Thee Oh Sees - 2011-10-27 - The New Parish Oakland

Up close and personal with JPD and crew, in glorious 1080p video.

Need I say more?  The photos accompanying this writeup are *actual screenshots* from the video...which I've since adjusted a bit to overcome the red lighting, so it actually looks even better than what you see here.

The audio is a blend of my Church Audio CA-11 cardoid mics plugged into an Olympus LS-5 and the native iPhone 4S capture for high-end sizzle, with the latter mixed -15dB down as it's otherwise distorted as all get out.

Setlist

soundchecking (check out Petey 

playing the bassline to PiL's 

'Death Disco'...there's a Beatles 

song in there too)
Contraption / Soul Desert
The Dream
Block Of Ice
Enemy Destruct
Meat Step Lively
Tidal Wave
Poison Finger
Destroyed Fortress Reappears
unidentified new song
Dead Energy

Video of complete show

Incubation bittorrent of audio recording [FLAC format]

Keep in mind this is but a pale substitute for seeing them yourselves. Both their tour split with Total Control (go here for my video of their set) and their latest album Carrion Crawler / The Dream both capture the sound of the band live.

The Soft Moon - Led Er Est - Chelsea Wolfe - 2011-10-31 - The Independent SF

The Soft Moon

2011-10-31

The Independent SF

taper: TH1, Olympus LS-5 w/built ins

Setlist

We Are We (1) (2)
Breathe The Fire
Total Decay
Dead Love
Bones
Out Of Time
When It's Over
Circles
Alive
Parallels
Tiny Spiders

encore

Into The Depths 

Impressive as they got into full All Hallow's Eve spirit and played the set wearing clear lucite masks.  Luis continues his amazing display of shirtwear with the Public Image Ltd tee.  The new tracks availed really well, especially Alive, which is shaping out to be the best thing they have done to date, and was pleased to see 'Bones' also appear in the set.  About the only thing we didn't get was 'Phantoms'.

I was wearing a Angry Birds pig mask...you can hear an amusing exchange befor the encore...the significance of this in light of what I was doing (TMQ/Swingin' Pig) not being lost on me.  This recording has quite a bit of audience chatter, which I actually didn't mind at all...there were a group of kids that were very excited and wanted to crash around, but there's also a faction that likes to stand watching in silence, and not be slammed...and as you can imagine, they came to loggerheads.

They only brought 20 copies of their EP, so I ended up having to go to the Captured Tracks site to order my copy.  You should too, if you haven't already!

Opening bands after the jump...

TOTAL CONTROL / Mikal Cronin - 2011-10-27 - The New Parish Oakland CA

Total Control

2011-10-27

The New Parish

Oakland, CA

taper: thehappyone

kit: Church Audio CA-11 > Olympus LS-5

Ended doing this one more alone, as my partner in crime was a bit tired, and we would be seeing TC again in December anyway.  Quite a few people were eager to check them out on the strength of Henge Beat, which many deem to have been the best release bar none of 2010.

Despite appearances, I'm not actually the loquacious sort, so I'll let sometime-contributor and Redlands legend Markie describe them:

Featuring the magnificent Mikey Young of Eddy Current Suppression Ring on guitar and Daniel Stewart of UV Race on vocals . Stewart's monotone vocals fit perfectly with the pummeling rhythm section laying down a tense and infectious style incorporating late 70's postpunk/new wave with garage rock elements. But Mikey's off kilter licks and descriptive intonations on guitar are the real voice."

Let's just say that they lived up to expectations, and indeed may have exceeded them.  'Carpet Rash' is a juggernaut, and is one of the best things ever, and the rest of the set was not much worse.


Setlist is as you see it below, saves me some writing.

Because I was right in front and concentrating on video, my positioning was a bit sub-optimal in terms of the sonics, but I've done what I can to make it palatable.

Complete audio recording (Incubation bittorent)

 
A couple of songs really remind me of A-Frames, and of course the final song 'Meds' could easily be an ESCR jam.  Excellent performance all around, I was lucky to have caught the whole thing on film, right in front of Mikey and Daniel.

Complete video recording, done with my Flip HD

 

Deaf Wish / "Slødi Xaw" / Terry Malts - 2011-10-10 - 1-2-3-4 Go! Records Oakland CA

Going to do this a bit differently and start with the openers and work through the headlining (last band)...as of this writing, the Malts and Idols are two of my favorite groups at the moment, and are touring together.


First up:

Terry Malts
2011-10-10
1-2-3-4 Go! Records
Oakland CA

taper: tz0
equip: Sonic Studios DSM-6S/L > Edirol R-09HR

Setlist


soundchecking (background music: Television - Marquee Moon)
Nauseous
I Do
What Was It
Waiting Room
Something About You
Mall Dreams
I'm No Good For You
Where Is The Weekend
Can't Tell No One [Negative Approach]

I'm Neurotic

Malt it up (FLAC files in zipfile)

I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do...

Probably the Malts at their sloppiest show that I've seen to date, but sheesh, it was still head-bopping and body-shaking groovy.  Phil dropped his pick several times.   They lyrics are infectious and catchy beyond belief.  Examples abound.  "I Do", with some of the most affecting and heart-touching lyrics around..."People don't know what to make of you, they don't understand your point of view, but I do, I do, I do, I do, I do, I do...people say that you act so above, they say you don't know how to love, but I do, I do, I do, I do, I do, I do...just when I thought they might be right,  I hold you in my arms and just squeeze you tighter..."  And Mall Dreams' soon-to-be- legendary refrain "A zombie is still a zombie in J.Crew"...their full length will be out on Slumberland early next year, and hopefully everyone will be singing along.

Next up....

Slødi Xaw
2011-10-10
1-2-3-4 Go! Records
Oakland CA

tz0th1 three-source blend.
tz0:  Sonic Studios DSM-6S/L > Edirol R-09HR
th1:  Olympus LS-5 + iPhone 4


Setlist


All Too Human
Hitman
William Says
Human Condition
Hotel Room
Gold Sneakers
This Time There's No Happy Ending [Television Personalities]
Grey Area
Dead Like You

Xawsome (FLACs in zipfile)

Photoset

Hether Yell

Slødi Xaw are a new Eastern European punk goth garage group which has literally come out of nowhere to spew out peals of glorious feedback blended in with wry observations about the human condition ("we get down / we get high / we get born / then we die / this is the human condition") and to rip your fucking head off if you dare to call them a "girl group".

"All Too Human" is probably more than one person's choice for single of the year, but my favorite remains "Gold Sneakers", with it's rapid-fire drum into, flanged guitar noise and "I love...love you" chorus, disguising as a upbeat song when in fact it's anything but..."I know you've got some monsters in your mind / or maybe hiding up your nose / can't you just be happy to be alive?"...

The moment I saw Hether perform last November as a part of Blasted Canyons, I could feel she was someone very, very "special".  It's not often that a person is responsible for releasing not one but TWO great albums in the same year, and almost unheard of when it's for two different bands.  It's actually quite hard to say much more here, all I can do is let the music speak for itself and hope it moves you as much as does for me.

Last up...

Deaf Wish
2011-10-10
1-2-3-4 Go! Records
Oakland CA

taper: tz0
equip: Sonic Studios DSM-6S/L > Edirol R-09HR

Setlist

soundchecking
Green Flame
Take What You Want
Mum Gets Punched In The Face
Nerve Damage
The Line Between Us
Elementary School
Disappear
Make It Hurt
VHS and Cheese
White Heat / Bikini
Mercy

It is a testament to the good taste of the opening bands in Deaf Wish that I immediately knew they were going to be the real deal, even if I have to admit I wasn't very familiar with their ouevre
(I am now!)  Songs like 'Green Flame', 'Nerve Damage', 'Make It Hurt' and 'Mum Gets Punched In The Face' shake you and don't let go until you collapse in a heap.

Needless to say, after hearing them live, I bought all the vinyl on offer ("Reality and Visions", which I've been playing over and over and is a classic...and their newest, "Mercy")...

Sarah Hardiman's vocals in 'Mum Gets Punched In The Face' are stunning.  My compatriot thought they were a bit hit and miss, but I think if they missed, it's only because they wanted to, this is one of the most viscreal performances I've been lucky enough to witness.

Deaf Witness (FLACs in zipfile)