I admit it—I kinda limped into Monday this past week. But, through the healing powers of GLORIOUS NEW MUSIC, I stand before you today A NEW MAN!!!
Yes, I have been reborn through the baptism of feedback and the rhythmic holiness of some particularly great bands: Sichshifter (Kyle Mabson & Dalton from Robin Williams On Fire), Solar Wimp (includes Rune, formerly of Monday Night champs Warm Climate), Naomi (40 BANDS! alumnus and superstar from San Diego), Knight Rider (also Monday Nights champions—now back after a short hiatus), and of course THE AMAZEMENTS, curators of the first four weeks of March.
We also had a special guest performance from Monday Nighters Brooke and Devra, but I’ll describe that more below. It was our first trans-continental performance—really cool!
This show was an epiphany. L.A. undergound musicians are clearly moving forward in all genres—at once! All the players are crackling with energy and inspiration—I really think we are in a new golden age of music here, and if you haven’t experienced it, WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU WAITING FOR!?
Sichshifter was created by Kyle and Dalton on the day of the show. This should be a full-time band—their triumphant drums ‘n synth heavy metal could be the soundtrack to my brain. Knight Rider returned after singer Mike was out of town for awhile. Fuck—I am glad these guys are back. I can’t think of anyone other group around that so deftly combines electronic/industrial/rock/noise/total aggressive weirdness into such potent and groundbreaking music. Gnarly. Naomi has honed her self-created electronic ballads to a laser-sharp—and highly danceable—edge. Solar Wimp… Wow. This band had moments of full-on Dazzling Killmen-esque transcendence, with wicked guitar, unrelenting bass and the craziest, tightest drummer I’ve heard in years—the guy was a rager on the kit. Not every song reached such heights, but, hey, even their lesser songs were merely…. incredible? You can’t ask for much better than that, and they are a new band, too.
The Amazements hit a transcendent peak, too, with tons of highly impressive new songs that sent my brain reeling. This is my favorite rock band in Los Angeles! I really hesitate to compare their music to anyone else’s, but… well, here’s just a grab bag of super awesome musical connections that The Amazedudes create in my mind when I am rocking to their three-piece insanity: the swampy chaos of Mt. Shasta, absolutely mind-blowingly high-pitched guitar mayhem a la prime Captain Beefheart, and the far-out post-grunge deconstructionism of early (circa-”Long Hair in Three Stages”) U.S. Maple. I dunno if those references mean anything to anyone in 2008, but, goddamn, those are three of my favorite bands of all time, so The Amazements are in pretty mothefucking awesome company there!!
The Amazements host the next three Mondays at Pehrspace so do come and check them out and tell me what YOU think, will you?
This past Monday we also had a special performance from You Are Not My Mother—a “supergroup” of Monday regulars Brooke and Devra. Devra’s in Chicago so she phoned it in—literally! With little more than a cellphone, a microphone, feedback, chanting and dancing, these two women wove an impressive spell. Kudos!
This week: Night Wounds has cancelled their appearance, as their tour is not happening. So watch for an update on the show from me before Friday.
I just had to post these photos today because I was so excited by the music The Amazements spearheaded!!!
I am really proud of the line-up for this coming Monday, as NASA Space Universe is another local underground band that speaks to my soul—their CD was my favorite of 2007. Subvacuum of Nothing promises to be truly crushing, with their technical almost Ruins-like two-piece attack, and Twin Crystals is three women who raise hell with their gruesome synthesizer-driven no wave rock ‘n roll.
DON’T MISS OUT ON THIS AWESOME SHOW!!!
SEAN CARNAGE PRESENTS SPECIAL MONDAY NIGHT CURATORS
THE AMAZEMENTS…. THE FIRST 4 MONDAYS IN MARCH!!!
This Monday—March 10th:
The Amazements
NASA Space Universe
Twin Crystals
Subvacuum of Nothing
March 17
The Amazements
Caruso Caruso
Walk
Widow Babies
Skyline Electric
March 24
The Amazements
Late Severa Wires
Moment Trigger
Suzanne Silver
Wisdom Teeth
Shows start 9:30pm / all-ages / $5
Pehrspace—325 Glendale Blvd., in Echo Park
See you there?
Renata once again worked her photo magic, capturing the night’s craziness with some killer images mixed into the Carnage pics below. Enjoy!!!!
Sichshifter!!!
Knight Rider!!!
You’re Not My Mother!!!
Devra: live from Chicago
Brooke: live in L.A.
Naomi!!!
Solar Wimp!!!
The Amazements!!!
WWW.SEANCARNAGE.COM
