so went to the assembly last night (this blog was started on sunday, and has taken me days to complete!! sorry!). been a MINUTE and a half, if not longer since i saw band there (since i saw a band full stop-last was taxi violence and the plastics). ended up making a solo mission, and that was the only way to do it actually. just me and the music, not against it (ref: britney spears-clearly APA referencing isnt a formality here). so lets just get right to it.
Caught this band called 'The Pinkertons'. retarded name for a band, but their sound is far from such. name and the voice just dont link up, but thats okay. maybe like other great bands in history (i cant think of one off the top of my head), they will change their name to suit their bad ass sound. or maybe its all a tactic? who knows why people do what it is that they do these days, but we are not here to discuss the psychology of the human mind, we are here to discuss the beauty that is the universal language of muzac.
so the pinkertons (i keep wanting to say 'parlotones' which evokes a completely different kind of emotion) were pretty fucking sweet. deep groovy basslines, bad ass guitar riffs, and crazy drumming were vessels used to transport you to another time and place, specifically the midwest circa 1970. soul for the common white man. they reminded me of a specific song, but i cannot for the life of me get the name/artist..perhaps because i never knew the name/artist and only know it courtesy of vh1's top 50 soft rock songs of all time (thank you vh1 for giving me chicago, chris isaacs and the doobie brothers). i think its something about a tale of a rising sun? i dont know. google in all of its infinite wisdom actually cant help me!!
after this groovy introduction to the evening, we were then entertained by the plastics. now, i dont know why people in the bizz have an issue with the plastics, but i personally dig them lank. i dont know why, but i do. they are just fun and free-spirited, and very reminiscient of british indie rock. think: arctic monkeys; the strokes-those kind of people. i think of the beach and good times when i hear them, i dont know about you. but what people keep complaining about, and which will bring me to a bit of a discussion here, is that they sound like the arctic monkeys. ok, so what? there is no band today that doesnt sound a little bit like someone else, purely due to the fact that they are influenced by other musicians. it is almost impossible to be truly innovative when it comes to music, all that one can do is put their own twist on what they know about the environment around them. for generations bands have been recycling what they heard growing up and what they currently hear around them, in order to produce a sound that they feel comfortable about. ashtray sounds like the shins, captain stu like cats empire (i dont know them, but thats who they reminded my mate of), taxi violence sounds like some rock band circa 1990 (maybe nirvana, i dont know), but the fact of the matter is that everyone uses someone elses sound and this has occurred throughout history. it is all just an evolutionary process. so with that, i think the plastics should be cut a little slack for sounding like the arctic monkeys. if their sound works for them, so be it! and i bet that you will look good on that dancefloor when you hear them!
and lastly, the reason why i love doing this 'job', is New Holland. i even capitalised the first letters of the name. thats some deep respect right there!! i loved this band before i went to this gig (had them playing in my car for a MEENIT), and i love them even more after the fact. they managed to get me to go to the assembly by myself, stand in the middle of the dancefloor (i always stand at the back), actively dance (i generally just groove) and mouth the words loudly along, even though i dont know half the lyrics. thats some serious power!!!
but what is it about this band that makes me behave in this crazy way?? i dont know. is it the electro-synth guitar riffs? is it the loudspeaker used to sing with in 'this(is)home'? is it my issue with the lead singers hair do? its all of the above, and then some. the melodies resonate through my soul, and the lyrics identify with whats in my heart. they say the things i cant put into words and provide a backing track to my life. that is it. plain and simple. they are something different that i just cant put my finger on. perhaps its the pulse. the energy, the fruitfulness and the meticulous way each and every sound, note and chord is constructed that can be seen and appreciated with an effortless enjoyment. i love it i love it i love it.
but the highlight of my evening was the impromptu performance (if you want to call it that), by the guys from thieve. perhaps one too many tequilas were had, but the lead singer and drummer hopped on stage during 'freedom' i think, and proceeded to sing along with the band whilst fighting over microphone rights. was classic and delightful, and reminded me what is right with south african music. no one takes themselves too seriously (or at least they shouldnt). so whilst they are causing a scene on stage, a bouncer comes to escort them, but the drummer proceeds, i assume, to drunkingly slur that they had in fact obtained permission (all this whilst the lead singer is shaking his bootay). after the bouncer realised that he was fighting a losing battle, he let the guys finish off their escapade, and their performance was concluded with the drummer of thieve attempting and successfully completing a stage dive. viva zuid afrika viva.
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