Riverbed & Distort

Boduf Songs @ the Cinemat

noreply@blogger.com (Lather:Angel of Pot/Bob Heavens) — Thu, 7 Oct 2010 13:46:00 -0400

Boduf Songs

December 2, 2008
The Cinemat
Bloomington, IN
Recorded by Ben Myers

Stream/Download
I snuck in somewhere around the first or second song and caught most of Boduf Songs. I had to share it. Apache Dropout and When We Might also played but I missed them both as I was closing Bloomingfoods dish pit that winter. There might have been color, but my memory reproduces mostly black and white.

Akron/Family & Resting Rooster

noreply@blogger.com (Lather:Angel of Pot/Bob Heavens) — Mon, 4 Oct 2010 23:25:00 -0400

Akron/Family
Resting Rooster

December 3, 2008
The Waldron Firebay
Bloomington, IN
Recorded by Ben Myers

Stream/Download

This was one of the last concerts I went to before Atem was born. Janice came with me, so Atem was there in utero. He was born one month later.

As far as the show goes, I've never been a big fan of Resting Rooster. They're good but something about the song structure and stop-go rhythm turns me off and makes me wishy washy. Akron/Family killed it. I was not ready for the 28 minute medley interspersed with freak outs. I know I should have been. I gotta say, too the songs from Set 'Em Wild...on the album didn't catch me too well but live they boogie nicely.

Wereheadphones

noreply@blogger.com (Lather:Angel of Pot/Bob Heavens) — Mon, 4 Oct 2010 22:57:00 -0400

Wereheadphones: Live From Bloomington Sessions
*Paula Tonsor
*Ben Myers

November 7, 2007
The Werehouse
Bloomington, IN
Recorded by Ben Myers

Stream/Download

We didn't get on the cd, nor did anything experimental that year. Maybe I should try again soon.

Angels of Pot: Devil's Night Asshole/Last Tokes Plus

noreply@blogger.com (Lather:Angel of Pot/Bob Heavens) — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 22:03:00 -0400

Devil's Night Asshole:
Children of Scare-Midget/Angels of Pot
October 30, 2007
Recorded at The Cinemat

Angels of Pot: Last Tokes
January 29, 2008
Recorded at the Werehouse

Lather: Wash All the Time/Being Watched
February 8, 2008
Recorded at the Werehouse

Last Tokes Band: Last Tokes Release Prty
September 29, 2008
Recorded at TD's CDs & LPs
thx mkl

All sounds recorded by Ben Myers
CoSM=John Hardwick
AoP on Devil's Night=nearly everyone at the Cinemat
AoP's Last Tokes=Kray+Ben
Lather=Ben
LTB=Ben+Chris

I've Been a Body by Jandek
I Fall by The Damned

Stream/Download

Devil's Night, for me, marked the defined and impending end of the Angels of Pot. I didn't want it to end; it was a bad relationship of broken promises and half-hearted attempts at working together but my hopes were attached to my perspective, so to speak, and the project ran on like a well meaning and rather informative, though annoying, sentence. Children of Scare-Midget captivated the house and let me be honest it was fucking amazing. Angels came forth...and the only word which has ever come to mind was clusterfuck. It got to the point where I stood silently and watched the chaos and questioned the necessity of my colleagues' actions. At one point the Baron raised his own keyboard to his chest and dropped it, but I didn't hear it then and I won't hear it on the recording, because the sound in that room was piercing and pipe-smashing. Some things got destroyed or assisted along on their paths towards imminent death. I walked outside and listed to the sounds beyond the wall and was sad. When it was over Justin, a supporter throughout, accidentally said it best...

The Last Tokes tape is something I forgot about, found, and decided to release as it was the last recorded work from the Angels of Pot. I also find it enjoyable, which is odd that our final moments would be pleasant. I nearly walked out or stopped practices or performances before. I did walk out once, but returned. The mob was too large for me to even approach without an outburst, the thought of which made me uncomfortable. I released these on recycled cassettes wrapped in butcher's paper covered in art by myself and some accidental help by Oliver. The artwork was a drawing I did, printed then painted by hand. The cassette box is blinding, and the cassette enclosed has been scaled and painted and is sure to remind you of kind bud. The sounds enclosed will hold you static like the hardest resin hit that lasts eternity. Each tape is slightly different in artwork, extraneous sounds and price which of course was $42.00/lb.

This Lather track is most closely related to the artwork for the Last Tokes cassette, thus included. Paranoid, indeed.

For the "Release Prty" for the tape, Chris, Janice and I prepared snacks and crap including some sort of "pan-meat" (as in "all/any") dip...that tasted good. We had deviled eggs with olive halos as well. We listened to the tape and Chris and I performed two cover songs "which the Angels of Pot would have written if they had the capacity to write songs." It was certainly an intimate event.

recordings from (---- --- ------) 11/10/07

noreply@blogger.com (Lather:Angel of Pot/Bob Heavens) — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 20:19:00 -0400

Joe Molinaro
Smut
Hugs & Kisses
Sword Heaven
attendees of the show

November 10, 2007
(---- --- ------)
Bloomington, IN
Recorded by Ben Myers
Produced by Bob Heavens

Available on cassette tape from Bob Heavens Records. Audio has been temporally compressed due to time constraints of said cassettes.

Stream/Download
If you can tell what's going on, how does it make you feel? If you can't, then why not?

Clean Socks

noreply@blogger.com (Lather:Angel of Pot/Bob Heavens) — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 17:59:00 -0400

*Ben Myers
*Kray Korvella
*Paula Tonsor
*Julia Lynch
*Michael Hodges (tr. 1)

August 21, 2007
215 N. Walnut
Bloomington, IN
Recorded by Ben Myers

Stream/Download

So we decided to play on the street one night, right on N. Walnut in the middle of the Vid/Bluebird area. We sat on the ledge that was at the time vacant but is now the window for Brothers. Julia sat on the sidewalk and rubbed her boots against the sidewalk, suffering intermittent coughing fits which came to be somehow then became contagious. The mbira and guitar were traded around, with Michael T. Hodges on guitar and who remembers what Kray or I were doing. I think I played mbira, so Kray was probably trying to score beer. Or perhaps he played and I watched. Paula didn't give up her saw much in those days (or ever?) and I have yet to see Julia play a traditional instrument. This is some odd stuff. I can't say what it reminds me of because it just reminds me of that summer and that evening. I edited out most of the dialogue, but we sat on the ledge for a couple hours playing and received just about every type of comment you could expect or not expect. I guess more often we were ignored. You can do the same, or you can try it. Your call.

Damo Suzuki Network in Old Louisville, KY

noreply@blogger.com (Lather:Angel of Pot/Bob Heavens) — Sun, 8 Aug 2010 07:57:00 -0400

Damo Suzuki Network

October 16, 2007
Chapel of St Philip Neri
Old Louisville, KY
Recorded by Ben Myers

Stream/Download

I don't remember who all went but I think we had two cars drive from Bloomington to Louisville, and we all sat together on the pew in the large old and heavily reverberating church. The recording shows pretty well the acoustics of the room. It does not show the odd sculpture of metal, fire and ice which was in the performance space. In recent research I have been unable to find anything on this sculpture or who the local musicians were in the Network at this performance. I found something about a projection involving Wild & Wooly video. Not what I recall, but whatever.

Diskaholics Anonymous Live at Max's Place

noreply@blogger.com (Lather:Angel of Pot/Bob Heavens) — Sun, 8 Aug 2010 07:51:00 -0400

Diskaholics Anonymous
(Ben & Kray)

February 7, 2007
Max's Place
Bloomington, IN
Recorded by Ben Myers

Stream/Download

'Twas Wednesday open mic night. DA on this evening consisted solely of Ben and Kray. The audience consisted of people trying to enjoy pizza and maybe listen to some singer-songwriter/folk music.

If you want to know this story, just ask.

Mike Lightning House Warming 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Lather:Angel of Pot/Bob Heavens) — Fri, 6 Aug 2010 09:45:00 -0400

Jenny is a Boy
Dust From 1000 Yrs

May 23, 2008
Mike's House
Bloomington, IN
Recorded by Ben Myers

Stream/Download

This was the party which was Mike's first party as full host, and from what I remember it went well. There was an odd little alcove in the basement with an anti-stage and I think a fireplace where Ben stood on a stage above the pit, as it were. The quality of this recording (as well as the excellent setlist) is rather swell, and other than the fact that Tony Lowry sat close to the microphone (giving us a very clear recording of his opinionated voice), this recording is probably perfect. A great example of a frontman telling his audience to "shut the fuck up" and pay attention. There was an upstairs if you didn't give a shit, but if you didn't you must be a dick.

Speaking of dicks, I got really drunk and somehow managed to make it home safely, but only recorded one full song and two halves of Jenny's. I got a sweet field recording of outside the party, though. Probably on my way out.

Also, Hot Fighter #1 were supposed to perform. Listen to the show to find out why they did not.

Smut 10 Years Anniversary Show

noreply@blogger.com (Lather:Angel of Pot/Bob Heavens) — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 04:20:00 -0400

Smut

June 11, 2009
The Sauce Box
Bloomington, IN
Recorded by Ben Myers

Stream/Download
This show marked the tenth of Smut: Justin Rhody and Keith Wright, of Friends & Relatives Records. This was a huge show and if you want to know about the rest of it you can check it out on Facebook but I'm only going to talk about Smut because I really showed up, they played, and I then left. I shared a rare cigarette with perhaps Nathan Warrick and talked about being a dad. I had worked that day and wanted to catch at least Smut. I was pleased to find that they were next, and I meandered the odd party for a few minutes then planted myself close enough to feel the drums and inserted my earplugs. Even those were not enough. If you listen to this you will find yourself turning the volume down repeatedly and still having pain in your ears. Justin, in an attempt fix some reverb issue I couldn't even hear (due to the massive sound spikes reaching in every pore), left his strings to sit and sing in and out of themselves. The duo touched a softer side of Smut rarely seen, which in this case means they play in a moderate tempo with a plodding, stoned pulse. Overall the experience was great fun, and I'm glad I have this to share for the 11th year in Smut. There's another show since then I have to dig out eventually at Dylan's place with Liturgy, Hail and OS. Sweet. I hope you're excited.

Songs of the Dust: December 2, 2007

noreply@blogger.com (Lather:Angel of Pot/Bob Heavens) — Wed, 9 Jun 2010 12:37:00 -0400

drekka
OS
lather.

December 2, 2007
The Waldron Firebay
Bloomington, IN
Recorded by Ben Myers

Stream/Download

Sweet show. I opened up with snares a blaring placed spectacularly in front of the huge Peavey cabinet. The focus was on resonating the snare and then the entire room. Did I mention I also like dynamic changes? OS was fairly subdued for the evening, a slow study on guitar strings with a sliding pitch mass much like some of Ligeti's works. I think Hien was in the group back then, and I was always slightly mystified in terms of what sound he produced. I'm pretty positive the high frequencies which sound like feedback are him. They do a nice rolling thundercloud interpretation towards the end. drekka pulled out the piano kept in the Firebay and put a mic in it through his trademarked drekka pedal, also playing a recording done previously. His performance was a slow reflection on David Bowie's Subterraneans (off Low) which I am not familiar with even after 2.5 years. I found they have it at MCPL so I'll be changing that. If you like what you hear then you might be interested to know that you can purchase a remixed (with the prerecorded portion) Subterraneans 3" CD-R over at RC Legacy, home of the incredible Ben & Bruno. If you missed A Hard History you should be sore at yourself.

Yer Mom Likes to Party: April 28, 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Lather:Angel of Pot/Bob Heavens) — Tue, 8 Jun 2010 09:09:00 -0400

Redbird
Hermit Thrushes
Ben Fowler

April 28, 2010
The Bishop
Bloomington, IN
Recorded by Ben Myers

Stream/Download
Keep This Boat Afloat: Learn about the situation with which the Fowlers are struggling and find out how you can help.
The "Yer Mom Likes to Party" series consists of benefit shows for Ben Fowler and his mother, who had an unfortunate accident which was followed by several highly unethical events motivated by other parties. You can read about it above. She was there at the show selling cookies and talking to people.

Ben opened the show with a solo set, a mix of covers and originals. Hermit Thrushes played fourteen songs in just over thirty minutes, with breaks for beer and dialogue. Whew. Their sound bounces around within songs between sweetly flowing melodies and cacophony punctuated by jerking rhythms. I had never seen Redbird before, and seeing as by now they have played their last show, it was a treat. This group has some delayed downbeats and stuttering in their songs, giving their sound a greater sense of having been mulled over for quite some time, as opposed to the urgency found in the Thrushes' quick and quickly changing songs. In the words of Dr. Steve Brule: "Check it out!"

Black Mass I

noreply@blogger.com (Lather:Angel of Pot/Bob Heavens) — Thu, 3 Jun 2010 11:51:00 -0400

OS
Nux Vomica
Hail Architeuthis!

September 29, 2009
The Bishop
Bloomington, IN
Recorded by Ben Myers

Stream/Download
I recall this show being tons of fun. That is, except for those dicks who kept talking loudly (but luckily not during a band's set) about some joke band they were going to start called Butt Piss. I bet they'd blow if any of them even played instruments. Wait they're playing in a thunderstorm today at the skate park. Totally going.

Hail opened up and ripped through "Herald the Harbinger...", interrupted slightly when a member of Nux Vomica tripped on a cable and unplugged Bruce's gear. Nux Vomica owned the night, though. They played three epic thrashy black metal songs before breaking a bass string and realizing they didn't have a spare and that neither Hail nor OS currently had a bassist. OS clawed a void open in the room and sucked the light to a point. Ryan and Adam plus tapes for that evening. Highly recommended.

July 30, 2009: The Schoolyard

noreply@blogger.com (Lather:Angel of Pot/Bob Heavens) — Wed, 2 Jun 2010 13:32:00 -0400

Vollmar (not recorded)
Paleo (partial)
Sundance Kids
e.p. hall

July 30, 2009
The Schoolyard
Bloomington, IN
Recorded by Ben Myers

Stream/Download
This show happened at Andy Goheen's house, the only show I have seen there as of so far. It was nice and sweet and intimate, and we may have missed a portion of e.p. hall but it was beautiful nonetheless. Andy adds appropriate colors and textures to her songs, exhibited nicely here. Atem was at this show and you can hear him a few times throughout. He was not quite six months old yet so not making too much in the was of communication. Sundance Kids were a lot of fun. They include some element I've seen around on Tomlab (Skeletons/No Kids) lately that I cannot quite put my finger on. I think it has to do with attitude. Paleo turned up the volume to the lower side of the feedback threshold, and then turned the reverb up a bit more. The sound was interesting and not entirely kid friendly, plus Atem was getting tired so we had to leave. Because of that, we missed Vollmar entirely.

May 13, 2009: Bunny Hoover vs. Lather

noreply@blogger.com (Lather:Angel of Pot/Bob Heavens) — Fri, 28 May 2010 14:23:00 -0400

Bunny Hoover vs. Lather
Whatfunnybirdsdiveintowater
Oscine

May 13, 2009
The Cinemat
Bloomington, IN
Recorded by Ben Myers

Stream/Download
Because the two artists share similar worldviews but have completely different ideas on how the world will ultimately be affected by people, Bunny Hoover being an entity from space whose mission is to help humans save themselves and Lather being a human whose faith in mankind died long ago. By now Lather's lack of faith has led him to antagonize those who lost respect for their earth and each other, catalyzing their behavior towards a more swift and guaranteed extinction, carrying a large percentage of the other species with them. In the end, the battle was deemed a stalemate, and the two shall battle again over the airwaves and internets of WFHB radio on Wednesday, June 23 from 9:30-10:00pm.

Chris opened the show as a solo performer as Oscine, due to a lack of practices due to Atem's birth. Somebody was curious about the voice recorder so there's a small chunk of time cut out when it got turned off, was playing back while Chris was singing, and I resumed recording. I guess I didn't have the lock on. Nobody fessed up, dick.

WFBDIW were wonderful--seemingly folk songs hidden behind a wall of electronic squalor and live drums. I would draw comparisons to Animal Collective with more of a meandering approach to song and much less emphasis on danceability.

April 15, 2009: Howard's Dilemma, et al.

noreply@blogger.com (Lather:Angel of Pot/Bob Heavens) — Sat, 22 May 2010 01:56:00 -0400

Dust From 1000 Yrs
Pants
Howard's Dilemma
Strictly Off the Record
Bunny Hoover

April 15, 2009
The Bungalow
Bloomington, IN
Recorded by Chris Couchman

Stream/Download
I made an appearance at this show for a few minutes, with Janice and Atem (then 3 months old). You can hear him crying upstairs right before Company Slogan. I can only form opinions based on the recordings. Dust plays a beautiful set consisting of Naptown/Thanksgiving/Natives-era songs, Chris plays in Pants on this evening, and they are an interesting machine together. The mash of musical connotations is breathtaking. Howard's Dilemma would be an extremely interesting live show; the recording loses much of the visual performance aspect, therefore the recording seems odd and lacking some element. The laughter of the crowd creates the wall which shows the void. I would warn anyone who has extreme reactions to dangling participles: Stay away from track 11. If hearing someone's participles dangle is a comedic thing to you, then by all means put this on repeat. Strictly Off the Record is a rock band. They remind me of being in middle and high school during the latter half and out of the nineties. They are a good band; pretty sweet guitar work and emotional pauses. Then drunken pauses of music...on to Bunny Hoover. As another performance artist, BH is best experienced either live or while reading the comic book...if you have seen it. I am including parts of the soundcheck because they sound great and give a great representation of the evening, meaning that a whole bunch of people showed up to see Strictly Off the Record and didn't give a mole's penis about any other bands. Except maybe Howard's Dilemma, somebody did keep saying "Best Thing Ever" but the crowd that was a respectful portion was small and patient. Check it all out. It's all at least good, most is wonderfully great and amazing.

April 10, 2009 Dinosaur jr. & Awesome Color

noreply@blogger.com (Lather:Angel of Pot/Bob Heavens) — Wed, 19 May 2010 04:25:00 -0400

Awesome Color
Dinosaur jr.

April 10, 2009
The Bluebird
Bloomington, IN
Recorded by Chris Couchman

Stream/Download
I cannot give a review of the show since I did not attend, but I will warn you that due to the excessive (or not) sound pressure levels at this show there is severe digital clipping. I gave Chris my Olympus DS-50 so that he could record. Aside from that, it's a good representation of the show. I know Chris had fun. He also didn't know how to lock the buttons and it got turned off at some point when he was bumped. Luckily he checked it, and resumed recording.

I never EQ these puppies; I just don't have time. Unless you want to pay me for my time that I could take off from work so I can do this sort of stuff for work; I'd love to. I'd even be able to provide minimal clipping. Probably. Also, if anyone decides they don't want their performance up here, let me know.

Whoever you are, I know you're out there.

NOISE April 2, 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Lather:Angel of Pot/Bob Heavens) — Sat, 15 May 2010 17:28:00 -0400

Found Objects
Adeptive Radiation
Officer Deaf
Mindfreak

April 2, 2009
IMUG NOISE
Bloomington, IN
Recorded by Ben Myers

Stream/Download

From what I understand many of the NOISE shows were not noise shows at all, though if it's an acronym I have no clue what it means. "Inside-Starbucks Experience" is the best I can come up with and it isn't even complete. This show was a noise show. Found Objects and Officer Deaf I am not too familiar with, but they both rest closely to each other in a noisy pop rock area occupied also by Parts & Labor, Styrofoam Duck, shoegaze, etc. Adeptive Radiation however, the only known Belgian Waffles tribute band, I am not only familiar with but participate in. This was my last show before my hiatus and was so amazing that after the performance through the next practice an audience member metamorphosed into a band member. Mark McWhirter was at this show in the audience, as well as lots of free pizza. Mindfreak has much more to do with K.K. Null and moe. than it does Chris Angel. This show went very late and there were torrents of rain outside. Many people died.

April 7, 2010 SoE & DDD

noreply@blogger.com (Lather:Angel of Pot/Bob Heavens) — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 11:13:00 -0400

Sword of Exactly
Dark Dark Dark

April 7, 2010
The Bishop
Bloomington, IN
Recorded by Ben Myers

Stream/Download

I was happy to go to such a beautifully appropriate and succinctly scheduled show with but two artists who fit well together musically. Evelyn continues to remind me of Scout Niblett with piano. She delivers an appropriate amount of amusement between songs as well, and wins me over as a performer. Oh and she played Girls On Film, which I attempted at karaoke once in the style of the late Wesley Willis. I don't think anyone got the joke. Evelyn played it her own way.

Dark³ gave a wonderful performance as well, pulling the audience in and admitting that some of them might consider toucans parrots. You won't be wasting your time here. I mean to say: spend your time here; you will consider it well spent.

April 2, 2008 at the Log Cabin

noreply@blogger.com (Lather:Angel of Pot/Bob Heavens) — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 10:59:00 -0400

Kid Primitive Family
Doog/Brother Dolphin
Normanoak
Castle Oldchair

April 2, 2008
Sonny's Log Cabin
Bloomington, IN
Recorded by Ben Myers

Stream/Download

Two years ago Sonny lived in a cabin in the heart of Bloomington's south-central neighborhood, hidden away by suburban illusion. A dozen to two dozen people gathered there that evening for shared food and music; Janice and I brought Oliver but they had to leave after the Prim Family because Oliver had to go to bed. I considered including some of the extraneous audio I recorded which had Oliver telling people to "SMILE!" and giggling, but the material was sparse and while I enjoyed the ebb and flow of conversations caught by the microphone and I wondered what I maybe would hear on another listen, perhaps entire conversations could be culled if listened to intensely enough, and I decided against the inclusion of this material and instead remind anyone who was there of Oliver and his game with this wonderful run-on sentence. Enjoy.

Justin and Lindsay captured even Oliver's attention by looping their voices and reciting mantras, creating a soothing aural fluid with a hint of feedback; I love the blend. Eric played solo acoustic on this evening, a nice set of laid-back tunes which would probably have been performed from the porch had the cabin been in the woods instead of a residential alley. Chris Barth's performance remains my favorite of the evening, beginning with Amorila, recently released by Magnetic South on the Elixer cassette. He touched and moved many emotions on that evening, peaking when he played a song to help rid himself of the pain from his recent breakup. It is intense, and if you need to feel the pain of frustration and loss and feel the release, then Normanoak's fifth song is prescribed to you. Closing the evening was Castle Oldchair, who I had never seen nor heard before. His set was a sprawl of loops and layers, vocals and perhaps samples. I remember being completely entranced, giving him a tape, finding his cd at the library and being thoroughly confused that it consisted of songs with structure and clear vocals. In the words of Eddie Vedder: "It's evolution, baby." Do teh evolution. This show is awesome. Listen to it.

March 15, 2009 Live at Rockit's Pizza

noreply@blogger.com (Lather:Angel of Pot/Bob Heavens) — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 08:19:00 -0400

When We Might
Sgt Dunbar and the Hobo Banned
Dust From 1000 Yrs

March 15, 2009
Rockit's Pizza
Bloomington, IN
Recorded by Ben Myers

Stream/Download

Chester gracefully opened up this show, and someone was on stage (used loosely) with him but whether it was Josh or Jimmy I don't recall. Either way the show sounds great, and it was of Atem's first shows to which he went as a child. I haven't been taking him to shows lately, but make sure to keep music a part of his life. If there were one which he could attend time-wise and enjoy sound pressure-wise then I'd love to take him out. Like...When We Might shows in the park in the afternoon.

This show ranks with another Dusty Rockit's show I failed to record: Fred & Susie with Ugh God. Sgt Dunbar wields marching band jazz with the style of one marching through New Orleans, salt crusted on their makeshift costumes...though I gotta say that singing saw is not exactly the best marching instrument. Regardless, this band will put an ass in your pants and a horn section in your hat or hair. Supposedly one of the main songwriters lived in Charles Mingus' house (after Mingus had moved) when he was a kid and when through his garbage pile. It certainly sounds like it. Atem had to be outside for this, but he heard it just fine I am certain.

This Dust performance is slightly odd, I believe because it was after David and Dust parted. At first I was typing "shortly after" but now I realize I'm mistaken. Still, Jimmy seemed to cover the sonic space where David used to be, but in his wispy, winged way. It takes a little drive out of the Dust when songs had a driving, throbbing bass line and lays you flat on your back in the summer, staring at clouds or stars. And now I realize what feels so odd and gives the added dream gleam: Matt is not there. No drums. The band is simply Ben and Jimmy. This is certainly a unique performance.

Black Mass VI

noreply@blogger.com (Lather:Angel of Pot/Bob Heavens) — Fri, 9 Apr 2010 09:46:00 -0400

Eric Knipstine
Deserter
Humans
dante augustus scarlatti
Pendra Gon
Hail Architeuthis!

March 30, 2010
The Bishop
Bloomington, IN
Recorded by Ben Myers

Stream/Download

This month Black Mass showcased several artists from the Auris Apothecary label, curators of the monthly event. As it was the first performance for four of the artists, technical difficulties arose and were mostly overlooked or incorporated into the performances. Eric played a pair of rather atmospheric keyboard pieces. Deserter maintained a sizable presence of sound pressure, causing fingers in the ears and me reaching for my earplugs, to be worn the rest of the night. His eulogies to fallen heroes reverberated with the safety meeting we had out back while he set up. Humans are an odd bunch. The spaces between the songs are frequently as long as the songs themselves, punctuated by feedback and what seem to be false starts or stuttering introductions. The songs themselves are quirky bursts of punk energy and dissonance akin to the Amphetamine Reptile family...meaning good stuff. das seemed to be having trouble but persevered through it. I stood mesmerized by the flipping and slowly changing image projected by his reel-to-reel. Eventually I realized that the image was slowly changing because the film was melting and smoking. I wish I could attach the scent to the audio digitally; it appended the aural and tactile experiences of das to somewhere between discomfort and the comforting of sweet. Next to strain eardrums came Pendra Gon. His rhythms are nice, and combine with the atmospheres to make an odd but nostalgic sound, however the sheer volume of the performance caused a few people to leave to the bar. Others of us stayed and enjoyed. Hail, as usual, slayed. Bruce kept touching me with his headstock. Last time I sat directly in front of the bass drum and with each kick I felt a punch of air. The vocals came through a hundred times more clear than last time.

I don't want to post everybody's link so I'll take you to Auris Apothecary where you can locate information on the whole deal.

January 29, 2008 ESP at the Cinemat

noreply@blogger.com (Lather:Angel of Pot/Bob Heavens) — Sun, 4 Apr 2010 02:11:00 -0400

Brother Dolphin
Whoa Bro Awesome
Grampall Jookabox
Electric Serpent Power

January 29, 2008
The Cinemat
Bloomington, IN
Recorded by Ben Myers

Stream/Download

Brothers Eric and Sonny Alexander played graceful psych-folk, Sonny's guitar entwining with his brother's voice. Whoa Bro played his first show with guitar, a rollicking good time akin to Jonathan Kane's guitar drone stomps. ESP played their first (and only?) performance, which rattled skulls with feedback and pulses.

A(b)s Heard

noreply@blogger.com (Lather:Angel of Pot/Bob Heavens) — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 10:18:00 -0400

Marty Belcher & Bart Galloway
Children of Scare-Midget
Adeptive Radiation

November 13, 2008
Racheal's Cafe
Bloomington, IN
Recorded by Ben Myers

Stream/Download

Chris Rall was to join Bart and Marty in improvisation, but could not make it. In that case they would have been titled ICBM (Improvisation: Chris, Bart, Marty). Their set is quite free, using a wide variety of sounds. Children of Scare-Midget performs a solemn invocation, and Adeptive Radiation is as irreverent as ever, attempting to perform past the time when Racheal's should close, and driving any remaining patrons straight out the door. Personally I thought they were quite together that evening. Very nice show. AdRad consisted of John, John, Candice, Nicole and Ben.

Free Boys Tour: February 2, 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Lather:Angel of Pot/Bob Heavens) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:53:00 -0400

(DBH)
Lather
Styrofoam Duck

February 2, 2008
The Cinemat
Bloomington, IN
Recorded by Ben Myers

Stream/Download

The DBH recording suffered (or perhaps a different word?) from operator malfunction, so their actual set is lost in time. Lather played with a cd a few songs from The Death Sound and Styrofoam Duck graced Bloomington on their "Free Boys" tour. I believe their last tour.

We open the recording with DBH's sound check and bits of dialogue. It does sound pretty good, and carries quite a lot of the Cinemat ambiance. Their set was raucous and loud, full of hypnotic rhythm and drum triggers. A good antithesis to Lather's (performing with previously recorded material containing portions of the recently released Death Sound) intensely awkward shaking-hand (lack of hypnotic rhythm...more hypnagogic rhythm) control over the diminutive (in number and sometimes stature) audience, but in the right group the two artists' performances could easily have the same effect on an audience.

Styrofoam Duck (band and website now defunct)
Free Boys (now a band)
DBH
Friends & Relatives Records (DBH-Connected)