According to the place’s website: “The garage space out front functions as central storage as well as an all-purpose community space for radical meetings, music, art exhibitions and dance.”

Radical, you say? Sure. About half of the crowd decided bathing was optional, and a girl was walking around topless during the first set… Fun, especially when it got super sweaty later on!

The first set was actually mind blowing. A sorta non-descript guy named “Brando” recited his (radical) poetry from memory. Elaborte versus delivered in a frenetic energy that some might call a violent stutter blasted various levels of “the man.” Hilight was a scathing assault upon Dubai, which he lambasted as an exploitative place, and centered the assault around a pained liaison between a businessman (white devil!) and his “escort” promised a better life in Dubai.

Clearly a tough act to follow, but Santa Barbara local music heroes “Backpack” were up to it! Their set was amazing. Energetic, garagey, punkish psych. Garagey is apt beyond the fact that we watched the set in a garage. Hmm. Loved it. Unfortunately they didn’t bring their CD to sell. WEAK!

Next was a truly surreal white girl led soul/gospel band that was actually pretty OK but my experience was pleasantly interrupted by Justin (my buddy, and Fishboy bassist extraordinaire) who pulled me aside to construct the Fishboy set-list.

Yes, I got to pick Fishboy’s set list, which was hastily ratified by the band, but its menace would not be unleashed upon the unsuspecting denizens of Biko Garage until after Iji’s set.

Having been introduced to them from Round 1 of the Fishboy Tour Experience ©, I was extra enthusiastic to get another chance to see their set. It was even better the second time around, as I’d listened to their CD on the drive up. Love it. They get so into the moment, and they love making music. Fantastic, but the roof was still dry. Iji’s singer Zach told me how much he loved playing the Biko Garage because of how cramped it was and how many enthusiastic fans could converge to see a set… And how the last time Iji played there, they got the roof to sweat from all of the commotion. Impressive.

“Iji got this place warmed up, but we’re from Texas… This is only about as hot as it gets in your car while you’re driving to your best friend’s house with the A/C off… We’ve played much hotter shows… So we’re gonna need you to dance even harder to make us feel at home.” -Justin, as he took the stage after Iji. Fishboy time.

I’m not even sure I was able to breathe. The show was EPIC and much too large for the small space I found myself in, surrounded by about 50 other people. Non stop motion, dancing, jumping, ROCKING. The Fish-Boys kept it going at an insane pace, and with my hand selected set-list, it was a lock that between the two nights, I heard the Fishboy tunes I most wanted to hear. Magic. Epic.

Though I was thoroughly drenched in sweat, Justin gave me a big hug and proclaimed “this last one’s for Chris Gilbert” as they roared into “Farewell Albatross.”

By the end, everybody else was sweating, too… But the best part? The roof got in on the act too- a fact not lost on the crowd, or the band… The Iji prophecy fulfilled, the roof literally sweating, we all needed a collective gasp for air, and the final set, Watercolor Paintings obliged, bringing everyone back to Earth with their mellow, quirky, pop folk stylings.

After the performances, I had a last farewell chat with my friends, new and old… And we wished each other well on our respective journeys to the final tour stops and home respectively. Ears ringing, I drove home, in one piece.

Thanks Justin and Fishboy for the most amazing two days of music in recent memory.

It was no surprise, then, that when they arrived in LA for a set at the Tribal Cafe that they’d have at least one “superfan” in the wings waiting for it.

I show up at 7, to watch the end of a Jazz set, before the night’s festivities acts arrived. Hilight was this sweet Jazz guitar solo:

Sweet Jazz Guitar Solo... Didn't catch the band name.

After that ended, the night’s scheduled festivities began.
Some local acts would precede the touring lineup of Fishboy, Iji, and Watercolor paintings.

First up were local industrial folk trio “Black Sparrow Press.” One of the guitarists had a Woody Guthrie homage on his guitar… “This Machine Kills Six-Packs.” Fitting, as at times the trio did have a very Guthrie-referencing repertoire, their Folk ravings inspired in equal parts by the Dust Bowl Troubadour and their home roots of San Pedro.

Black Sparrow Press

Uke!!

Black Sparrow Press Kicks out the Jamz

After Black Sparrow Press’ Screamy Folky goodness, the drummer/uke-ist stayed on to assist local singer songwriter Sean Arenas, or “Sean Homemade” if you prefer. His acoustic set was really subdued in comparison, but he made up for that with meaning, and emotion. He is a talented songwriter that I am looking forward to following.

Sean Homemade

Sean’s set was too short, but with many bands to run through, time was of the essence. Next up was a spirited duo who I think called themselves the Bromantics. They announced that they’d started the band last Thursday (!!) and so the name wasn’t totally finalized. They do power poppy jams, and the guy and girl swapped instruments (guitar/drums) halfway through the set. Slight edge to the guy on guitar, girl on drums, but it was a fun set nonetheless.

Bromantics

After the dancing subsided, fishboy were to take the stage. In between the other sets I got a good chance to get to talk with the guys, who were really appreciative of the fact that I’d showed up in their t-shirt.

Fishboy Taking the Stage

They tore into the set with gusto, and I got some great video footage… The hilight being the final set where Justin handed the final song selection over to yours truly! Between Taqueria girl and Proper Name Spelling Bee, the choice was clear: Spelling. They ended with it and it was a rip roarer… The crowd seemed equally into it, and I’d made the right choice!

Locked and Loaded.

Justin Slappin' de Bass

Adam tickling the Ivories

It was hard to see them leave the stage. They looked and sounded so comfortable up there!

Next up, Iji, who Justin described as “Calypso Fishboy.” Excellent. I met their singer, Zach who seemed really enthusiastic. Their set really took me by surprise. It was phenomenal, and I remarked to him after that performing looked cathartic, and a relief for him. He agreed. His enthusiasm and love of music is infectious and shone through his performance. Amazing.

Iji

After Iji, local (Santa Barbara) favorites Watercolor paintings quietly took the stage. A Sister (harp) Brother (Uke) duo that had to compete with the refrigerator sounds in the Cafe during their blissfully serene and warm set. Beautiful stuff. Contemplative.

Watercolor Paintings

Having lulled the crowd into contemplative relaxation, the curtain call band, Local act “Big Whoop” ended things with a bang. Fun orchestral pop rock made an impression. I look forward to big things from them.

Big Whoop!

After some goodbyes, the Fishboy gang pressed me into coming up with them tomorrow to see the show at Biko Garage in Santa Barbara. Who was I to turn down that kind of offer? I will report on it, assuming I am not rocked into oblivion!

Yeah!

More Photos:

Chuggin a brew

Rockin' the flying V @ Amoeba 8/18/2009

1. Malkmus + Jicks 7/25 @ Echoplex: This was a really fun concert. The Echoplex hosted singer/songwriter/guitar maestro Stephen Malkmus and his merry minstrels, the Jicks. Well they hit the Pavement running, and didn’t look back. (Couldn’t resist.) Fantastic show, with good company! Anna and her friend Justin who I’m pretty sure is going to be my partner in some sort of skateboarding apparel business venture? Okay.

2. Bonfire 7/30: A friend invited me down to a bonfire very “spur of the moment” like, and I’m glad she did! It ended up being a really chill, beautiful night. Met some fantastic, interesting people. Saw some fire. Had beers. What more could I ask for?

3. DEERHOOF 7/31 @ Echoplex: Holy Christ. After having tickets to see them 4 times, and each time something [illness x2, car problems, rescheduled final exam...] prevented me from actually going, seeing this band was totally built up with some crazy expectations. I love their recorded material, but word of mouth said they were even better live… So I headed down to the Echoplex to meet up with some buddies, and see if they were as majestic in person if not more so than their epic recordings.
…
…And they were.
One of the most intense, musically unique moments of my life. One of my favorite live acts ever. Brilliant. They have so much fun exploring their musical ability, listening to each other, improvising, and straight up jamming. Rock ‘n Roll.

Crowd surfing. Bacon wrapped hot dog. Iced Tea at a cafe afterward with Emerson and some other new friends. Fantastic.

AGENDA:
Tomorrow I leave for Martha’s Vineyard, where I will be partaking in some fine beverages, and even better company. I will be reunited with some of my best friends in the world, and partying. FOR A WEEK! Then Montana for a week of Mountain Sky, fresh air, revelry, and more best friends.

VACATION.