acids and basses and spark_gap reviews

On Friday I made it out to Hunab Hookah for a little bit to catch some of The Acids and Basses electro jam, with guest F/M from Santa Fe. Trippy, Ambient and experimental, quite enjoyable to just sit back and listen to. F/M consisted of two technicians, Martin Back and Frank Rolla, a lute, two macbooks and a contraption which I will name the "random paddle", a large standing instrument with many wooden paddles jutting from it, and small motors which randomly would cause a hammer mallet to play one of these paddles. Think Japanese ambient, with some folk rock intertwined. Acids and Basses, making use of 512 Software's (located right here in Albuquerque) Audio Sequencing software, Numerology, makes ambient soundscapes great for film or just cooling out to. It's that kind of music that you don't hear in your head until you hear it being played, and then you realize it's always there, you just might not know how to channel it out. An enjoyable night, followed by one sad bit of news; it is my understanding that Hunab Hookah will be closing at the end of July. I never got to spend too much time at Hunab outside of Throwing Spark_Gap there for awhile, but I did enjoy the place when I was there. It's very hard to make a Hookah Lounge last in Albuquerque, I would imagine.

Then, last night, I re-opened Spark_Gap at The Agency, with the intention of continuing its tradition of live electronic jamming and IDM. Well, it was half there. We opened the night with a set by I Heart Teo , A young DJ from L.A. who has made his way out here, who dropped an hour set of heavy electro, and did very litterally blow me away. Myself and Clint had set up our rigs on stage, and were waiting for some of the other players to come, which unfortunately didn't happen - and so Spark_gap turned essentially into an hour and a half long set from myself with backup by Clint. It was fun, but it wasn't what I had planned. I had to have something to give people who came out (about 11 of them, including the ever vigilant Adric, to whom I am eternally grateful), so I thought that it made the most sense to just throw a set. There was a little jumping around, which was good, but it certainly wasn't an improv electro night.

So, what would I do differently? Well, I think I won't have a stage next time. I don't think it's fitting for spark_gap to have a tall stage, unless I have some featured artists - which is the other thing I'll do differently. I don't think I can keep the improv jam thing going right now. If I can't get a consistent number of players out to play (and I'm totally understanding of that, Saturday is also not a good night for something like this), I can't really do an open jam. So, I think I plan to have one DJ, one featured act, and perhaps anyone who wants to jam, in the next Spark_gap, and play it up as a dance party with some improv jamming. I'll have to see how it all plays out, I'm still learning with this thing, but I want to keep it going.

I also have to say thanks to Trace for coming out and throwing visuals for the night. He very literally helped me to make the night 100% better. Without visuals I really would have felt deeply failed at this outing, but having the bouncing lights on the giant white wall of The Agency really helped out. Seriously man, thank you.

So, that, as they say, is that. I wasn't entirely happy with last night, I will say that, but the moral of the story is to look at what you're doing and figure out what you need to do differently. I'm seeing some of that, so I'm going to work on it, and as with anything, I'm going to take whatever help I can get for it, because I simply can't do all this stuff on my own.

One Day as a Lion is the new side project from Zack De La Rocha, lead singer of Rage Against The Machine. He’s been a bit anti social in the years following the demise (and now recent return) of RATM, but he’s got a side project now with Jon Theodore (former Mars Volta). I’m quite impressed with the sound, being that it’s only two guys. Their Myspace page lists Zack on Keyboards and vocals, and Jon on Drums, but the sound is very much that of RATM, especially from the “Evil Empire” days. Heavy and political, and that’s what I like to hear. It’s about fucking time, is all I can really say.

http://www.myspace.com/onedayasalion

There’s only one song right now, “Wild International”, driven by a grinding snarl of keyboard hook and dry crunchy drums, with Zack’s signature lyrical style on top of it all. Their debut EP is due out on the 22nd of July, from Anti-Records (the home of Anti-Flag).

I’d suggest listening, especially if you’re tired of hearing sappy sweet bullshit all the time (not that I expect you’d be listening to that, but you always run into it no matter what these days).


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Listening to: Rage Against The Machine - Without A Face
via FoxyTunes

filmfilmfilm

Over this past weekend I had the pleasure of acting for Spork Films again, for the 48 hour film project. It went quite well, I got to play a role I had some fun with. If you want to check out the film, I suggest going to the 9:15 showing of the entries tonight at the KiMo theatre. Vote for Sport Films, please!

Now some reviews:

Hellboy II

Visually amazing, this is what Hellboy I should have been - like a comic book on steroids. Guillemo Del Toro obviously cares about this project immensely, having turned down projects like Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and I am Legend to make this tilm. This time, though, he could do what he wanted to, thanks to the budget he's managed to amass with Pan's Labrynth being so popular. The film was pretty phenomenal, fun to watch, and well-written, but still goofy in a comic way. Ron Perlman is amazing in the lead roll, Selma Blair is hot as LIz, and my only disappointment was that David Hyde Pierce didn't return to reprise Abe. Beyond that, I'd give this film 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Charlie Bartlett

Cool and Unassuming, this film was fun, and hit on a lot of the small trials that face most teenagers in high school. The characters were well developed, but not too much so. A fun script drove the whole thing, and combined some typical story features with some not so typical ones. Robert Downy Jr. is great as always, channeling a bit of his addictive nature into his character, and Anton Yelchin is great in the film's title role. 4.5 out of 5.

Sex and Death 101

Quite an odd film, a man (Simon Baker) receives a list in the mail of all the women he'll sleep with, generated by an all knowing "oracle" machine. Hilarity of various kinds ensues, the "death" part of the title got me a bit, but it rolled to a good close. Winona Rider plays a killer, which is always a nice thing to see, and she's got a great haircut. 3 out of 5.

That's about it, I dunno why I feel the need to review stuff lately, I just do.

the agency record swap review

I just got back from the Agency's Record Swap, and I had a lot of fun at it. It was nice to walk in and see quite a few people at tables with their big boxes and stacks of vinyl set up, as well as record players, books, and various other wares for sale. Raven Chacon of SickSickSick distribution was there, with his mass of noise and experimental music in tow, as well as my friend Adric and his many boxes of vinyl. I walked away with about 15 new records, and I know I need to go down there next time with my own stuff to sell.

Which, speaking of which, this is a great venue for bands to come sell their music. Because it's not the flea market, people are actively searching for music, so your chances of selling are much better. I encourage musicians to consider coming out for the next swap, which will be the 2nd sunday of every month.

The other night I had a dream that someone was trying to steal my dog, so I got into a fight with them with tranquilizer gun.

I managed to throw the guy into a passing truck bed, or something, and then I was in a car with Gary Cobain and Brian Dougans of Future sound of London. They were playing me their new album and telling me I was the first to hear it.

I watched "Hancock" over the weekend and liked it, for some reason.

I have been trying to wear contacts, which is very odd. Being able to see without stuff on your face is pretty cool, but putting them on and taking them off sucks. Perhaps I'll get the hang of it. Here's hoping.

The Diverje gig in North Carolina was canceled. I wish morons weren't allowed to be promoters.

Here's a fact; in the music business, the squeaky wheel gets the grease, but you also need to know when to shut up. You shut up just when people think you're annoying. If a promoter can't even begin to be squeaky, they're not going to have anyone come to their event.

Learn it, people.

reviews

(this post is old, diverje is NOT playing Misty’s on saturday, july 5th)

Firstly, a quick movie review;

“American Gangster” by Ridley Scott

I love Scott’s work, and he managed to deliver on this one again, yet without using much of the usual visual camera flair that he is known for (all manner of bright colours, over exposure, high speed shots to catch dust flying through the air). He managed to sit nicely into a period piece about Frank Lucas, one of the most powerful drug kingpins to rise out of Harlem in the late sixties. Denzel Washington delivered as always, and as always, delivers the line “My man…” with great bravado. Russel Crowe was well placed in his role as a too-good slightly overweight cop who finds that honesty gets him in trouble more often than he sees its benefits.

Overall a well done film, a bit long, and maybe because I watched the director’s cut. There are a few points where you assume you’ve reached the end, and it keeps going, which I found a bit testing, but still a great crime drama (for which I am a sucker).

Secondly, a scene review:

Apparently, about a week ago, one of the bars that I play at pretty frequently, Misty’s Hideaway, was the target of undercover cops looking to find out if Misty’s was correctly carding. The story goes that the door man left his post to go to the back door, at which point two undercovers walked in without being carded, stepped to the bar and ordered drinks. Shawna, the resident manager/bartendress, fulfilled said order, and was then snapped into cuffs for doing so to what could have been (or maybe were, I don’t know) underage patrons. She’s apparently now got a huge amount of legal fees and and can’t work in the bar, and Misty’s will now be charging cover for all of their nights - which sadly is sure to be a nail in the coffin for the bar.

What I can’t understand is why the door man wouldn’t get slammed. If he lets them by, it’s his fault - not Shawna’s - she relies on him to keep track of these things. She can question if someone looks underage, but if she is to assume that the door man is doing his job, one would think that he would actually DO his job.

I find this pretty unsettling, because it means that playing there will happen less frequently, won’t be a paying gig anymore, and it will be harder to attract our fans to come out. Yet another shot to the music scene, I suppose. I guess we’re all supposed to host rock band and karaoke nights? Seems that’s the only way to make any money anymore.

So, that said, we play Misty’s tonight, myself (in a solo set with Alchemical burn), Diverje, Vertigo Venus and Unclean. Hopefully, there’s reason for some heads to come out. We’ll see.

show reviews

I've played a lot of shows recently, and I thought I'd review the few of them.

6/20/08 - Audiobuddha CD release party at El Rey Theatre

Despite being lightly attended, this was a fun show. I opened the night playing with Ken Cornell and Clint as my backup guys, and dropped a new song, tenatively called "Wake up call" - another anti-political piece. The crowd was responsive and I did sell a few CDs. DJ Flobug dropped a lovely set of breaks/electro as always, and proved that he is one of the best DJs in this state, and one of the best that I know of in general.

Audiobuddha finished up the night with their unique trance/world music mashup, showcasing sounds from their new CD. Quite a good set, very chilled out at times and energetic at others. I got a few pics:



You can see them all at my flickr page - http://www.flickr.com/photos/botkiller

I will be reviewing Audiobuddha's CD soon.
6/27/08 - Warehouse 21 Grand Opening

I arrived a few minutes late to set up, thanks to NM being the land of orange barrels. The place was packed with All-agers and numerous old Santa Fe heads. The new building is AMAZING, it's huge, has great parking, and one of the best lighting systems I've seen in any place that isn't, or even is, a huge club. When the Reds drop on you, they're FUCKING RED. I love it. The stage is huge. The sound system is coming together nicely. I played this set by myself, but kids seemed to be into it. It was short but sweet, and I broke out "the cool sunglasses", which you'll see soon.

and then, I went back to Albuquerque, to play ANOTHER SHOW.

6/27/08 - The Stove, with Nanocrack, Blood for Soil, Diverje and Vertigo Venus

In keeping with working to be the hardest working man in electro, I got to the Stove after playing my Santa Fe set at about 10pm with all my drum gear in tow. I missed Nanocrack's set and came in in the middle of Blood for Soil's, but liked what i heard. Very old school industrial like.

I set up the kit, and somehow we all fit onto the Stove's small stage. The PA handled us nicely, and low and behold, when we dropped "Enough to destroy", the place went off like a fucking fuse, with heads jumping all over the place and lights going off, and lots of dancing. A nice surprise.

Vertigo Venus closed the night, again to much acclaim, we had to rip through our set, but did quite a nice one with a lot of energy.

This was probaby one of my favorite shows in awhile, it's always nice to see how the crowd at The Stove reacts.

More shows coming up, as always, and I'll work to review them as I go along.