Davey Boy 2.0 Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 We love to improvise but we dont like the word 'jamband' too much, because that invokes a certain negative aspect, in our opinion. Its makes you think about the whole 90's hippie scene - Disco Biscuits and all that crap. Keep that away, that's not where we like to go. - Dana Janssen of Akron/FamilyAkron/Family's meteoric rise began 18 months ago when Michael Gira (former leader of seminal NY no-wave group, Swans) signed them to his Young God Records label. Since then, Gira says, "their audience and reputation has grown exponentially, due in no small part to their non-stop touring and head-exploding shows." "Head-exploding" shows? What could he mean by that? For starters, their sets typically last in excess of two hours and involve the removal of clothing. According to a popmatters.com review (by Peter Joseph) of their recent sold-out show at NY's legendary Knitting Factory, "their set was like Brian Wilson's SMiLE performed by Black Sabbath, an unparalleled mix of sunny harmonies and bottom-heavy, jazz-metal jams. Their music was new, uninhibited, and I couldn't get enough of it." What are the elements that go into a show like that anyway? The band's Dana Janssen described the contents of their van. He explained, "there's a bunch of stuff used for something or other. Like too many guitars, a banjo, bells, keyboards, kazoos and a tambourine - and chairs. We make music with chairs. And contact mikes; we like to mike things to pick up different sounds. We bring just about anything we can find that makes a sound." It takes more than a lot of gimmicky noisemakers to blow audiences' increasingly jaded minds of course, and the tried and true method for this is that fickle and dubious creature: crowd participation. Peter Joseph reports, "before long, the band members had migrated to the center of the crowd. By jumping up and down on the floor, they kept a layer of percussion while singing a sort of meditative chant. The floor shook with the collective rhythm and harmonies rose from every corner of the room; I realized that I was enjoying the incredible, organic finale to a great rock show. For all the hippy-dippy meanderings of the contemporary freak-folkers, this was the first time any of them had inspired an actual, honest-to-god happening in my presence." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StoneMtn Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 their sets typically last in excess of two hours and involve the removal of clothing. The removal of the band's clothing or the audience's? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davey Boy 2.0 Posted March 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 yes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StoneMtn Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 Both?Cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davey Boy 2.0 Posted March 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 all i know is that i'll be down to my Fruit of the Looms by 11:00 tonight, one way or another Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradm Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 all i know is that i'll be down to my Fruit of the Looms by 11:00 tonight, one way or anotherAnd the "Wonder Woman" underoos make yet another public appearance...Aloha,Brad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djmelbatoast Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 I saw these guys last month in Nanaimo and it was amazing. Anyone who has an oppertunity to see these guys should definitely take it. Good times guaranteed.Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StoneMtn Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 Was there any disrobing in Nanaimo? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snarfmaster C Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 tonight, eh? that sounds great, but i'm not sure i can... i've never been to zaphods, but i believe i've been told they shut down the band early for canned beats (no, not newbold's solo act. thank god clothes don't come off at that one ) if i were to get there at say 11, 1130 would i have missed it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradm Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 I think so. If they do the DJ after the bands, the DJ often starts at 11pm. There's an opening act, so if I were going, I'd plan on getting there about 9:00pm-9:30pm to catch at least the headliner.Aloha,Brad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StoneMtn Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 not newbold's solo act. thank god clothes don't come off at that one ) Now, there's an image that will haunt me for the rest of the day... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gentlemonkey Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 not newbold's solo act. thank god clothes don't come off at that one ) Now' date=' [i']there's an image that will haunt me for the rest of the day... There was a pretty hot one floating around a while back. I think from an after-party in London or something? It was most certainly haunting!! This show sounds interesting, Davey.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davey Boy 2.0 Posted March 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 you say that anytime there's a chance to check out naked guys on a stage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gentlemonkey Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 you say that anytime there's a chance to check out naked guys on a stage I think you're onto something... friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djmelbatoast Posted March 23, 2006 Report Share Posted March 23, 2006 The bass player took his shirt off, that was about it. They stayed seated the entire show and ended the night with 20 minutes of feedback/distortion noise then got everyone to join in a group hug and chanted for five minutes.The entire show a had a big shit eating grin and there wasn't even any psycedelics involved.My buddy showed up late. Payed his cover. And only saw the crazy noise and the group hug. I still have a hard time convincing him how good the show was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M Posted March 23, 2006 Report Share Posted March 23, 2006 these dudes played toronto on tuesday night. i was unable to make it but have been loving their stuff for a little while now. gorgeous tunes!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freak By Night Posted March 23, 2006 Report Share Posted March 23, 2006 This group sounds intriguing, but I don't like the way the dude bashed my Bisco and my 90's hippie scene. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freak By Night Posted March 24, 2006 Report Share Posted March 24, 2006 Did anyone go to this last night? If so how was the show? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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