I. The Anasazis
This band has a US tour starting next week: it looks like a real death march. This was my second viewing after receiving extremely positive word-of-mouth. This time I thought I noticed improvement in the drumming style. It was more Crystal Stilts and less Beat Happening. If you're going to do the lo fi thing I think you need to get the drum sounds right- I see similar questions that need to be addressed by Christmas Island. I think it needs to be put out there that the lead singer of the Ansazis, who I believe is Chris Rosi (as supposed to Chris Eck, who also plays guitar and sings) looks like Buddy Holly. That's just a fact and I'm sure photographs will confirm it. But I'm here to report that they had a crowd that showed up (relatively) early to see them perform. The audience enjoyed their music.
Here are some Anasazis dates for my out-of-town readers: playing the Smell in Los Angeles, CA on July 13th; New York City on July 24th at Don Pedros.
II. Heavy Hawaii
Has zero friends on myspace, which is just awesome. How fin is that? This is the best scene band ever- it's a three piece that features a cat on harmonium. The sound is v. Animal Collective, Deerhunter w/ wierd modulation on the vox that will appeal to some and irritate the haters. I liked it, crowd liked it. This is a band that should, ideally, put out three seven inches: first one in Chicago on Hozac Records, then one in New York on Captured Tracks, then one locally. That is the scene triangle right there. I promised my wife I wouldn't blog about the 'scene' but again, I just wanted to throw that idea out there: release all three seven inches in succession #1 in fall, #2 right before end of the year (for top 10 lists), #3 in the spring, tour w/ all three to sxsw and enjoy your Stereogum band to watch feature next May.
Joking aside, I really enjoyed Heavy Hawaii, recommend them to all and dig on the whole mystery angle. I support mysticism and wierdness by music acts.
III. Coathangers
Olympia/DC style girl punk from the ATL, this band had me in mind of Slant 6 and Bratmobile. They feature a keyboardist that ads a certain panache. Although I think I actually wanted to see Coathangers more then any other single band, their set left me with questions. Questions that didn't prevent me from buying all their merch and generally considering them adorable, but questions. Questions about the songwriting, mostly. I didn't hear any hits. I doubt they give a fuck about hits, and certainly they had a bigger crowd then 95% of like acts touring through the area, so it's hard to dish out any criticsm. I mean, I listen to the full length all the time.
IV. Strange Boys
I haven't been tracking on this band, and their set got pushed past midnight so I stayed for maybe a song or two. I want to point out that I saw many people carrying around the vinyl they brought, that the crowd was bigger then for any like event I've been to the Casbah at over the last several years, and that this was on the Monday after the fourth of july.
How to explain the high attendance? I have no answers. I suppose it's a "peak" on the sine wave that is amateur music enthusiasm. I would say that shows of this type are drawing more amateur music enthusiasts who have historically been unfamiliar with the Art Fag sound. I think that interest has been 'sparked' by the commerical success of similar artists.
I think the local bands who are involved here need to reach out to indie labels in other key markets- specifically nyc and chicago and use that relationship to generate interest there, and then use the cross current to spark national interest through the blogs.
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