Megafaun make me want to move to Durham, North Carolina where I imagine my life would involve frolicking around in forests, exploring gorges and finding shady rocks to use as diving boards into hot springs.  Brothers Brad and Phil Cook, along with Joe Westerlund make music that’s best served gathered in a circle lit by the moon and campfire while you “sing to each other like friends telling stories,” as their buddies Akron/Family might say.

These young men create the perfect fusion of upbeat rhythms, freak folk, and super-experimental psych rock. But, quite honestly, their kickass beards were what won over the crowd instantly August 4th at The Echo opening for Bowerbirds. The night’s set was drawn almost entirely from their new album, Gather, Form & Fly, which Phil Cook informed me was influenced in part by the death of his grandfather. But their energy comes off as anything but mournful:  it’s spontaneous enough for fans, inclusive enough for first-timers, and funny from the ridiculous banter and shit-talking between songs. The Cook brothers even jumped off stage, bouncing and goofing off with the grinning crowd. They’re happy to be playing in LA. Brad Cook pours his heart out to the audience revealing that he is the world’s biggest Lakers fan and spent all of Tuesday loitering at Staples Center. Subsequently he ended up “dusting his bank account on Lakers swag” the next day.

I’m beaming because they are beaming. It feels like they’re family. I grab the Captain’s arm and squeeze so tight as to let out some form of pent up aggression in the realization that they are about to rock my world for the next thirty minutes. This is my second time seeing Megafaun, and what is surprising about their live performance compared to their album is how much their most somber and soft songs make you want to dance. And dance HARD.

Charming as hell, in that “mountain-man-please-keep-me-warm-baby” way, they sing each song, each harmony, each note tender and blissful, mixing standard song structures with noise freakouts. They won us over immediately with “The Fade.” It plays like a happy and upbeat declaration of death and explains our minds slowly and regrettably let memories slide. But they’re smiling, and so I know everything is going to be OK.

Phil paces the title track “Gather, Form & Fly” with banjo rhythms, though his fingertips pluck the strings so softly you would think the mere touch was an accident. This fades dirty and raw when Joe Westerlund transitioned from thinking out loud with the crowd to belting out “Been a long time since I’ve spoke to an extent, reflecting on the past and the roots of intent,” emphasizing each word like he’s almost pissed off in a cute way. Then the Cook brothers join in on the vocals and  funky riffs during  “Columns.”

The highlight of the evening was when the trio engaged in free form noise experimentation for three-or-so minutes at the beginning of “The Darkest Hour,” thereafter belting out in unison, “I have been wallowing inside the darkest hour.” Their lips are nearly a foot from the microphone, which gives the harmonies a distant and faded sound. But Megafaun is anything but withdrawn from us.

For their last song, the trio formed together unplugged at the front of the stage for, “Tides.” The song sounds different from the album version in the most familiar way possible. They sang their last words with eyes closed, chins up and beards glowing. It was beautiful.

Enjoy the pics.

“The Group”

Megafaun will be venturing into the Los Angeles border for a performance at the Echo next Tuesday, bringing with them their trusty banjos and other folk-ish goodies. For some history, Megafaun played as the back band for Akron/Family during the Love is Simple tour, being a part of the greatest live concert I have witnessed back in Oct 2007 and was the opener at the NY New Years Eve Party at the Knitting Factory.Additionally, Megafaun used to be the band DeYarmond Edison which consisted of the three surviving member of Megafaun (the Cook brothers and Joe Westerlund) with Justin Vernon of Bon Iver as the lead singer. Justin Vernon left the band in late 2006, returning in isolation to his father’s cabin in Wisconin to record the now infamous For Emma, Forever ago record.

Megafaun survived the exodus of its lead singer and now a staple within the freak folk genre. They are a sweet blend of avante-folk mixed with experimental harmonies and their song Lazy Suicide from Bury the Square was my personal favorite song of 2008. For this tour, the band will be supporting songs off their new album, Gather, Form, Fly that was released about a month ago from Hometape Recordings. Check them out here and let me know if you want a ticket I have one extra but I am sure more will be available at the door.

Additionally, it should be noted that Bowerbirds will be headlining the concert which I know nothing about them but they did some street cred on Pitchfork (8.4) here.

1. Capt AKAK
2. Ebee
3. Michele
4. ??
5. Greg Hotchkiss

All and all it was a great night for just under $20 dollars.

Enjoy the videos. Courtesy of the Capt.

To be honest, I am not that familiar with the Jay fella but Bloodclot and others rave about him (Bloodclot’s Video Pick of Jay Reatard). I have his singles album on the ipod but have not checked it out yet.
The Oh Sees on the other hand, I am quite familiar and a big fan (I placed them on my top esoteric tracks list). The Oh Sees are a San Fransisco based psychedelic/noise/garage rock band (a la Wooden Shjips except not as repetitive). Some of their albums are a bit too experimental/minimalistic for my palette; quite a feat really. Their most recent album (about a year old now) “The Master’s Bedroom Is Worth Spending a Night In” is not only an album with a great title but is one of the few records which does not warrant skipping a track during a drive on the freeway. Some of you might remember seeing The Oh Sees open for The Dodos about a year and a half ago at a coffee shop at USC and SilverLake Lounge; the lead singer, John Dwyer, is pretty entertaining, ripping on his own simplistic guitar cords, etc.

I have six tickets at about $17 dollars a piece. I am thinking Masa beforehand for a Friday Night feast.

1. Capt AKAK
2. JP
3. Ebee
4. Justin Shabbaz
5. mroyed
6. marlyn

Dinner at Masa at 9:00 then walk over to the Echo for a free show of Fool’s Gold. I saw Fool’s Gold about two months ago open for Cat Power at the Avalon; only got to see about 3 songs but they were pretty fun. Mid-to-Late Talking Heads kind of sound. Lots of Energy. Lots of People.

It is more about dinner and laughs at our favorite Chicago Deep Dish Pizza place then little bit of music at the Echo for free.

1. Capt AKAK
2. ALHP
3. Ebee
4. J Way
5. The Doctor
6. ??

Some of you were in attendance when we discussed going to the Echo every Monday night for their free residency of Fool’s Gold (no, not a re-enactment of the delightful comedy with Matthew and Kate). All of these plans of course involved eating at our favorite little restaurant, Masa, beforehand.

I just found out that Spaceland is having a free show involving Mike Watts’ latest endeavour, Mike Watt and the Missingmen (ramping up for their tour with Dinosaur Jr.) and The Henry Clay People. Frankly, I was not wholly impressed with their last performance at Alex’s Bar. They did however have that special something the first time I saw them opening for Quasi at the Detroit Bar.

I am feeling a bit of tired side today, so I might not do either…..figured I would ping the group to gauge interest.

I realize that we have been attending many shows over the past few weeks. Some of which were taken on blind faith that the band we were going to see would be good. Well I am not sure how familiar some of you are with Angels of Light/Michael Gira but he is a bonfide hero to me. He was originally in the Swans but had a spiritual experience once that told him folk was the purest form of music. I must say I agree with him (for now). He is the owner of YoungGodRecords which has produced Akron Family, Devendra Banhart, Fire on Fire and more recently Larkin Grimm and James Blackshaw.  His music is dark and poetic, containing more depth and weight than most. If you have not heard him, download my top ten esoteric track listing Here; I placed him as #1.

I bought 6 tickets @ $14 a piece. Ebee is going to be out of town so I hope we can somehow find enough people to go. FYI Larkin Grimm is opening for him which should be interesting.

1. Capt AKAK
2. ALHP
3. George Pants
4. Jewels
5. ??
6. ??

It looks like we’re back at the Echo…

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** Update **

P&A’s website claims they will be at Spaceland on 12 March.

I like to think that it was our words of wisdom that has influenced this decision; I like to think that.

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Okay. It’s not on The Echo’s website or Plants & Animals’ website or myspace, but last.fm is claiming they are playing on 12 March.

I can only hope to god (or something of that nature) that it is true. I know we are seeing them on Friday, but I also know all too well the massive void that will consume me internally (not unlike a black hole) once the high that only P&A can create wears off. The withdrawals are devastating and only the promise of their return will console me in those darkest of moments.

This video is from the Hilllside music festival I first saw them at in Guelph, Ontario last July. Actually, I had seen them the evening before and this was one of the first shows of the morning the last day of the festival (and by morning I mean afternoon). P&A and the other bands that joined them were a little tore up, to say the least. Yours truly was sitting on the ground towards the right of the stage.

I want to dance. I want to dance.

Best $11 dollars you will ever spend. Hands down.

1. Capt AKAK
2. JP
3. ALHP
4. Chabbs
5. The Colonel
6. LilMaryn
7. Libby
8. Katie B.
9. Abdul
10. ??

Ebee’s 4 list-

1. Ebee
2. ??
3. ??
4. ??

Here is a picture from the time we saw them at the Echo.

He reminds me of a dinosaur.

Firstly I have to apologize for my initial judgements made prior to the show, I had stated that they in fact could do absolutely no justice to the MBV you-made-me-realise full body experience. Yet in fact during this last minute Halloween adventure, Asobi did come near doing just that. Granted they did not have a half of million dollars in speakers on stage to reach the 128 Dbs which “realise” had in its favor.

The band is comprised of a 5-foot Asian female vocalist who sung sweet tonal ranges while the guitar player strummed at a furious rate. Intense harmonies were often outlined by bright white lights showing from beneath the front of the stage. Per usual, I fell in love with the drummer (the melody from Wilco’s Heavy Metal Drummer did started playing in my head) who really owned the whole show in my opinion. The show was highlighted by a 9 to 12 minute shoegaze masterpiece that ends with a low grade “you made me realise” sound that is looped through a keyboard while they exit the stage…..it was perfect. In the end, the show caused my leg tapped feverishly as I hoped to match the percussionists precision on the bass drum.

The best part of the night has nothing to do with music though…well kind of nothing to do with music. Outside on the patio, the gang got to meet a young woman who had not been to a show in 6 years. This 24 year old was dressed as a “flopper” which is supposedly a woman from the 1920s. My hope is that the combination of costume, distance and Asobi would be the catalysts for change in her life, propelling  her ultimately to join this movement that continues to grow despite the scenesters and general empathy of the current adolescent generation.

In one sentence: It might have been best show I have seen at the Echo which means they beat out the likes of the Fleet Foxes, Xiu Xiu and the Dirty Projectors.

~Capt AKAK

PS I realize I need pictures in the future, fuck words.