Banned In JC

Whenever anyone strings together an atypical combination of words, someone invariably says, “Hey, that’d be a good band name.” and I always think, “Well, it’s not as good a name as Sunset Rubdown.” (at The Bowery Ballroom) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqZ8Zd5OVL3/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Moor Mother (aka Camae Ayewa) and L’Rain (aka Taja Cheek) are two artists I’ve been intrigued by for some time now, and tonight I finally saw the two of them perform, in collaboration with fellow multi-instrumentalists Kevin Beasley, Ben Chapoteau-Katz and Eli Keszler. What a show! It was a symphony of avant-jazz, ambient sound, tape manipulation, modular synths, spoken word and free-form vocals. I only found out about this show last night and somehow managed to get in before it totally sold out. I’m very grateful, because it was incredible. Incidentally, this was the second “in the round” show I’ve seen this week and I could definitely get used to it. Killer room too, btw. (at Performance Space New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqKAQrLtBiD/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

I had a Brendan’s-eye-view of the Messthetics show tonight! It’s a heck of a way to see the world. (at (le) poisson rouge) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqCf7kiM9se/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

I love Quasi so much. I first encountered them in 1998, as the opening act (and backing band) for a guy named Elliott Smith at the University of London Student Union. What a gig! They were fast, loose, chaotic, and 100% fun. Because Janet and Sam both collaborate in so many amazing bands and projects, Quasi tours have been somewhat sporadic in the ensuing 25 years (this was their first time back in NYC since 2016), but I make sure to catch them whenever they’re in town, because it’s always a blast. Last night was no exception! The two of them have such incredible chemistry, it’s really a sight to behold. (at TV Eye NYC) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp5Qkl7OR5T/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Hard to believe, but it was one year ago today. Steady chooglin’ forever. Rest in power, good dood. ❤️ (at Jersey City, New Jersey) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpvzJIHsnQ6/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Legal action: Attorneys General (aka Matthew Byars) harnesses and remixes the live sorcery of three sonic wizards: David Grubbs (Gastr del Sol, Bastro, Squirrel Bait) , Ryley Walker & Ian Williams (Battles, Don Caballero, Storm & Stress). It was like someone threw all my records in a blender and ran that through 20-30 effects pedals. Far out and fascinating! (PS: Don’t worry, my LPs are fine.) (at Brooklyn, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cps59s5OOMf/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Some time circa 1996, I walked into a record shop called Sound On Sound in Highland Park, NJ and picked up a single by a band called Unwound. I’d never heard of them before, but I was intrigued by the cover art and the oddly named track “Corpse Pose”. (I was exactly the right age and temperament for a song called Corpse Pose to sound perfect to me.) From there, I discovered one of the most interesting and adventurous bands I’ve ever heard. Perhaps more than any other, depending on the specific track, Unwound sounded like where I came from, where I was at the time, and where I’d be going musically from that point forward. As with many of my favorite acts at the time, however, I never got to see them perform live - until 3 weeks ago in LA, where I had a front row view (I kept those pictures to myself). It was a perfect experience. But seeing them play an even more expansive, career-spanning set in NYC last night brought it all back home for me (literally). I’m very grateful I finally had the opportunity to experience it all, and I hope those attending tonight and tomorrow have a similar experience. (at Irving Plaza) https://www.instagram.com/p/CprA2Q8tHib/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Friends, have you heard the good news? The Superiority Burger is back. Just as the prophecy foretold. https://www.instagram.com/p/CppJWCEuYWv/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

I only post about the fun ones, so it might not be immediately obvious, but I get a little burned out on going to shows from time to time. It happens! But, thankfully, you occasionally see a gig that *completely* recharges your batteries and reminds you why you make the effort. Last night was one of those. Arkansas-based musician Willi Carlisle was one of my favorite discoveries of last year. (I was super late to the game, though; he’d been making records for about 6 years prior!) His excellent LP “Peculiar, Missouri” caught my attention big time when I finally heard it. Willi’s music is wonderfully anachronistic to our modern times; he writes folk anthems and ballads that would be right at home in the 70s outlaw country scene. His sold out performance last night was exceptional, worthy of a hall-of-fame country legend, no exaggeration. His opening act, Willie Tea Taylor is cut from similar cloth, and regaled the crowd with hilarious stories and uproarious singalongs. Good vibes abounded, and despite the late hour, the whole thing evolved into a late-night hang session. I’m a little tired today, but it was absolutely worth it. Their tour hits Philly tonight, and I can’t recommend the experience of seeing them enough. (at Skinny Dennis) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpkuE0sOzV8/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Happy Father’s Day! It was my distinct pleasure and privilege to attend the premiere of the hilarious new feature film “Dad & Step-Dad” this evening. Directed by creative polymath Tynan DeLong, this fully-improvised film began as a fun short back in 2018 with actors Anthony Oberbeck, Colin Burgess and wunderkind Brian Fiddyment. In the summer of 2021, they all reunited along with the brilliant Clare O’Kane in upstate New York to film the feature. The entire theater was cracking up all night, it was a total hoot. I’m so proud of everyone involved, it’s really quite special and cool. There are several premiere events lined up this coming week in Brooklyn, I hope you get to see it! PS: I fixed the marquee on the theater. (at Nitehawk Cinema - Prospect Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpj3OkROxGY/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

A Mekonic jamboree, led by the inimitable/incorrigible legends John Langford and Sally Timms! Just look at this crew. A wonderful evening of songs, art, laughter and communal revelry in beautiful Red Hook. The best! (at Red Hook) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmElDVkuYjv/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Pete’s Candy Store is one of the coolest and most intimate performance spaces in NYC. I love it so much. They rarely charge admission for their shows, which is awesome for up and coming artists. But when they have bigger names, it can get… cozy. Luckily, your boy KB is not above standing on a chair for a decent view! Tonight’s show featured a killer pairing of Matt Valentine’s latest psychedelic outfit Wet Tuna, along with the adventurous instrumental duo of Jim White/Marisa Anderson. Both sets of artists pumped out new material all throughout the pandemic and, by extension, helped keep me sane. I’d gladly stand on a chair to see them play - any time, anywhere. (at Pete's Candy Store) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmBL7eiMrRM/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Joey Plunket from the Country Westerns going beast mode on Hüsker Dü’s “Something I Learned Today” at tonight’s benefit event for New York Cares. New CWs LP dropping in early 2023, stay vigilant. (at Union Pool) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmBH7Cls8fs/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

I’m very sorry to hear of the passing of Hamish Kilgour, a founding member of New Zealand’s legendary The Clean and several other projects, including The Great Unwashed, The Mad Scene, his own solo work and most recently, The Sundae Painters. While I didn’t know him personally, many friends in the music community did, and are rightly grieving today. I had a chance to chat with him a few times over the years at various gigs, and purchased this piece from him directly at The Clean’s excellent 2014 show at Glasslands. It’s every bit as striking today as it was to me then. My condolences to all those coping with his loss right now, he was a truly artistic soul in every sense, and he’ll be dearly missed. https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl0FaLDs8AS/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

To know the music of Big Star is to love it. When I first started getting serious about records and music exploration in college, they were one of those discoveries that just blows your mind the first time you heard it. They also baffled me - how could a band craft such perfect songs and somehow still remain so obscure? (This question and many others would eventually be addressed in the excellent 2012 documentary “Nothing Can Hurt Me”.) I only ever heard other musicians or serious collectors talk about them in those days, but on the merits of their catalog, they justifiably could and should have been a household name. They were enormous influences on some of my other heroes at the time, particularly Elliott Smith, REM, Beck, Wilco and the Replacements. I got to see a later iteration of the band play an abbreviated set at Little Steven’s garage festival in 2004 (despite a barrage of technical difficulties that day), and a proper set at the Masonic Temple in Brooklyn in 2009. I’m forever grateful for those two experiences, because the world lost their brilliant, curmudgeonly front man Alex Chilton just two years later. Since then, many tributes and homages have been paid to the band, but last night’s performance was far and away the best one I’ve ever witnessed. Big Star’s original drummer Jody Stephens was joined by Mike Mills of REM, Chris Stamey of The DBs, John Auer of The Posies and Pat Sansone of Wilco. The band played Big Star’s “#1 Record” in full, followed by a second set of the band’s later work and solo material from founding member Chris Bell. Everything was absolutely note perfect, presented with obvious love and enthusiasm. It was a beautiful celebration and a testament to the timelessness and legacy of the band. I’m very grateful to have been there. (at White Eagle Hall) https://www.instagram.com/p/Clypm6VOlr7/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Maximum J. Mascis (at Terminal 5) https://www.instagram.com/p/ClwXTNKu0oD/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Sometime in the mid-90s, my buddy Luke made me a mix tape (a real, organic tape!) of a band called Archers of Loaf that he’d been trying to get me to check out for a ages. For some reason, I thought they were a ska band, and ska is one of the few music genres on my “no fly” list. Plus, you couldn’t just Google a band to check them out back in those prehistoric days. Well, the tap was absolutely great - a wall of noisy guitars and clever lyrics, exactly what I loved most in those days. After kicking myself plenty, I quickly became a fan. In the ensuing years, I also got to know the brilliant solo work of frontman Eric Bachmann, under his own name and as Crooked Fingers. Years later, the Archers became a big common ground for my friend Chuck and I. When they reunited in 2015, Chuck and I were screaming along and putting each other in enthusiastic headlocks the entire show. Last night, I got to see them once again and while some moments were understandably bittersweet, it was ultimately an excellent evening, reflecting on my experiences with their music over many, many years. It’s been quite a journey! (at Warsaw Concerts) https://www.instagram.com/p/Clujy6UtQAg/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=