Portable Shrines

“…basically the universe is an art piece and an art project. And we could become great artists contributing to the art project…”

Here’s a new interview with Daniel Pinchbeck from http://www.theresident.net…

Last night I was lucky enough to be able to go see brightblack morning light, kurt heasley of the lilys, and my bloody valentine at an unfortunate venue (the WaMu theater, shiver). My ears are still recovering from the 19 mins sonic assault at the end of mbv’s last number…check out Dave Segal’s review of the show in the stranger for an excellent account. I agree with most everything he says, except I am such a huge Brightblack Morning Light fan that I loved their set even though the venue was incompatible with their laid back energy. I bee-lined it straight to the front of the stage which helped me avoid the cavernous vibe that the WaMu emits. Give me a bar over a giant venue any day.

brightblack morning light

This may day at the Crocodile,  those mystic mythic rock legends from Japan- Ghost will be showering Seattle with their presence  along with Six Organs of Admittance AKA Ben Chasney.  Ghost has been going strong since the mid 80′s but haven’t toured in 4 years (Michio Kurihawa of Ghost recorded an excellent album with Boris entitled Rainbow a year or so ago).  Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Shortly thereafter and down the road a piece in ye olde Belltown, the cabinet of curiosities known as nancy will be showing works by Steve Quenell.

Known by many for his cover art for the aforementioned Six Organs (see RTZ) among others, Quenell’s collage work looks something like a page torn from Jodorowsky’s dream diary. Opening the gatefolds of perception a flood of cave paintings and four dimensional hieroglyphics pour out bringing to mind Ernst, Satty and the animations of Harry Smith.

Opening 6-9 friday may 8th.

andy cabic and friends crooning at the crocodile

sarah versprille shaking that tambourine

And just for kicks the hilarious video for “Everyday” off of Tight Knit…

The Warlocks at Psych Fest II-muchos gracias a Victoria Renard!!! (check out more at youtube)

check out dave segal’s review of the wooden shjips show and here are a few photos from the portable shrines weekend happenings…

more 4.10.09 photos
more 4.11.09 photos
Jesse Milden’s photos of Wooden Shjips
(not pictured: bryan john appleby and black nite crash, if you have some photos please share).

golden animals

wooden shjips

afgct

hallways

idle times

backward masks-photo by david golightly

wooden shjips, aubrey nehrings’s art opening, and golden animals…

Wooden Shjips new album “Dos” is set set drop this week and coincides with they’re first appearance in the northwest(friday they play Yeti Fest in Portland). And along with AFCGT, Idle Times and Backward Masks this one is sure to be a real mother.

The Beautiful people known as the Golden Animals bring their traveling two-piece rock & roll show to the Comet on Friday and is most highly recommended that you attend. They’re songs are almost as infectious as that cold thats been going around and I understand they put on a helluva show. Meet us there after the opening at nancy…

3.28.09

midday veil

The psychotropic Victoria Renard of Austin, Texas, graciously documented the Psych Fest II that is held before that music industry orgy referred to as SXSW….having fully recovered from 2 straight weeks of shows this is her account of the Psych Fest…

When you live in a town that greets you with a sign at the airport “Welcome to Austin, TX: The Live Music Capitol Of The World” and there’s an approximate 50 music fests per year and at least 150 operating music venues per night excluding sushi joints, vintage shops, backyard BBQ’s and grocery stores you tend to get a little lazy, even complacent about getting out to see live music. Not such the case when it comes to the annual Austin Psych Fest. The first of the “annual” tradition started last year in 2008 the week before the much anticipated/dreaded South By Southwest music festival by event organizer Adam Demetri of Live Music Capitol and Austin’s guardian angel of psychedelia, Christian Bland of The Black Angels.

The Black Angels

Psych Fest was conceived as a tribute to the legendary 1960′s psychedelic venue Vulcan Gas Company which hosted local bands 13th Floor Elevators, Moving Sidewalks, and The Golden Dawn as well as a mixture of experimental and roots music like The Velvet Underground, Moby Grape, Big Mamma Thorton, Muddy Waters, and Mississippi Fred McDowell. Whereas the Austin Psych Fest kicked off in 2008 at the inconspicuous Red Barn in north Austin it made it’s sophomore effort at the newly opened Radio Room on 6th Street, Austin’s equivalent to Bourbon Street, in 2009. Joined this year by powerhouse publicist Jennifer Marchand of Bleu French Laundry Productions, who organized day long music fests tributing the year 1967 in music and John Lennon, Austin’s annual Psych Fest was a little more determined to bring the music to the masses: “the masses” being nostalgic local hippies, Spring Breakers, and foreigners (anyone outside the Texas border) with high dollar South By Southwest badges. As a South By Southwest “lifer”, I feel like five days of 24/7 live music and an influx of 70,000 visitors is total sensory overload… but what better time to bring the cream of the proverbial crop ranging from today’s reigning sounds of neo-psychedelia to the real deal 1960′s performers responsible for the whole tripped out mess?

Read more…